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Middlemore Children’s Emigration Homes
- Thread starter Dennis Williams
- Start date
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
February 1886 the Aston Board of Guardians propose to send 10 children for emigration to Canada from the Workhouse. Ten pounds is authorised for each child, and discussion with JT Middlemore, who would have much pleasure in taking the children if they were healthy in body and mind, and cleanly in their habits.
No details of how or why they were chosen.
Later the children were taken to Court and agreed to go...
No details of how or why they were chosen.
Later the children were taken to Court and agreed to go...
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Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
This is from the Edgbastonian Magazine, September 1883
‘A benevolent Edgbaston gentleman who has solved one of the difficult social problems of modern times – the reclamation of the children of the criminal and most degraded classes of our large towns. His institution has enabled Mr. Middlemore to rescue from the gutter, or more frequently from the haunts of vice, dishonesty, debauchery, filth, and ignorance, no fewer than eight hundred incipient criminals’
‘A benevolent Edgbaston gentleman who has solved one of the difficult social problems of modern times – the reclamation of the children of the criminal and most degraded classes of our large towns. His institution has enabled Mr. Middlemore to rescue from the gutter, or more frequently from the haunts of vice, dishonesty, debauchery, filth, and ignorance, no fewer than eight hundred incipient criminals’
Resource Details - Connecting Histories
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www.search.connectinghistories.org.uk
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
For a reference to a lad who was sent to Canada in 1903, and subsequently ran away see this thread…
birminghamhistory.co.uk
Mystery Death of David Robert Huntley 1903
I will try to explain this the best I can, my cousin's great uncle was sent to Canada in or around 1905, this was after his father died in 1903, on his papers it stated that his father died of Heart Disease, and his mother could no longer afford to look after him, But on the record it states...
birminghamhistory.co.uk
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
As far as I can see the link mentions the book “Great Canadian Expectations: The Middlemore Experience,” written by Patricia Roberts-Pichette. A book written to show Middlemore in the best way possible.
Also “Marjorie, To afraid to Cry: A Home Child Experience,” by Patricia Skidmore which shows the Homes in a different light.
Perhaps, as it was written in 2018, it does not mention a book “Awful Kind: The Story of the Middlemore Children of Prince Edward Island” by Sara Underwood. This book concentrates on children sent from Middlemore to Prince Edward Island.
On a recent thread Aston Lad kindly reproduced a screenshot of a redacted Middlemore record from 1903. (Post 6) where there is a confusion as to how the child’s father met his death.
Mystery Death of David Robert Huntley 1903
I will try to explain this the best I can, my cousin's great uncle was sent to Canada in or around 1905, this was after his father died in 1903, on his papers it stated that his father died of Heart Disease, and his mother could no longer afford to look after him, But on the record it states...
birminghamhistory.co.uk
In her book Sara mentions George Davies (10) who with his brother (7) were sent to Canada in 1910. The records are found on the same reel, A-2015, in the Library and Archives Canada Middlemore Collection. His father assisted with the passage. George wrote a memoir in the early 1970s for his family.
“Another distasteful thing. Every Saturday morning, we had to line up for a cup of Senna leaves and Epsom salts. A lot of us found this a hard drink to swallow. Some couldn’t and would vomit it all up. But matron was standing at the end of the line with a cane and if one didn’t down it they got a crack or two over the shoulders, and they were forced to drink it down, whether it stayed down or not. And one wasn’t allowed to spit out saliva which forms in the mouth afterwards. We were never allowed to drink water but sometimes we could get some from the kitchen staff when no one was looking….”
https://birminghamheritageweek.co.uk/15-sept/stories-of-the-lost-children/
A talk in kings heath by Val Hart from the Balsall Heath Local History Society. Places are limited so it's a good idea to book.
A talk in kings heath by Val Hart from the Balsall Heath Local History Society. Places are limited so it's a good idea to book.
Sue Carter/Powis
proper brummie kid
Strangely enough, I worked at St Luke's in an education department based in the building without knowing its history. The Middlemore Emigrating Home for Waifs and Strays. I wondered at the weirdness of the lay out of the offices. Mine was up the stairs from the main door in a small room with a fireplace. Obviously the receiving officer's room. And then a big open place space, the dormitories. So imagine my shock when I found out that my Husband's Great-aunt and Great-uncle were 'emigrated' to Nova Scotia aged 8 and 6.
The Canadians have a fabulous database. Lori Oschewski is in charge of the British Home Children site and is a mine of information. British Home children - neither Waifs nor Strays - were often badly treated.
The Canadians have a fabulous database. Lori Oschewski is in charge of the British Home Children site and is a mine of information. British Home children - neither Waifs nor Strays - were often badly treated.
Stokkie
master brummie
At Birmingham Literary Festival the poet Liz Berry read from her novel in verse 'The Home Child' which is a fictionalised version of her great aunt Eliza Showell's emigration to Nova Scotia in 1912. It was researched in Birmingham Archives and in Canada. Liz's reading was accompanied by the fiddle playing of Ruth Angell.
Sue Carter/Powis
proper brummie kid
My husband's great aunt and great uncle were sent to Nova Scotia 'for their own good'. Jimmy, who became a persistent runaway, drowned trying to cross a river to reach a port to take him home. Surprisingly, I worked out of the St Luke's/Middlemore home building. I had always wondered why it was so odd. My office was in a small room with a defunct fireplace and barred window. The other offices were in a huge open space with a small windowed room overlooking. It was only after I had researched these two poor children that I realised that the open space was a dormitory and my office was that of the 'overseer' for want of a better word. That their father was in prison and their stepmother didn't want them hence them being sent/deported away. Middlemore thought he was doing the right thing as did various groups such as Barnardos and Catholic Church groups but were they doing the right thing?
Stokkie
master brummie
24 Feb 2010 the then Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologised on behalf of the UK Government to all former child migrants and their families. ('The Lost Children' Balsall Heath Local History Society, edited by Valerie Pitt and Rowena Lyon)
The scale of the forced emigration was immense: 5000+ children from Birmingham to Canada 1873-1948 from Middlemore Homes. 100,000 children from Britain were sent from 1860 to 1960. This does not include older teenagers who volunteered sponsored by such bodies as the British Women's Emigration Society.
Valerie Pitt had photoboards outside last night's reading.
The migration story is well known in Canada where 10% of the population are said to be descended from a home child.
The scale of the forced emigration was immense: 5000+ children from Birmingham to Canada 1873-1948 from Middlemore Homes. 100,000 children from Britain were sent from 1860 to 1960. This does not include older teenagers who volunteered sponsored by such bodies as the British Women's Emigration Society.
Valerie Pitt had photoboards outside last night's reading.
The migration story is well known in Canada where 10% of the population are said to be descended from a home child.
superdad3
master brummie
As Prof, Carl Chinn said,Prof Chinn said: "The children were taken away from the back streets of Birmingham because they were seen as 'street arabs' or 'gutter children'. In that period lots of middle class people looked down on the poor and there was a lot of poverty. Some of them were fortunate in Canada they went to good homes and did well. Others were used as cheap labour and were very unhappy."
I can't help but feel that the Middlemore emigration scheme was an easy way to rid Birmingham [but not just Birmingham] of a social problem instead of dealing with it but that would have cost more.
A man who worked for me some years ago was a Middlemore boy. Sent to a remote Canadian farm where he was exploited as cheap labour. He hated it! As soon as he was old enough, he saved up & returned to Birmingham.
In 2010 then Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologised on behalf of the nation to the 150,000 British children forced to migrate to the colonies.
Mr Brown said: “To all those former child migrants and their families; to those here with us today and those across the world – to each and every one – I say today we are truly sorry. We are sorry they were allowed to be sent away when at their most vulnerable.
“We are sorry that instead of caring for them, this country turned its back."
I couldn't have put it better myself.
I can't help but feel that the Middlemore emigration scheme was an easy way to rid Birmingham [but not just Birmingham] of a social problem instead of dealing with it but that would have cost more.
A man who worked for me some years ago was a Middlemore boy. Sent to a remote Canadian farm where he was exploited as cheap labour. He hated it! As soon as he was old enough, he saved up & returned to Birmingham.
In 2010 then Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologised on behalf of the nation to the 150,000 British children forced to migrate to the colonies.
Mr Brown said: “To all those former child migrants and their families; to those here with us today and those across the world – to each and every one – I say today we are truly sorry. We are sorry they were allowed to be sent away when at their most vulnerable.
“We are sorry that instead of caring for them, this country turned its back."
I couldn't have put it better myself.
Stokkie
master brummie
Indeed. Anti-Imperialism has a long history, but many still prefer voices critical of the Empire not to be heard.
Stokkie
master brummie
Lyn, Liz Berry's 'Home Child' deserves to be read for its language and imagination. It is a fictional work, because while Eliza Showell had a long life she remained in domestic service in the same area of Cape Breton, never married or had a family of her own. She was the youngest of her family when she was sent to Canada age 12. Eliza never returned to Britain or saw her brothers again. She died in a Seniors home in 1978 and her employers paid for a small gravestone.
But many working class people in Birmingham and The Black Country have unrecorded lives. Liz Berry uses her imagination to bring some light and love into Eliza's life, but the facts are sparse. Our compassion wants us to imagine some happiness. Derek
yes of course it does derek...we always hope things turn out ok but in reality we know that is not always the case
lyn
I suspect most of the Gordon Brown apology came in the wake of the Fairbridge scandal in Australia.
en.wikipedia.org
although there were more revelations to come
www.theguardian.com
and finally a film
en.wikipedia.org
The Fairbridge Trust had taken over from the Middlemore Society after John Middlemore died in 1935 but they were also sending children to Canada at that time. Fairbridge had been around before then operating in other cities.
Fairbridge, Western Australia - Wikipedia
Abused and publicly flogged: the UK child migrants sent for a better life in Australia
David Hill’s parents made the ‘ultimate sacrifice’ when they sent him to New South Wales. Now he wants a UK inquiry to hear the stories of those abused as children
www.theguardian.com
Oranges and Sunshine - Wikipedia
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
John Throgmorton Middlemore actually died in 1925 and Paul Cadbury took over. At that point Cadbury changed the policy and took children from other areas and discharged the responsibility of care, after leaving England, to the Fairbridge Society. Children were then also sent to Australia. The shocking treatment can be seen by access online to the abuse inquiry.
Stokkie
master brummie
More on Fairbridge which merged The Fairbridge Society and the Drake Fellowship. It was taken over by the Prince's Trust in April 2011. The Fairbridge Programme ceased to be used on the Prince's Trust website by December 2022. The Guardian covered the story of how The Prince's Trust has proposed to settle its liabilities towards the survivors of sexual abuse at Fairbridge Farm Schools at £2000 per person.https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/may/24/king-charles-urged-to-intervene-over-insulting-child-sexual-abuse-payments
Australia, Canada and Southern Rhodesia are mentioned.
Australia, Canada and Southern Rhodesia are mentioned.
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
British Home Children: Antique box tells heart-breaking history
The pictures found inside an antique box tell the heart-breaking history of the British Home Children.
www.bbc.co.uk
Hi, I have stumbled across this thread whilst trying to find information. My grandad was sent to middlemore home, Halifax in 1928. I am trying to find more information but not sure where to look. I never got the chance to meet my grandad but am very interested in his background and how he managed to end up in Canada.
Stokkie
master brummie
Hi Paige,
Canada has done a lot of research into British Home Children as they are called. This is a good page to start your search. https://canadianbritishhomechildren.weebly.com/fairview-nova-scotia.html
Do you know your grandad's full name and date of birth? And what was the name of the ship he travelled on? I'm afraid you may find an upsetting story, few children really were orphans, many more could not be supported by their families. About 10% of Canadians are said to be descended from a British Home Child.
Good luck in your search and do post here if we can help further.
Stokkie
master brummie
Birmingham Middlemore records are in the Library of Birmingham Archives. But note they are subject to a 75 year closure, so records from 1949 in this coming January are embargoed. 'People trying to trace their relatives, for case files and adoption agreements should contact archives.heritage@birmingham.gov.uk with details of the person they are looking for and they will check what records are held and whether or not they are open.'
https://thelostchildren.uk/how-to-access-the-middlemore-archives/
(This page was updated in 2019, so do check access to the Archives, before going.) As your grandad was sent in 1928, his records may be available. Archives are tricky to use, so do ask the librarians for help.
It would be helpful to write down everything you know, if you have a birth certificate, if he was in a Workhouse in Birmingham etc. Did he have family in England or descendants in Canada?
https://thelostchildren.uk/how-to-access-the-middlemore-archives/
(This page was updated in 2019, so do check access to the Archives, before going.) As your grandad was sent in 1928, his records may be available. Archives are tricky to use, so do ask the librarians for help.
It would be helpful to write down everything you know, if you have a birth certificate, if he was in a Workhouse in Birmingham etc. Did he have family in England or descendants in Canada?
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Hi, yes his name was Donald Bingham 08/07/1913 and was on the ship Newfoundland. I believe his mother died not long after child birth so I assume this may be why he was sent there.
Thank you I will have a look through the website!