Mystery Photo of Mothers and Babies - help with date etc

[Avondale16]

This photo was found amongst others kept by my grandmother. Unlike my paternal side I have very few family photos from my maternal side of the family. At this stage I do not know if the photo includes a family member or not but I assume it was significant for some reason to my grandmother.

It would be great if I could get a likely date for when it was taken (I thought maybe 1920's or perhaps a little earlier). I'm assuming it was taken in the UK? Also the context of the image is puzzling - nearly all the babies appear to be holding certificates - are these women the mothers??

Any help would be greatly appreciated
Keith

[Wiggy]

The 'mothers' don't look too thrilled do they?  I wonder if they are the mothers?

Interesting to know what it was all about.     

Wiggy   

[Avondale16]

The 'mothers' don't look too thrilled do they?  I wonder if they are the mothers?

Interesting to know what it was all about.     

Wiggy

It's a mystery - I wondered if the children were orphans?

Keith

[Wiggy]

That was a thought I had too - are they being put up for adoption and is that what their certificates/bits of paper are all about?

Interesting thought isn't it.  The building behind looks as if it could be an orphanage or something . . .but the adults not being in uniform is a teaser.

Wiggy

[Lisajb]

It’s probably insignificant but two of the women seem to be dressed similarly - 3rd and 4th from left, similar hats, similar jacket/blouse combo.

[Gadget]

Not sure where your mother's side came from, Keith, but it reminds me of the rear of Coram Fields nursery/ foundlings hospital in Bloomsbury.

(By the 1970s it was a day nursery and I used to pick my niece up from there when I was visiting)

[Gadget]

As to date, I think it might be WW1 time - say 1915-1919 ish.

[Avondale16]

Not sure where your mother's side came from, Keith, but it reminds me of the rear of Coram Fields nursery/ foundlings hospital in Bloomsbury.

(By the 1970s it was a day nursery and I used to pick my niece up from there when I was visiting)

That's interesting Gadget - she was born in Essex in 1904 but met my grandfather in London. Also towards the end of her life after grandfather died she insisted on moving back to London but would never say why it was so important to her. You can guess what I'm thinking......

Keith

[Avondale16]

As to date, I think it might be WW1 time - say 1915-1919 ish.

In that case it rules out her being one of the women in the photo - oh dear!