Now, there is always a story behind a picture, and so it is with this one of a tent carrying the name Chorlton-cum-Hardy.
We are in Birkdale in Southport, and during the late 19th century is the holiday camp for the Manchester and Salford Boys’ and Girls’ Refuges, which had been founded in 1870 to help destitute children.
At first the charity’s work was confined to offering bed for the night and breakfast to a handful of homeless young people.
Within a decade it had expanded to include girls as well as boys, had built permanent homes, established industrial training schools and was engaged in prosecuting neglectful and abusive parents as well as campaigning for legislation to protect young people who made a living from hawking products on the streets.
And amongst all these activities it organised summer holidays.
"The first summer outings were just that and consisted of a day out by the sea but very quickly stretched to a week with the young people living in tents. The holiday season lasted just 3 weeks and in the first year in 1883, 48 boys were taken away to Morecambe. These numbers steadily increased over the years with the camp also visiting Blackpool and Llandudno before a more permanent site in Andsell, near Lytham, was chosen. Lent by John Talbot Clifton, Esquire of Lytham Hall, this site included Byrom Hall, allowing for shelter beyond the tents. By the end of the 19th century, the camp had moved again, this time to Birkdale, Southport, which was able to accommodate 300 boys.
The increase of numbers showed just how popular the holidays were. At its height of popularity, children could be seen queuing outside the Children's Shelter on Chatham Street, Manchester for a place at the Summer Camp.
Poor boys were often recommended by City Missionaries, Ragged School Teachers and other workers amongst the poor.
The only qualification for attendance was “the need of the rest and change”.
The season now ran from May, through the summer for 20 weeks. Eventually the tents were replaced by corrugated huts which were lined with pitch pine and according to one commentator were “quite impervious to wind and weather” which was all to the good given that many of the annual reports described the summer weather as challenging.
Much of the finance came from voluntary contributions which brings us back to that tent.
The trust made much of what a contribution would pay for, explaining that “six shillings, covers railway fare and maintenance and £60 per week would cover all expenses while £2000 would meet the season’s needs.”*
And in the case of some organizations, like Sunday Schools and the Pleasant Sunday Afternoon Brotherhood this extended to tents.
At present I can’t track the source of the funding for our tent, but it dates from the 1920s.
The picture comes from the archives of the charity which today is called the Together Trust and is based in Cheadle.
And is in the new book on the history of the trust which was been written by me and Liz Sykes to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the charity.
Location; Chorlton and Southport
Picture; The Chorlton-cum-Hardy Tent, circa 1920s, courtesy of the Together Trust**
*A new book on the Together Trust, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20new%20book%20on%20the%20Together%20Trust
** Together Trust, https://www.togethertrust.org.uk/
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| The tent, 1920s |
At first the charity’s work was confined to offering bed for the night and breakfast to a handful of homeless young people.
Within a decade it had expanded to include girls as well as boys, had built permanent homes, established industrial training schools and was engaged in prosecuting neglectful and abusive parents as well as campaigning for legislation to protect young people who made a living from hawking products on the streets.
And amongst all these activities it organised summer holidays.
"The first summer outings were just that and consisted of a day out by the sea but very quickly stretched to a week with the young people living in tents. The holiday season lasted just 3 weeks and in the first year in 1883, 48 boys were taken away to Morecambe. These numbers steadily increased over the years with the camp also visiting Blackpool and Llandudno before a more permanent site in Andsell, near Lytham, was chosen. Lent by John Talbot Clifton, Esquire of Lytham Hall, this site included Byrom Hall, allowing for shelter beyond the tents. By the end of the 19th century, the camp had moved again, this time to Birkdale, Southport, which was able to accommodate 300 boys.
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| The appeal, 1906 |
Poor boys were often recommended by City Missionaries, Ragged School Teachers and other workers amongst the poor.
The only qualification for attendance was “the need of the rest and change”.
Much of the finance came from voluntary contributions which brings us back to that tent.
The trust made much of what a contribution would pay for, explaining that “six shillings, covers railway fare and maintenance and £60 per week would cover all expenses while £2000 would meet the season’s needs.”*
At present I can’t track the source of the funding for our tent, but it dates from the 1920s.
The picture comes from the archives of the charity which today is called the Together Trust and is based in Cheadle.
And is in the new book on the history of the trust which was been written by me and Liz Sykes to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the charity.
Location; Chorlton and Southport
Picture; The Chorlton-cum-Hardy Tent, circa 1920s, courtesy of the Together Trust**
** Together Trust, https://www.togethertrust.org.uk/
this is a great reading !! and the photo of the tent is also a great photo...so sad that there were so many children , who were actually living somehow on the streets.....1920 my Mom was here in Canada but from 1902 till she went to Dr.Barnardo's ,lived on the streets begging...by the way she was about 5 years old... these writing's are very informative and I thank you , I am also very upset to think that the British government at the time these children were on the streets or that families actually gave the children to the streets or Orphanage's , did nothing to help. My Mother came from Norwich , she never wanted to go back and I can understand why. Thanks so much for all the work you are doing , to have these children acknowledged.....Mary Arnold
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