The Story of the Westerham Foundlings - An Exhibition at Quebec House in collaboration with Coram
Explore the fascinating story of the 18th century children left in the care of the Foundling Hospital. Discover the role of maternal love tokens, and see those created by school children of today.
- Booking not needed
- Free event
In 1739, Thomas Coram established the Foundling Hospital in London for the "education and maintenance of exposed and deserted young children”. It was the first example of children’s social care in the UK, and marked the beginning of Coram, the UK's first and longest-serving children’s charity.
It soon found itself unable to meet the ever-increasing demands on its services. A branch hospital was subsequently established in Westerham, Kent at Wellstreet, better known to us today as Chartwell.
Join us to find out more about the Westerham foundlings and the tokens that their mothers left with them when they were given to the care of the Foundling Hospital. 469 children passed through the Westerham branch of the London Foundling Hospital. See the tokens crafted by local school children to represent the Westerham foundlings.
This is a free exhibition in the Coach House and was created in collaboration with Coram.
If you would also like to visit Quebec House, normal admission or National Trust membership applies. Please pre-book a timed entry ticket for house visits.
Last entry is 30 minutes before closing time.
Times
The basics
- Accessibility
Mobility parking in town car park. Loose gravel path in places. Accessible toilet. Small step into the Coach House. Exhibition is via several stairs.
- Meeting point
This exhibition is in the Coach House.
- Suitability for children
Children welcome.
- Other
To learn more about the history of Quebec House and General James Wolfe, please pre-book tickets for Quebec House. Normal admission or National Trust membership applies. To learn more about Coram, head to their website: coram.org.uk. Coram is a vibrant group of specialist charities and organisations, supporting hundreds of thousands of children, young people and families every year. They champion children’s rights and wellbeing, and make lives better through legal support, advocacy, adoption and their therapeutic, educational and cultural programmes.
Upcoming events
Heritage Open Days at Quebec House -Westerham - a stroll through time
As part of the Heritage Open Days Festival, discover the changing, and occasionally not so changing, face of Westerham on a guided stroll around the town.
Heritage Open Days at Quebec House - Our Place, Your Past
Discover the family home of James Wolfe, whose victory at the Battle of Quebec changed the course of history. In the Coach House, learn the story of the Westerham foundlings and uncover more about your own family history with Findmypast.
Heritage Open Days at Quebec House - Meet 'Mrs Wadham'
Discover the story of Mrs Wadham, Foundling Hospital matron, and her role in running the Westerham branch in the 18th century
Heritage Open Days at Quebec House: Finding my foundling
Known most often as the home of James Wolfe and Winston Churchill, the everyday stories of Westerham are just as powerful. Join us for this pop-up talk where we'll explore one of these: an 18th century foundling called Edmund Fitzgeorge.