The Foundling Hospital, where Lane grew up, was the first children’s charity in the UK. It was established in 1739 by philanthropist Thomas Coram to help care for and educate children who had been abandoned by their parents due to severe poverty or illegitimacy. Joining him in this venture were the artist William Hogarth and the composer George Frideric Handel.
Later, admission to the Foundling Hospital became restricted to the first children of women of good character whom the father of the child had deserted. In placing her child with the Hospital, the unmarried mother would be able to earn an honest livelihood.
By the time the Foundling Hospital closed, in 1954, it had taken care of approximately twenty-five thousand children.
To find out more information about this important part of London’s history and the tokens that were left with some of the children, visit my website at www.lauriebenson.net and search my blog. You can also visit the Foundling Hospital museum, as well as browse their website.
Keep reading for an excerpt from Captivated by Her Convenient Husband by Bronwyn Scott.
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