Post-Medieval — C.1735; 18th century
Charity child
This statue of a charity school boy used to stand outside the door of Castle Baynard Ward School at 6 Sermon Lane. It was displayed alongside a statue of a female pupil. The school was established in 1733 by John Barber, a prosperous printer and alderman of the Castle Baynard Ward. He was elected Lord Mayor of London in 1732.
The statue shows a typical charity school boy's uniform. Charity schools were often known as 'blue coat schools'. They were free elementary schools which provided children with a basic education in the 'three Rs'. The Castle Baynard Ward School existed until 1901. In 1962 this figure was given to the Guildhall Library by Cook and Watts Ltd, a firm that had taken over the school's building.
- Category:
- Post-Medieval
- Object ID:
- 23059
- Object name:
- Charity child
- Artist/Maker:
- —
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- c.1735; 18th century
- Material:
stone, paint
- Measurements/duration:
- H 1110 mm, W 463 mm, D 380 mm, Wt 86 kg
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.