3-021-176 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Home for Destitute Boys, Bisley, Surrey, 1869. An industrial '...farm-school...for the reformation and employment of the destitute and homeless boys of London...Last year there were gathered from the streets into the refuge no less than 350 boys, and still they come begging to be received...The building...is Early Gothic, and consists of a centre and two wings, connected by corridors. The centre contains committee-rooms, store-rooms, living-room for the master, and separate infirmaries. The west wing contains workshops for several departments, and over these is a fine spacious dormitory...In the rear are the kitchen and other offices, which are separate buildings; and at the back of each wing are swimming-baths and lavatories. The water supply is obtained from rain-water tanks, sunk in the ground, and from a large tank placed in one of the towers of the building. The sanitary arrangements are excellent. The frontage of the building is 160 ft., and its total cost has been £5757. It is built of red bricks, and the front is ornamented with bands and patterns of coloured bricks. The architects are Messrs. Habershon, Brock, and Webb, of Bedford-place; and the builders Messrs. Carter and Son, of Horseferry-road, Westminster'. From "Illustrated London News", 1869.