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Croydon Union Cottage Homes, Mayday Road, Croydon
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Croydon Union Cottage Homes, Mayday Road, Croydon
The childrens cottage homes erected on Mayday Road in 1897 by the Croydon Poor Law Union to house pauper children away from the workhouse. Date: 1902
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Media ID 7194477
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10529922
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the Croydon Union Cottage Homes, located on Mayday Road in Croydon, as they appeared in the early 1900s. Established by the Croydon Poor Law Union in 1897, these cottage homes were built to provide an alternative living arrangement for pauper children, separating them from the stigma and harsh conditions of the workhouse. At the time, the workhouse system was a controversial and often inhumane method of providing relief for the poor and destitute. Children, in particular, were separated from their families and kept in large, institutionalized settings, where they were expected to work and contribute to the upkeep of the workhouse. The cottage homes represented a progressive shift towards more humane and child-centered care. The photograph shows the quaint, red-brick buildings nestled among lush greenery, with children playing outside and tending to the gardens. The idyllic setting was intended to provide a more nurturing and homelike environment for the children, allowing them to grow up in a more normal and healthy way. Despite the best intentions, life in the cottage homes was far from ideal. The children were still subjected to strict rules and regulations, and many were separated from their siblings and parents for extended periods of time. Nevertheless, the cottage homes represented a significant step forward in the care of pauper children and paved the way for the eventual abolition of the workhouse system. This photograph offers a rare glimpse into the past, providing a poignant reminder of the history of child welfare in Croydon and the broader social context of poverty and care in early 20th century England.
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