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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => London & Middlesex Lookup Requests => London and Middlesex => England => London & Middlesex Completed Lookup Requests => Topic started by: Tugboat Annie on Sunday 14 June 09 23:45 BST (UK)

Title: St. Ann's Society Schools Brixton Hill in the 1840's COMPLETED
Post by: Tugboat Annie on Sunday 14 June 09 23:45 BST (UK)
Hello all,

Does anyone have any information concerning this boarding school?

My gg grandfather & his little brother were boarders there in 1841. I have found a photo of a lithograph showing the building but the information given talks only about the architect. The school was built in 1826.

Do hope someone can help me.

Ann
Title: Re: St. Ann's Society Schools Brixton Hill in the 1840's
Post by: groom on Monday 15 June 09 19:36 BST (UK)
Hi
I think this school was later known as the Royal Asylum of St Annes. I had a relative there in the 1871 census. I googled it and there is quite a bit of information.  It was founded for children whose parents had once been prosperous but who had fallen on hard times. It later moved to Redhill

Jan
Title: Re: St. Ann's Society Schools Brixton Hill in the 1840's
Post by: Tugboat Annie on Monday 15 June 09 19:58 BST (UK)
Jan,

Thanks for this info ... will go "googling" to see what I can find. The "prosperous family fallen on hard times" could possibly fit the bill.

Mary Ann Padgen b. 1792 (father a very wealthy yeoman farmer in Chiddingly, Sussex) married William Child b. 1788 of whom I know nothing. William died before the 1841 Census leaving his wife with eleven children to raise and in 1841, I found two of the boys (Harry & Trayton), boarding at St. Ann's.  Harry was my gg grandfather.

Thanks again
Ann
Title: Re: St. Ann's Society Schools Brixton Hill in the 1840's
Post by: Tugboat Annie on Monday 15 June 09 20:23 BST (UK)
Jan,

Have just sorted through the google info.
St. Ann's at Brixton is not the same as at Redhill ... even the buildings are quite different.

Unfortunately, I came up with the same lithograph, name of Architect etc ... but no details as to the school itself and the type of education it offered.

Still hoping for the impossible  ::)

Ann
Title: Re: St. Ann's Society Schools Brixton Hill in the 1840's
Post by: groom on Monday 15 June 09 20:43 BST (UK)
Hi I've PM you a link. The school at Streatham/Brixton didn't move to Redhill until 1885. I still think it is the same school - see what you think.

Jan
Title: Re: St. Ann's Society Schools Brixton Hill in the 1840's
Post by: Tugboat Annie on Monday 15 June 09 21:08 BST (UK)
Jan,

You're probably right ... my boys were at Brixton in 1841 and I have the litho so I guess I will have to do with that ... I also came across a letter written in 1836 (on the letter-head, it's the same building as on the litho) thanking certain ladies for their work at the Fancy Fair held in Regent's Park in aid of the School.

End of story  ???

Harry Child went on to become a successful Draper and ended up in Brighton owning 2 "lodging houses" on King's Road on the seafront so I guess his schooling must have been good  :D

Bye
Ann
Title: Re: St. Ann's Society Schools Brixton Hill in the 1840's
Post by: Tugboat Annie on Monday 15 June 09 21:28 BST (UK)
Jan,

Your description in your PM is perfect ... that's it exactly

here's the letter head
Title: Re: St. Ann's Society Schools Brixton Hill in the 1840's
Post by: groom on Monday 15 June 09 21:36 BST (UK)
Hi Ann

Glad to be of help and glad we solved that one.

Jan

Title: Re: St. Ann's Society Schools Brixton Hill in the 1840's
Post by: Tugboat Annie on Monday 15 June 09 21:49 BST (UK)
Jan,

Just to finish off ... the letter was signed by Edward Frederick Leeks, Secretary. 

I went hunting and came up with Edward Frederick Leeks, a Sollicitor in Westminster. The letter was written "by order of the Commitee" and expresses the "best thanks of this Court". I guess that I now know one of the School's governors  (not that this tells me much more about poor little Harry & Trayton  :P)

Thank you so much for your interest & encouragement.  I can now add a few more lines to my ever-growing famiily story.

Ann