Orphanage Information?

[Osserick]

My grandfather Wilfred James Spary was born in 1907 in Southwark. His father James died in 1909 in Lambeth and his mother died in 1916 in Bermondsey. I was told that Wilfred was in an orphanage for a couple of years after his mother died, before he was adopted. Where would be the best place to find information about what orphanage he went to?

Many thanks.

[Mabel Bagshawe]

 I can see Wilfred admitted in April 1910 and discharged May 1910 - potentially to Norwood schools. Notes mother Alice in Lambeth Infirmary, and father James, a carman, address unknown

Then 20 June 1914 he is returned from Peckham Homes to be discharged to Mother, of 35 Farncombe St.

Will dig around to see if I can find more in the unindexed poorlaw files. Have to head out now

[Mabel Bagshawe]

Have also found some entries as James rather than Wilfred - a number of admissions in 1916 related to mother being in infirmary. Her and his address is also sometime c/o his sister Lilian Evans of Loftie St. Looks like he may have been in Sirley school as well as Peckham homes. I can;t find stuff later than 1916 for him

[Osserick]

Thank you Mabel for looking up this information for me.

It sounds like after Wilfred's father died in 1909, his mother was too ill to look after him. Alice died in 1916 from acute bronchitis. Apparently, he was always known as James (Jim) and not Wilfred.

The story I have been told is...Lilian was adopted by James & Alice in the 1890's because at the time it seemed they were unable to produce children. Surprisingly, they had Wilfred in 1907. So Lilian and Wilfred were brother and step-sister. Lilian then married John Evans (1911). Whilst John was fighting in the great war, Lilian adopted Wilfred after Alice died in 1916.

Where would I be able to see the information you found? Is it online or do I need to visit the archives?

Thanks again.

[Mabel Bagshawe]

The info comes from the London Metropolitan Archives collection on Ancestry

[Osserick]

Thanks Mabel. I will look at getting a subscription.