Helping generations of families

When the Manchester Refuges began in 1870 it catered for children in some of the most dire straits. The slum areas of Angel Meadow, Ancoats and Blackfriars spewed out dirty, ragged and half starved children that were often in need of assistance from the church or charities to avoid the dreaded shadow of the Workhouse.


In the Manchester Slums

Under the charity’s motto of ‘we help those who try to help themselves’, skills and trades were taught to the children who came under its care. This notion attempted to ensure the young people had a better chance on departure to build a successful career and better life for themselves and their families. Occasionally however, later admission books tell tales of children being admitted to the refuge whose own family were ex residents of the charity.    

Let’s take John as an example. Like many of the early residents in the charity’s first admission book, John’s entry consisted of only one line of information. We know he was aged 15 in 1877 when he first arrived at the Central Refuge on Francis Street. Although both parents were still alive they were described as drunkards and had a tendency to be in and out of prison. John was admitted ‘in a wretched state of rags and vermin’, after spending the last few weeks sleeping out on the streets. He was transferred to No 1 Home for Working Boys, located on Lower Broughton Road the following year. This was a service for boys aged 15-18 in regular employment. John however desired a life at sea and made his own way into the navy.    

Part of John's Admission Entry 26 November 1878

Part of Ethel's Admission Entry 27 July 1903

In July 1903 however, John’s daughters Ethel and Lilian also found themselves on the charity’s doorstep. With the death of John’s wife there was no one to look after the children whilst he was at sea and so he turned back to the institution which had provided him aid in his own childhood days. The two girls remained at Rosen Hallas for five years before gaining employment in the community. Lilian even found herself as a domestic servant at Broom Holm, family home of Mrs. Annie Shaw, wife of the late Leonard Shaw.

Unfortunately some families continued to find themselves in need of a helping hand as the decades went by. But the charity remained to provide aid to those most in need as an alternative to the workhouse.