The material below is taken from the web page Unless otherwise indicated, content is copyright Peter Higginbotham and may not be re-published without permission.
Ancestry UK

Hazelbrae (Margaret Cox Home), Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

In July 1883, a Barnardo's receiving home for girls was opened in a mansion house called Hazelbrae (or Hazel Brae) in Peterborough, Ontario. It was located on 'Conger's Hill', just off what is now George Street. The home was superintended by Mr and Mrs Edward Duff. The establishment, in a house loaned by Senator George Cox and his wife Margaret, provided temporary accommodation for girls from Barnardo's homes in Britain who were emigrating to Canada. The first party of children, 150 in number, arrived on July 22nd.

Hazelbrae (Margaret Cox Home), Peterborough, c.1900. © Peter Higginbotham

As a general rule, girls under the age of twelve were boarded out, with some also being adopted. Girls aged fourteen or over were placed out in paid employment.

The home was later donated to Barnardo's and in 1912 was renamed the Margaret Cox Home.

Hazelbrae (Margaret Cox Home), Peterborough, c.1912. © Peter Higginbotham

Hazelbrae (Margaret Cox Home), Peterborough, c.1912. © Peter Higginbotham

The home closed in 1922, with around ten thousand children estimated to have passed through its doors. The building was demolished in 1939. A memorial plaque has now been placed in the grounds of the former home.

Records

Note: many repositories impose a closure period of up to 100 years for records identifying individuals. Before travelling a long distance, always check that the records you want to consult will be available.

Bibliography

  • Barnardo, Syrie Louise, and Marchant, James Memoirs of the Late Dr Barnardo (Hodder & Stoughton, 1907)
  • Batt, J.H. Dr. Barnardo: The Foster-Father of "Nobody's Children" (S.W. Partridge, 1904)
  • Bready, J. Wesley Doctor Barnardo (Allen & Unwin, 1930)
  • Higginbotham, Peter Children's Homes: A History of Institutional Care for Britain's Young (2017, Pen & Sword)
  • Rose, June For the Sake of the Children: Inside Dr. Barnardo's: 120 years of caring for children (Hodder & Stoughton, 1987)
  • Wagner, Gillian Barnardo (Weidenfeld & Nicholson, 1979)

Except where indicated, this page () © Peter Higginbotham. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.