‘Before and After’ photographs of Henry from the Annual Report of Middlemore Homes
Middlemore Homes relied on public donations to fund their work. ‘Before and after’ photographs were used to promote the Homes and raise money by showing the physical and moral improvement of the children. ...
‘Ginger A Story’
Ginger tells the story of a fictional boy named Harry Smith and how poverty and his stepfather’s cruelty turned him to crime. He was placed in Middlemore Homes and sent to Australia. The story ends happily ...
Application Book of Middlemore Homes, 1903-1914 giving the reasons Henry was admitted
Henry is case number 2576. He was described as a ‘Healthy looking boy very ragged, Street Arab type’. Street Arab was a common derogatory term for poor children who roamed the streets.
Boys Admission Register of Middlemore Homes, 1873-1914, showing Henry’s admission
Henry Bate sailed to Canada on 20 June 1905 with a party of children sent by Middlemore Homes. Henry lived in 2 Court, Vauxhall with his mother Ada Owen, his step father and two other children. The family ...
Drawing of a Middlemore Girl
As an Edgbastonian, John Middlemore was proudly celebrated in the pages of the Edgbastonia magazine:
‘A benevolent Edgbaston gentleman who has solved one of the difficult social problems of modern ...
Letter written by Henry Bate from Canada
In this letter Henry describes life in Canada which was very different to life in a city slum. Some of the children were better off in Canada as John Middlemore had hoped. However, others experienced ...
Middlemore children on board ship on route to Australia
Middlemore Homes were founded in 1872 by John Throgmorton Middlemore (1844-1924). His mission was to ‘save boys and girls from lives of crime and pauperism’ in the slums of Birmingham and believed they ...