Lost Children of Georgian London (Part 1)

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

History Hit

Myths, Folklore, Mystery, History, Ghosts, Society & Culture, Murder, Ufos, True Crime, Paranormal, Supernatural, Serial Killers

4.6 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 16 December 2024

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today Anthony and Maddy look into the heartbreaking history of the Foundling Hospital, now London’s saddest museum.

Starting in the 18th century, hear the story of Thomas Coram, the hospital's founder, and the tragic circumstances that led to the establishment of this institution.

From the brutal streets of Georgian London, to the moments desperate mothers tried to admit their children; the history of the Foundling Hospital will stay with you for a long time.

Thanks to: Coram and the Foundling Hospital.

This episode was mixed by Tomos Delargy, and produced by Freddy Chick. The senior producer is Charlotte Long.

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All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal is a History Hit podcast.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, we're your host's Anthony Delaney and Maddie Pelling.
0:03.7	And if you would like After Dark myths, misdeeds and the paranormal, ad free and get early access, sign up to History Hit.
0:11.1	With a History Hit subscription, you can also watch hundreds of hours of original documentaries with top history presenters and enjoy a new release every week.
0:20.7	Sign up now by visiting historyhit.com forward slash subscribe. top history presenters and enjoy a new release every week.
0:24.8	Sign up now by visiting historyhit.com forward slash subscribe.
0:41.6	Thomas Corrin, ship's master, had recently returned home from America and was making his way from the Docklands of Rotherhide to the centre of London.
0:43.9	Walkers ran past him.
0:51.3	Shops opened, coaches rolled, carts shook the ground, the street rang with the cries of the city.
0:57.0	Here and there, its inhabitants went about their lives. A woman from Billingsgate carrying fish, a milkmaid chalking her bill on the door. The crash of barrels
1:03.4	rolling into brewer's cellars, the creek of swinging signs in the wind that threatened rain.
1:10.7	From his carriage window, Coram saw it all, a black canal
1:14.4	of mud burbling with sewage down the centre of the street, chimney-sweeps skulking along, marking
1:20.8	sooty stains on heedless passes by. Dustmen pushing carts with ashes flying off them,
1:30.5	and butchers with hands caked in blood.
1:38.7	None of this shocked Coram. London life was dirty and hard. It always had been. So what?
1:48.7	But what made his brow furrow now? What he kept seeing and thinking about, were the children. The infants of this hard, busy city spat out onto mud-splattered street corners and down alleyways. Boys and
1:57.6	girls of eight or ten years of age starving amongst the throng like cats or dogs.
2:04.6	Small faces huddled in shadows, older ones holding the little ones in their laps.
2:10.8	Babies abandoned by the side of the road by mothers who could not care for them, dare not care for them.
2:18.4	How could a city of such wealth accept this?
2:23.8	Something needed to be done, and he, Thomas Coram, ship's master, would do it if no one else would. Hello and welcome to After Dark.
2:58.9	I, as ever, am Anthony.
	...

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