Bedfordshire Training Home for Girls 1879 to 1886
Excerpts from the Minute Books of the Committee
The Committee for the Bedfordshire Training Home for Girls was formed in March 1879.
The home was intended for the help of young girls of the age of 14, who from no fault of their own were placed in dangerous and undesirable surroundings.
At a drawing room meeting Miss Ellice Hopkins told of the urgent needs of young girls. A committee was formed consisting of Lady Graham (President), Mrs Boultbee, Mrs Edmonds, Mrs Kirby, Mrs Washington & Mrs Goldsmith.
A small house at 102 Tavistock Street was rented.
It was intended that girls should remain in the house from 6 to 18 months and be instructed in all branches of household work, needlework, machine sewing, and washing. They would receive religious instruction and be taught reading, writing & arithmetic.
On 13 August 1879 Mary Cox, aged 10, was the first girl to be received into the Home, followed by Sarah & Nellie Shortland aged 14 & 12, Rachel Fisher aged 15, Alice Dale, 14 and Lizzie Landon, 11.
The first matron was Elizabeth Romanes. In Oct 1882 the Committee ordered a vote of thanks to 'the excellent Matron Miss Romanes, for the able & conscientious manner in which she has carried out the management of the Home; she has had the sole charge of it for 2½ years & her unwearied zeal and perseverance has been the means of making the Home what it now is.'
Girls in the Home in the 1881 Census:
102, Tavistock Street, Bedford
Elizabeth J Romaines, Head, 30, Matron of Training Home, born Scotland
Lucy Walker, Boarder, 17, Scholar, born Northampton
Sarah Shortland, Boarder, 16, Scholar, born Stepney
Mary Ann Robinson, Boarder, 15, Scholar, born Northampton
Alice Dale, Boarder, 15, Scholar, born Bedford
Ellen Shortland, Boarder, 14, Scholar, born Bedford
Elizabeth Landon, Boarder, 13, Scholar, born Kensington
Elizabeth Humphries, Boarder, 10, born Bedford
Mary Ann Robinson, Boarder, 9, Scholar, born Bedford
Mary Poole, Boarder, 9, Scholar, born Kempston
Mary Hill, Servant, 19, Domestic Servant, born Cardington
After a short time it was found necessary to remove to a larger home in order that a greater number of applicants could be received. Mrs Turnley, a member of the committee, secured the new building 'on favourable terms' and alterations & additions were made, including a well equipped laundry adjoining the house, where girls could be taught and it was hoped that a profitable business could be carried on to assist in providing funds for the maintenance of the home.
In December 1881 the Bedford Town Council changed the name of Hawes Street to Tavistock Place. The girls left their previous home to move to Tavistock Place on the 17th June 1882.
Beds & Luton Archives Service holds plans of this 1 Tavistock Place [ref. BorBP941/1-2 & additions BorBP3432/1-2].
In Feb 1883 the Committee advertised for 'an experienced laundry woman, not under 25 years of age, who will undertake to wash & train girls in laundry work.'
On 20th February Mrs Hughes, formerly laundry maid for Mrs Dudley Ryder of Hemel Hempstead, was appointed. She resigned 27 June 1884, but the committee struggled to find someone to replace her and she stayed on.
After an incident in April 1883 where the girls were calling out to boys on the street from the windows one Sunday evening when the Matron was out, the windows were fastened shut and the girls were sent to evening services at St Paul's Mission Hall every Sunday evening. The same year the Committee raised the question of a Punishment Book being kept by the Matron but Miss Romanes strongly objected to this – so much so that she tendered her resignation. The Committee refused to accept this and swiftly abandoned the plan.
In January 1884 after having trouble securing regular teachers for the girls in the afternoons because the ladies feared catching ringworm, the Committee appointed Ada Lumsden of 8 St Peters Street for 1½ hours each day for 5/- a week. Ada was only 19 when she was appointed to a job which involved teaching girls some of whom were not much younger than herself.
On 21 April 1885 the Matron Miss Romanes & Laundrywoman Mrs Hughes both tendered resignation, at a time when there were reports of a 'great spirit of insubordination' within the home. The Committee wrote to Miss Romanes:
'I am desired by the Committee of the Girls Training Home to express their extreme regret at the announcement contained in your letter of April 21 stating your intention to resign the post of Matron.
Looking back on the past five years during which you have been with us, we cannot but feel thankful for the very great success which has been achieved. We feel sure that every girl who has passed under your care has received real benefit impressions from their religious training which will be a lasting blessing to them. This we attribute to your unceasing efforts for their highest good, & to the example of consistent devotion to duty which you have set before them. The difficulty of the work and the self devotion necessary to carry it on successfully can only be fully understood by those who are personally engaged in it.
As a Committee therefore we thank you in our own name, and in that of our subscribers for all the effort you have made & shall part from you with a sense of personal & very great regret.
From 26 May – 16 June 1885 the Committee checked the suitability of Mrs Thomas for the position of Matron and appointed her. However, Mrs Thomas wrote with her resignation after only a month in the post, leaving on 11th August. She was replaced on the same day by Mrs Salmon. Mrs Poole, visiting to inspect the home 15th September reported that the conduct of the girls had been very bad, with conflict for power between the Matron and the girls 'becoming dangerous & painful'. Matron requested that at least 3 of the older girls should be placed in service. The finances of the home were also under severe strain at this time, with profits from the laundry much diminished and fewer charitable subscriptions coming in. This resulted in Miss Lumsden being given a fortnights notice from 15th Sep 1885, and Mary Poole being removed from the school of Mrs Mitchell but allowed back when Miss Mitchell pointed out that examinations were about to be taken.
Further upheaval followed on 22nd Sep 1885 when Lily Dale ran away from the home after arguing with the Matron and was found to be with her mother at Gravel Lane, Bedford. As the Matron had dismissed Lily saying she would not stay in the house with her a moment longer, the Committee decided to request that Mrs Salmon resign.
She stayed on until 3rd October and the Committee struggled to find a replacement, the former teacher Ada Lumsden agreed to take charge for a short while. Throughout October & November the Committee strove to find a replacement, and even considered closing the home for a time, as only four girls were resident. A Mrs Northcote was interviewed for the post but not appointed, as she was a member of the 'Open Brethren' and would not agree to attend Church Services with the girls. At the end of November Miss Emma Cossey from Liverpool applied, and agreed to come on a months trial, and began on 2nd December 1885. Her position was made permanent on 16th Mar 1886, with a salary of £30 per annum.
There was a high turnover of laundry staff too, Margaret Welch at £16 per year engaged as under-laundry maid was found to have severe sight problems and was let go by the committee 21 July 1885. Ellen Beevors was engaged as Head Laundry maid at £25 per year from 30 June 1885, but resigned two weeks later on 13 July stating she found the girls too rough. Ann Booth as under laundry maid from 13 July 1885 was found to have very little experience, was kept on as she was keen to learn but then served notice as she was considered 'injurious' to the girls. A Mrs Taylor was appointed Head Laundry Maid after a lengthy interview with the committee on 26 Sep 1885, and started on 5th October at a wage of £25. Jane Christmas was appointed second laundry maid the same day at a wage of £14, raised to £16 on 3rd Nov upon her complaint that she was doing more 'fine work' than she had thought. Mary Ann Robinson, a girl resident at the home was appointed 3rd laundry maid on 1st Oct 1885. Mrs Taylor & Jane Christmas both gave notice on 10th Nov 1885 that they wished to leave, complaining of the girls conduct being disrespectful. The laundry was greatly reduced and it wasn't until 8 June 1886 that a new laundry maid, Sarah Freeman of Woburn was engaged for £24 per year.
The laundry not bringing in money meant the home was in a dire financial position and the Committee redoubled their efforts to ensure charitable subscriptions. An anonymous donor offered to loan the money outstanding for a time, and Mr & Mrs Alexander offered to show some Egyptian paintings and talk about their trip to Egypt in order to raise funds on 18 Jan 1886.
The home was empty of girls 13 April 1886, and it was thoroughly cleaned.