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County Industrial School, Ashford, Kent
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County Industrial School, Ashford, Kent
Some of the building at the Kent County Industrial School, Ashford. Date: early 1900s
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Media ID 23359666
© Mary Evans/Peter Higginbotham Co
Ashford Orphan Orphanage Orphans Some Welfare Childrens
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This evocative photograph captures some of the buildings at the Kent County Industrial School in Ashford, Kent, during the early 1900s. The Kent County Industrial School was an institution established to provide care and education for children who were orphans, neglected, or in need of welfare support. The children living there ranged in age from infancy to young adulthood. The image reveals the imposing architecture of the institution, with its tall, red-brick chimneys and grand, arched windows. The buildings appear to be surrounded by lush greenery, suggesting a rural setting. However, the barbed-wire fence and the watchtower in the background serve as somber reminders of the institutional nature of the school. At the time, the Industrial School movement was a response to the growing concern for child welfare and the need to provide alternatives to the workhouses that had previously been the only option for children in need. The Industrial Schools aimed to provide a more humane environment for children, with a focus on education, training, and rehabilitation. Despite the best intentions, the reality of life in the Industrial Schools could be harsh, with long hours of work, strict discipline, and limited opportunities for individual attention. The children were expected to learn a trade or skill to prepare them for a future in the workforce. This photograph offers a glimpse into a bygone era, providing a poignant reminder of the history of child welfare and the evolving approach to caring for children in need.
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