The World of Interiors did a lovely story last March about an 18th century
Foundling hospital created by Captain Thomas Coram. Having made his fortune
in trade with the colonies, in his retirement he had noticed on early morning walks
from Rotherhithe into the city of London numerous swaddled babies left on the
steps of various Churches in the hopes that the abandoned babies would be
taken care of . By 1739 the foundling hospital he created with the help of 375
others, including six dukes and 11 earls became the first charity to received a
royal charter, and in 1741 received it’s first orphans. Recently discovered is an
archive of 18th century fabrics that were collected as part of paperwork to
admit each child. Though no question were asked of the women, no names were
required, they were asked by the hospital to leave a small token of remembrance
in case they were able to return to claim their child. Sarah Bender left the scrap
above with her son Charles, who she returned to claim nine years later.
Though many left nothing, others left trinkets, beads, keys, ribbons, and fabric cut
from a mother’s hem or sleeve that was attached to the registration billet. Sadly, of
the 16, 282 children admitted between 1741 and 1760, only 152 were reclaimed.
The poignancy of the hopeful and loving scraps pinned to so many forms tell a
wistful story in the Threads of Feeling exhibit held at the Foundling Museum last
March. The heart is a reoccurring emblem, as well as fabrics decorated with
flowers, birds, butterflies.
Closeted in dark archives, the textiles have survived the centuries in
remarkable condition and are a glimpse into a wide swathe of the social
economic population. Each scrap tells a story. If you’re a fabric nut
or a fan of old script…you’ll love this glimpse into the 18th century…
Curator John Styles, the author of Dress of the People and Threads of Feeling
brings to light the significance of what is now recognized as Britain’s
largest collection of everyday textiles. Threads of Feeling exhibit
photos here, more photos and review of exhibit here
The kitchen counter is crowded with garden roses
and my Mother’s coming for a visit. One child will undoubtedly
call from college and the other might help me with the weeding!
Happy Mother’s Day to all!
*
From Swatch with Mother
by Frances Spalding
World of Interiors March 2011
Happy Mother’s day dear Trish. I am just coming back from my nephew’s wedding and had the pleasure of kissing my dear old mother good morning before rushing out to my next trip. I would have sung Las Mananitas to her, but it wouldn’t have been a present since my voice was hoarse.
Our best to you,
Trinidad
Beautiful post.Have a wonderful day.
Teresa
xoxo
What a lovely Mother’s Day post and beautiful roses from your garden. Happy Mothers’ Day!
Happy Mother’s Day to you Trish and this is a beautiful post. At least some of the parents tried to reclaim their loved ones and what a beautiiful way of finding them later. Have a wonderful day!
Very touching story!
Happy Mother’s Day to you dear Trish!
xxxkarin
Thank you for sharing this sad but beautiful story…gives new meaning to the “fabric of life” and the tapestry we all weave while we are here. Your gardens must be utterly amazing about now…so glad your mom is coming to visit today and that your children are near…wishing you a happy and wonderful Mother’s Day.
❤ jermaine
Beautiful post! Happy Mother’s Day Trish!
Touching story. Love the fabrics and the history. Human suffering is the same throughout history, but it makes me thankful for my blessings. Thanks for this sobering reality check. Thank you dear Lord for blessing us so abundantly!
Perfectly beautiful and poignant indeed!
beautiful, trish. happy mother’s day to you. donna
A very sad and at the same time a beautiful post. It is difficult to comprehend and also very sobering that Mr. Thomas Coram actually saw babies left in swadling clothes on church door steps.
Happy Mother’s Day
They left them where they thought they would be cared for. I love that the orphanage suggested a token, a ribbon, a scrap be left. I love that a mother left a part of herself to be pinned to the records. It just seems, in the most dire personal circumstance, a testimony to maternal love.
So touching. Thank you for this post and the link to Threads of Feeling, a poignant testament to a mother’s love.
As a lover of all things antique, historic and textile, this was a highlight for today!
What a beautiful but heartbreaking story which reverberates across the centuries and oceans- the timelessness of the human condition that weaves its way in and out of our lives. Thank goodness for compassionate hearts like Captain Coram’s.
The roses are utterly beautiful- thanks for sharing the beauty!
What a thought provoking post…makes me count my blessings. I hope you will enjoy a wonderful Mother’s Day. I love your roses.
Karen
This post really touched my heart..so beautiful. and of course the little remnants of fabric just priceless! hope you had a special day with your mother, love from those around and far.. and your roses…I so much more prefer the mixture of roses found in a garden than shop bought roses,when I have a choice.. hugs Colette ~ Afrique du Sud
Just a couple of things to add about the Foundling Hospital. Trinkets and scraps were left as usually the mothers could not write. What is especially sad though is that the tokens were never given to the children so most grew up unable to trace their mothers. The authorities thought this would be for the better. However, as you pointed out, some did return and were able to identify their children by what they had left.
Fascinating post. I can imagine how a mother pondered what she would leave for her child What meanings did the fabric have to her? —the thought that must have gone in to each piece. Thank you for sharing.
Trish, I can’t imagine the heart break at having to leave a child on a doorstep. A poignant and beautiful story indeed, which makes us all the more thankful and grateful for what we have.Your garden roses are so lovely and thank you for the Mother’s Day bouquet. Nella.
Oh what a moving and wonderful post, the fabric scraps make the story all the more moving and give such a tangible link to those tragic mothers. Our own house (dating from 1500) was used in the 16th century for housing homeless mothers and children as in England they were classed as convicts if they had no means of income. We often find pieces of china, bottles and tobacco pipes in the garden which we have kept as a tribute to them. Thank you so much for this post and the link, I shall read further as it is such a moving and fascinating piece of history.
I have the same pitcher with the beaded detail…from Anthropologie. All I’m missing is your lovely garden with all of it’s beautiful blooms! Wink!