Together Trust Archive

We’ve provided various stories in the last few weeks about some of our fallen heroes in World War One. This week we’re turning away from the battlefields of France and Flanders, back to the city of Manchester to honour the passing of a highly influential individual, who had many dealings with the Refuges over the years, Thomas (Tommy) Johnson. Thomas (Tommy) Johnson

“Such was the acorn from which sprang the magnificent tree of philanthropic growth, which now casts the branching shadows of its saving agencies far and wide over this great city wherever sorrowful outcasts are to be found.” - Manchester Courier, 28 June 1902  I’m veering off topic a little today and looking into a building connected with the Manchester and Salford Boys’ and Girls’ Refuges and Homes, but not one under its jurisdiction. In fact it’s a very important little building that lies just off the main road off Deansgate on Queen’s Street. It catered for ragged children in the area in the nineteenth century, providing free education and often their main meal for the day.  Loc ation of Queen Street Ragged School

I thought I’d talk this week about some leading figures in nineteenth century England who had an interest in the work of the Manchester and Salford Boys’ and Girls’ Refuges and Homes. Today we turn to Anthony Ashley Cooper , 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, English politician, philanthropist and social reformer. Lord Shaftesbury, 1801-1885