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Woolwich Union Goldie Leigh Homes, Plumstead
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Woolwich Union Goldie Leigh Homes, Plumstead
A group of children and their house mother at the Woolwich Union Goldie Leigh cottage homes. The homes, at Bostall Heath, Plumstead (then in Kent, now in south east London), were erected in 1899 to house pauper children away from the workhouse. The name Goldie Leigh comes from the surnames of two families connected with the area
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Media ID 4420409
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10418828
1899 Accommodation Cottage Families Goldie Heath Homes Leigh Pauper Plumstead Poverty Smocks Woolwich Workhouse Workhouses
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures a moment of warmth and care amidst the harsh realities of poverty and institutional living in late Victorian England. Taken at the Woolwich Union Goldie Leigh Cottages in Plumstead, then part of Kent and now located in southeast London, the image shows a group of young children gathered around their house mother. The homes, which were erected in 1899, were designed to provide cottage-style accommodation for pauper children, keeping them away from the workhouse system. The name Goldie Leigh was derived from the surnames of two local families. The children, dressed in white smocks, appear to be engaged in a playful activity, their faces reflecting a mix of curiosity and mischief. The house mother, with a kind expression and a protective arm around one of the children, embodies the nurturing role she played in these children's lives. The image transports us back to the 1890s, a time when the workhouse system was being gradually replaced by more humane forms of care for the destitute. The Woolwich Union Goldie Leigh Cottages were situated on Bostall Heath, a rural area that provided a degree of respite from the urban hustle and bustle. The heath, with its rolling hills and open spaces, can be glimpsed in the background of the photograph, offering a glimpse of the natural beauty that surrounded these children's lives. This poignant photograph is a reminder of the past, a testament to the resilience of children, and a tribute to the compassionate individuals who dedicated their lives to caring for the most vulnerable members of society.
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