“So They May be Usefull to Themselves”: Work and Apprenticeship in the Ackworth Branch Foundling Hospital, 1757–1773

Abstract

During the period 1756–1760, the Foundling Hospital accepted more children for admission than could be housed at its London premises. Branch Hospitals were opened across the country, including at Ackworth, Yorkshire. Ackworth Branch Hospital operated a manufactory, staffed by many of the children it received. The manufactory provided the children with experience prior to their undertaking apprenticeships and raised revenue for the Hospital. Children at Ackworth were apprenticed to a range of trades and, whilst most apprenticeships were successful, some were not. This article examines the training and apprenticeships provided to the Ackworth foundlings. It demonstrates that the Foundling Hospital took its role as in loco parentis seriously when apprenticeships went wrong. The hospital re-received children whose apprenticeships failed and provided them with further opportunities to become useful members of society.