[an error occurred while processing this directive] Royal Victoria Patriotic Asylum cor Girls, Wandsworth, London
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Royal Victoria Patriotic Asylum for Girls, Wandsworth, London

In 1854, during the Crimean War, Queen Victoria inaugurated a new charity known as the Royal Patriotic Fund. Its object was to collect donations 'on behalf of the widows and orphans of soldiers, sailors, and marines, that may fall in battle, or die from the ravages and casualties of war, during the present hostilities.' The management of the Fund was overseen by a Royal Commission, with Prince Albert at its head. Part of the money raised was used for the construction of the Royal Victoria Patriotic Asylum for Girls, which was intended for the 'Education and Training of three hundred Orphan Daughters of Soldiers, Seamen and Marines who perished in the Russian War, and for those who hereafter may require like succour.' The total collected by the fund was almost £1.5M, of which £178,000 was allocated to the Asylum — £38,000 for its construction, and £140,000 as an endowment for its ongoing running costs.

The building, at Wandsworth Common, in south-west London, was designed by Mr M. Rhode Hawkins in the Gothic style popular at that date. The foundation stone was laid by Queen Victoria on 11th July, 1857. For such a large building, the construction work was remarkably quick, being completed in only 18 months. This was largely due to its innovative use of components prefabricated off-site such as iron joists, cast iron windows, stone facings, decorative leadwork etc. The first inmates were received on 1st July 1859.

The Asylum site is shown on the 1896 map below.

Royal Victoria Patriotic Asylum site, Wandsworth, c.1896.

Royal Victoria Patriotic Asylum, Wandsworth, 1857. © Peter Higginbotham

Royal Victoria Patriotic Asylum, Wandsworth, 1857. © Peter Higginbotham

Below is an extract of a report about the institution from 1859.

This asylum was built and endowed for the education of 300 girls — these, in the first instance, being the daughters of soldiers and sailors who fell in the Crimean war. But the establishment is permanent, and will hereafter be devoted to the education of the daughters of soldiers and sailors generally. The three hundred children are separated into three divisions of one hundred each. Each division has its schoolroom, 63 feet by 21 foot, and classroom, 21 foot by 21. feet. Those rooms communicate, by covered and glazed corridors running round two courts, with the great hall, which measures 82 feet by 35 feet, and is 12 feet high, and which accommodates the whole three hundred children when seated at their meals. Apartments are provided for the Lady Superintendent and for the teachers and assistant teachers. The domestic offices contain a kitchen, a scullery, and the requisite larders and storerooms; a bakery, dairy, laundry, and washhouse. The dormitories consist of twelve rooms, each measuring about 51 feet by 21 feet, and containing twenty-five beds. Lavatories, bathrooms, and water-closets are attached to the dormitories; they are approached from the ground floor by four stone staircases, so that in the event of fire there are ample means of escape; but fire is scarcely possible, as the floors are constructed on Fox and Batter's patent of iron joists covered with concrete, so that the whole building is fireproof. The principal building measures 224 feet by 151 foot. The domestic buildings are built round a court which measures 126 feet by 76 fret. The whole of the buildings are surrounded by a terraces 80 feet wide in front and 50 feet wide at the side, and beyond the terrace a playground has been formed for each division of children, and has attached to it a large covered shed for the children to play under in wet weather. A house for the chaplain, and an infirmary, are about to be added to the other premises. The great dining-hall is in course of decoration from designs by Mr. Crace, of Wigmore-street, the side walls being richly diapered in colours, and the ceiling enriched with armorial bearings of the various cities, countries, and towns that have contributed to the Royal Patriotic Fund.

Royal Victoria Patriotic Asylum dining hall, Wandsworth, 1859.

Subsequent additions to the buildings included a swimming bath and a greenhouse, the latter being used in connection with the market garden, which was cultivated by the inmates.

Girls were admitted into the Asylum from 7 to 11 years of age, with preference being given to the daughters of men who had lost their lives in active service. Inmates normally remained until the age of 16, and were trained for domestic service. Their work included the hand-pumping of rain water from an underground capture system up to tanks in the towers. All the institution's laundry was carried out by the girls.

Royal Victoria Patriotic Asylum, Wandsworth, early 1900s. © Peter Higginbotham

The Asylum became the centre of a controversy in 1863 when it was discovered that one of the inmates, a girl named Bennett, had been burnt to death during a period of solitary confinement. The punishment had been ordered by the Chaplain of the institution because the girl was said to have been rude to the laundress. Another girl was said to have been flogged with a birch rod, again under the instruction of the Chaplain. A Ladies' Committee was subsequently appointed to oversee conditions within the Asylum but the majority of its members had resigned after its proposed amendments to disciplinary procedures were rejected by the institution's Executive Committee. Despite the matter being aired in parliament, calls for the resignation of the Chaplain and of the Asylum's Lady Superintendent were ultimately unsuccessful, although the Executive Committee claimed that changes had since been put in place to address the concerns raised.

In 1872, an Asylum for Boys, also financed by the Patriotic Fund, was opened a little way to the north of the girls' establishment. It had a relatively short life, however, closing in 1881.

The girls' Asylum was visited on a number of occasions by members of the Royal Family, including King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra on July 24th, 1907.

Royal Victoria Patriotic Asylum, Wandsworth, July 24th, 1907. © Peter Higginbotham

Royal Victoria Patriotic Asylum, Wandsworth, July 24th, 1907. © Peter Higginbotham

Royal Victoria Patriotic Asylum, Wandsworth, July 24th, 1907. © Peter Higginbotham

During the First World War, the site temporarily became became the South Western General Hospital, with thousands of of troops being treated both inside the buildings and in tents erected in the grounds.

At the start of the Second World War in 1939, the girls were evacuated to Wales. The site then served as the London Reception Centre, for the internment and interrogation of 'aliens'.

After the war, the Asylum did not return to Wandsworth but was instead re-opened at Bedwell Park, Essendon, near Hatfield, Hertfordshire.

The Wandsworth site initially became a teacher training college, then from 1952 until 1972 was used as school accommodation by the London County Council. After falling into disrepair, the premises were sold in the early to a property developer subject to repair and restoration being carried out. This including restoration of the dining-hall which had been badly damaged by fire. The building now contains a mix of flats, studios and workshops.

Former Royal Victoria Patriotic Asylum for Girls, Wandsworth Common

Records

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Census

Bibliography