Building - The
new home was cited next to the South Western main line on 7.5 acres of land between
the Oriental Institute and Woking Station. This land had been purchased from
the London Necropolis Company for £2,800, using money that had been bequeathed
to the orphanage by the late Thomas Parker Harvey of Clapham. Soon after, in October 1907, the foundation
stone was laid by one of the orphanage’s great supporters, H.R.H. Duchess of
Albany. Opened in 1909, the total cost of the building was £30,000 and it was designed by a local architect, Mr. E.C. Hughes
of Wokingham,
Organisation - In
1921 the orphanage was managed by a board of L&SWR staff, consisting of
men from all districts, departments and grades of employment. Furthermore, the
South Western network, which stretched from Waterloo to the West Country, was
split up into eleven districts, all of which possessed a committee elected by
subscribers and which had a secretary. The main board was formed from these
secretaries and an extra representative for every 250 subscribers. This meant
that the board of management constituted (and I was not going to count them)
over sixty members and this was headed by an elected chairman. In 1921 the post was held by Mr
D.J. Radmoore, chief yard inspector at the Nine Elms Goods Depot. In the magazine’s opinion ‘Mr Radmoore is a very keen
worker for the orphanage, and is never happier than when he is joining in some
scheme for the pleasure and benefit of the children.’
Local Committees - The
orphanage’s operation relied heavily on the work of the regional committees. Primarily,
they were to raise funds for it. Indeed, the formation of a new London
committee in 1920 had brought over 3,800 additional subscribers and had organised
many fund-raising concerts. One of the oldest committees was that at
Southampton, which in the summers of 1919 and 1920 had invited the orphanage’s
children to the town for the weekend. ‘Sports and entertainments’ were run,
with prizes being awarded. At night the children were taken to the homes of
railwaymen ‘where they enjoy every hospitality.’ Furthermore, the committees also
arranged trips for the children to local attractions, such St. Paul’s Cathedral
and The Tower of London, as well as staged concerts for them at the home.
Furthermore, there was also a ladies committee that co-ordinated with
the matron to see to the purchasing of ‘clothing and other matters that hardly
come into the province of the general house committee.’ The 'ladies' also
presided once a week over a sweet stall where the children could buy ‘wholesome confectionery.’
Staff – The
Superintendent in 1921 was A. E. Smith, who had been previously been on the
board of management. The magazine
commented that under his leadership the orphanage had been described as ‘one of
the best managed in the country.’ He was supported by a matron, Miss Core, who
had spent her whole life in the ‘institution world’ and had been at Woking for
eleven years. Additionally, Miss Love was Assistant Matron and had been one
of the first girls to enter the orphanage in 1886 when it was still at Jeffreys
Road, Clapham.
The Building –
This was two stories high. On the ground floor there were boys and girl’s
classrooms, washing lavatories, hat, coat and boot rooms, and dining hall to
seat 200 people. There were also a kitchen, sculleries and larders.
Furthermore, there was a library, supported by the orphanage’s honorary
treasurer, Cecil W. Carrington, which was described as ‘one of the finest in
the country. Indeed, while having no link with the railway company at all, Carrington had helped
raise money for ‘The Children’s Fund,’ which allowed the construction of a
sports ground and pavilion. He also built the drill hall and a fully equipped carpenters
shop. On the first floor there were four dormitories, bath rooms and staff
rooms. Lastly, four dormitories were lcoated on the second floor, as well as the
infirmary.
Work – The
children's daily activities were varied. Each day the boys played cricket or
football, and by 1921 the the orphanage had won four
cups playing others from local schools. On the left of the building was the girls’ playground which was equipped
with swings, and on the summer they played tennis and ‘other games’. However, in
times of inclement weather, all the children used the drill hall in the grounds
to play. Next to this was the carpenters shop, which was equipped with benches,
tools and two lathes, and the boys were under the tuition of Mr Jones, an
instructor at a local secondary school. Furthermore, there was a large field
that was loaned to the orphanage on which the boys learned to grow vegetables.
The children were educated at a local elementary school
and its headmaster, Mr E.H. Gower, took an interest in the home and was on its
board of management. In 1921 four boys from the home in had obtained a
scholarship to secondary school, with one girl obtaining a free place at the
Girls’ Country School in Guildford to train as a teacher. In cases such as these the individuals would be allowed to stay on at the home until their
schooling was finished.
Living - Each
child had their own bed in a dormitory, some of which were dedicated to an
individual who gave £100 or more to the orphanage. Each dormitory was overseen by a member of staff who slept
in a cubical and who monitored the younger and sick children. During
winter months activities happened in the dormitories before bed time. For
example, ‘lantern lectures’ were given by friends, concerts were arranged, and
children were provided with all they needed to study, read or play dominoes.
Alternatively, on many occasions the children huddled round pianos to sing.
The health of the children at the home was considered
good by all. This was partially because of a good diet that was considered one
of the most varied of any similar institution in the country. Indeed, the magazine
commented that during the shortages of the First World War the food standard
was maintained and ‘in no way were the children stinted’. The laundry was all done on site by means of
hot air chambers, and a disabled ex-serviceman was employed to repair the
children’s boots, a task that kept him busy all day.
‘After Care’
Committee –The magazine commented that ‘the Board of Management has given
thoughtful and sympathetic consideration to the question of following up the
children’s careers and conditions after they leave the orphanage.’ Thus,
‘After-Care’ committees had been set up in each district of the L&SWR’s
system. As soon as a child left the orphanage, the secretary of the district in
which they were going to reside was advised. He would then make periodical
visits to see how they were faring. The ‘After Care’ committee then met once a
quarter to review the cases and if action was required the matter would be
presented to the board. However, when the children reached an certain age limit, which was not stated, they were judged to 'have been prepared morally,
physically and educationally to earn their living in the world.’ They were then
fitted out with an outfit valued at £30 and the orphanage’s job was then considered over.
Clearly, the L&SWR orphanage at Woking was one of the
best supported and run in the country in 1921. Indeed, its existence was a
testament to the fact that within the railway company there was a community
spirit amongst workers, managers and directors. All involved with the company
cared about their colleagues and families, whether they knew them or not, and
this is perhaps something we have lost in modern business.
All information taken from: Author’s Collection, South Western Railway Magazine, January
1921, p.1-8
