A look back at British Home Children

By Karen Richardson

To The Haldimand Press

Between 1869 and late 1948, over 100,000 children were sent to Canada from the United Kingdom. The children were between the ages of three and 17.

The Industrial Revolution in Britain caused a huge migration of workers from the countryside to the cities. In less than 30 years the population of London doubled. There were housing shortages, slums developed, and a large number of children were left homeless and living on the street. Conditions were appalling for these children; many died of hunger and disease.

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Destitute parents were forced to place their children in orphanages, which quickly became overcrowded. The situation was becoming desperate and many charitable organizations began to seek an alternative to remedying the problem. A movement was under foot by men and women of wealthy background to get the poor children off the street. Shelters were opened with funds provided by charitable citizens.