Here are some interesting facts about the work of Dr Barnardo, founder of the charity Barnardo’s, who provided homes and education for poor children in Victorian Britain.
- Thomas John Barnardo was born on 4th July 1845 and he died on 19th September 1905.
- He was born in Dublin, Ireland.
- When he was sixteen years old, he decided he wanted to become a Protestant medical missionary in China.
- He moved to London in order to train to be a doctor. He studied at the London Hospital, but never actually completed the course to earn a doctorate. Although he is known as ‘Doctor’ Barnardo, he never actually qualified as a doctor.
- During his time in London, Thomas Barnardo became interested in the lives of the Victorian poor. He was apalled by the number of people living on the streets of London and he witnessed the horrific effects of cholera, unemployment and overcrowding.
- Barnardo decided to put aside his plans to visit China. He opened his first ‘ragged school’ in 1867, in the East End of London, to educate and care for poor orphans.
- One of his pupils, a boy called Jim Jarvis, took Barnardo on a walk of the the East End, showing him the sheer number of poor children sleeping rough. Barnardo was so moved by the sight that he decided to do something about it.
- In 1870, Thomas Barnardo opened a home for boys in Stepney Causeway, providing shelter for orphans and destitute children. A sign hang on the building which said: ‘No Destitute Child Ever Refused Admission’.
- Barnardo founded the Girls’ Village Home. Located in Barkingside, the ‘village’ consisted of a collection of cottages and was home to 1500 poor girls.
- During his life Barnardo continued to open institutions that helped to care for poor children. By his death in 1905 it is estimated that his homes and schools cared for over 8000 children in more than 90 different locations.
- The Barnardo’s is still in existence today. Have a look at their website.
Click here to learn more about other famous Victorians.
Good job dude
I am very happy that Dr Barnado set up a charity for the poor. At school I have been learning about doctor Barnado and his charity which is a good cause. I can’t believe he’s been in the Victorian times what must he have felt like but on the other side he was rich, richer, richest. LOL still he died five years later after Queen Victoria how died aged 81 in 1901
good job Im a fan:D
wow thanks bro i realy needed this info ;D lol
I was admitted to Barnado’s in 1934 at the age of 3 until I was 15. I don’t know where I would have been without them. I’m eternally grateful
I love facts that are on this website
I’ve done lots of homework with this web it’s really good (well I think)
Thanks I needed this for my homework
Thanks, Joshua. Glad we were able to help you out with your homework. Please visit Primary Facts again soon.
Thanx for the info I really needed that for my
research ;D
I’m really pleased we were able to help. Thanks for letting us know.
thanks a lot 4 this! i think this is a good website! i totally recomend this! <3
Thanks, Amelia!
dr barnardo is amazing and i would recomend this website to every one who wants to find out lots about him xxxx
its well good helped with me homework and lessons
thanks it helpt me with my homework
cheers that’s really helpful lots of info and great for my homework
Amazing info !!!
SO HELPFUL!!! i am so grateful- i would be in massive trouble if not for this website! THANK YOU!!!!!!
It was really good help with my homework:)
thanks a billion
it has helped loads!!!;)i am a massive fn of dr barnardo!!
thanks it helped me with my homework and it was really insresting to
i needed this info for my homework thanks barnado
Need for homework
thx primary facts I needed this for my homework we are in the middle of reading street child
Thx a billion. Really helped with my homework!!
this website was very useful and didn’t know where else to get the information from for my home work
this was so much help with my homework cheers!
Thanks this realy helped me with my school work!
yeah same as Maddie !!!!!
i totaly agree with my friend maddie
Thanks Gem
yes it really did help i agree with you chelsea and maddie!♥
thanks for helping me with my work
love this site so good! ♥
this helped so much in my homework thx!!!!
Thanks for letting us know, Emilia! Really glad we could help you out with your homework.
thanks thats my homework done now
Glad we could help you out!
James you are my human encyclopaedia. Thank you so much. You are a great help.(: (: (: (: (: (: I’m definitely coming back to this website any time I need help
thank you with my homework lol
This site really helped me in revising what I learnt at my school, Start International School, Umm Al Shief, Dubai.
Thank you so much I hope I’ll get some stars for my homework!!!
Love this website
thanks for helping me with my homework!!
awesome helped with homework:)
thanks!!!!!! helped with my homework :):):):):):):):):):):):):):)
hi this helped a lot
Brill website needed this info soooooooooooo badly again brilliant website
helped my homework
Thank You for such good help with my homework since we’ve been learning about the victorians
This helps me a lot with my learning
This website is really good. I will come back again to this website soon