3-021-472 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Distress in East London: sewing-class in Berner-Street, Commercial-Road East, 1868. Lessons in sewing organised by the Central Executive Relief Committee at the Mansion House. 'A great effort has recently been made to prevent these persons and their families from sinking into the hopeless ranks of chronic pauperism. This effort was originated by Miss Burdett Coutts, whose munificent charities...are so well known...Its advantages are not confined to St. John's district, which has a population of 6000 poor people, but it is open to the whole parish. Only widows, or women whose husbands are out of employment, are invited to the working party...The class is held at the American Rice Mills, premises which have been kindly lent for this purpose by Mr. Roper...The women are paid twopence an hour, or ninepence for a day's work. The cost of carrying on this work is £20 a week, exclusive of the materials. Besides the sewing-class, there are a soup-kitchen, a district visiting society, a children's dinner fund, and penny readings once a week, in the same place. The committee of the sewing class could admit double the number of needlewomen, but are compelled to stop the issue of tickets for want of the requisite funds'. From "Illustrated London News", 1868.