• 
• 
• 

• Home
• /
• Projects
• /
• Chesterton
• /
• Victoria Road

Harvey Goodwin House 1962

Cambridge Industrial School, Harvey Goodwin Home for Waifs and Strays

History of the Harvey Goodwin School

1847 Rev. Harvey Goodwin founded the Cambridge Industrial School

It took boys aged 13-15 who were too old to attend the National School but had not managed to get regular employment. Such boys often got into trouble with the police so the school was set up to provide them with instruction in various crafts as well as religious and moral instruction. Initially there were twenty boys who attended each paying 2d per week. The training included gardening, pig-keeping, tailoring, shoe-making and knitting of stockings. By 1867 there was a horse, three cows, a sow and ten pigs.

For more information about the Cambridge Industrial School see:

https://www.hiddenlives.org.uk/homes/CAMBR03.html

http://www.childrenshomes.org.uk/CambridgeIS/

Cambridge Industrial School and Rev Harvey Goodwin. 1847.

---

1851 Industrial School

Richard Boning, 38, industrial school master

Rebecca, wife, 29, b Oakington

Mary Rebecca, 9, daughter, b Grantchester

Henry John, 5, son, b Impington

Emma Jane, 1, daughter,  b Surrey

Elizabeth Dellar,  16, servant, b Oakington

George Nelmes, visitor, 14, scholar, b Upton St Leonard Gloucs

31st March” Romilly notes in his diary: Lucy’s protégé Joseph Saunders (whom she rigged out with a new suit of clothes) went to the Industrial School today, for which he will have to pay 2d weekly.

Romilly’s editor notes: a site was acquired in Victoria Road and more than £700 spent on building the school which opened in 1850 and closed in 1893. An industrial farm was attached. Romilly was among the thirty present at the subscribers meeting in May 1852 when Harvey Goodwin, as secretary, reported that there were 42 boys on the books, that the government inspector had reviewed their work favourably, and that the committee was £100 in debt. The Chronicle (8 May 1852) reminded readers that ‘no gift is more acceptable to the school than cast-off clothes, shoes, or wearing apparel of any other description.’

---

1861 Industrial School

Richard Boning, 47, widower, industrial school master,

Henry S, 15, son, b Impington

Emma J, 11, daughter, b Surrey

Sarah A, 7, daughter, b Chesterton

Amelia C, 3, daughter, b Chesterton

[no boarders listed]

---

1864 a small dormitory was created. The school did not however become a Certified Industrial School for the accommodation of boys placed by magistrates.

---

1871

Richard Boning, 57, industrial school master, b Cambridge

Sara Boning, 52, b Cambridge

Henry S Boning, 25, b Impington

Amelia E Boning, 13, b Chesterton

George Nicholson, boarder, 19, b Chesterton

[In 1861, George Nicholson, 9, is listed with Frederick Webb, 30, labourer, and Anne Webb, 35, together with his brother Wellington, 15. It seems possible that Anne had remarried and George and Wellington were children by her first marriage. It seems that he married Sarah Mitcham in 1881; in 1901 & 1911 he was living at 6 Caius Street;  he died in in Cambridge in 1937]]

William Spencer, boarder, 14, b Bishops Stortford Herts

{In 1861 William, 5, was living with his mother, Ellen, a widow, 31, charwoman, and his siblings Mary, 10, and Robert, 7. In 1881 he is in the army, private William Spencer of the 33rd Brigade at Kempston in Beds. In 1891 he is the publican of the White Hart in Linton, married with three children.]

James Wright, boarder, 14, b Cambridge

William W Cox, boarder, 10, b Bluntisham

Walter T Reynolds, boarder, 12, b Bishop Stortford Herts

[In 1861 Walter, age 2,  is living with his parents and six siblings in Bishops Stortford. His father Thomas, 40, is a maltmaker. In 1891 he is living in the Woolwich Union workhouse, a shoemaker aged 33, with his wife and two children. In 1911 he is a farm labourer in East Peckham, Kent, with his wife and daughter Mabel. He died in Kent in 1937.]

---

1881 Industrial School

Michael Wills, industrial school master 6 acres, b Northpetherton

Emerita, wife, 40, schoolmistress, b Halberton

James Williams, boarder, 15, b Camberwell

Albert Edward Bostock, boarder, 15, b Camberwell

[In 1871 Albert is living with his parents, Thomas, 34, tailor, and his mother Anna Elizabeth, 26, in Southwark.]

Joseph Peach, 15, b Royston

[In 1871, Joseph, 4, is with his parents Joseph, 62, shoemaker, and his mother, Anna, 32, lodging in Layston, Herts.]

Henry Blackwell, 11, b Cambridge

 

---

1891 Industrial School

John Shead, 42, Master of Industrial School, b London

Jane, 33, b Essex

Cecil Shead, 7, b Cambridge

John William Thurley, boarder, 14, b Great Harlingbury Herts

[John Thurley was living in 1881 with his parents. His father, William, died in 1889; his mother Eliza, in 1893. In 1911 he is a cook working in a coffee house in London. When he married in 1917 he was a fish porter. He died in 1952.]

Arthur Sidney Avey, boarder, 14, b Cambridge

[In 1881, Arthur, 4, is living at 16 Guildhall Place with his father George, 28, bricklayer, and his mother Harriett E, 28, dressmaker, three siblings and two lodgers. He joined the Navy in 1895 and in 1901 he is a stoker in the Royal Navy at Portsmouth serving on HMS Duke of Wellington. He served until 1907. He died in 1917 in Greenwich. ]

George Edward Harding, boarder, 14, b Cambridge

[In 1881 George, 3, is living at 37 Cambridge Place with his parents, Alfred, 33, railway porter, mother, Lydia, 33, and four siblings. in 1901 he is married to Sarah, living in Fulham and working as a plasterer.]

Edwin Hebbes, boarder, 13, b Biggleswade Beds

[In 1881 Edwin is living in Harlington, Beds, with his father, Thomas, 34, a police constable, and his mother, Jane, 33, a lacemaker, and five siblings. He joined the Royal Navy in June 1893 and in 1901 he is a leading seaman on the battleship Prince George, in Gibraltar Bay the night of the census. However in 1899 there is a record of him having been a deserter. He leaves the navy in March 1912. His service record shows that he was found guilty of insubordination in 1896 and deserted again in 1907. 15.5.1908 Man informed that provided his character remains “VG” for seven years from 1/1/08 he may apply for the removal of ‘Run’. If his character fall below ‘VG’ the fact is to be reported in order that the question of his further retention may be considered. In 1939 he is living in Harpenden with his wife. He died in 1954.]

Harry T Edwards, boarder, 11, b Cambridge

---

1896 The Waifs and Strays Society took over the former Cambridge Industrial School. Under this management the buildings were refurbished and provided accommodation for 20 boys aged 8 -14. The home continued as a place for industrial training and carpentry was popular.

---

1901

Mary Connell, 33, matron

Deborah Holgate, 25, assistant matron

Sidney Reginald Cox, 13, b Stonehouse Devon

[Sidney was living in the Royal Marine Barracks in East Stonehouse, Devon in 1891. His father Alfred, 38, was a colour sergeant in the marines, mother, Thirza, 38, and four siblings. His mother died in 1896, his father in 1897. In 1911 he is an insurance agent in Barnstaple, Devon. He died in 1925 in St Thomas, Newfoundland, Canada.]

William Henry Marsh, 13, Battersea

William Dyke, 13, Thurlestone Somerset

[William enlisted in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps. in 1905. Place of birth is ‘Durston’. In 1911 he is still with the Kings Royal Rifle Corps and is married at the New Barracks, Gosport.]

Walter William Hodson, 12, Leicestershire

[In 1891 Henry is living in Newark, Leicestershire with his parents and five siblings. ]

George Cheesman, 12, b Farnesboro Kent

Henry P Marsh, 12, b Portland Dorset

Walter Lee, 12, b Balen nr Snaith Yorks

[In 1904 Walter is in the Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) aged 15. Birth place is Balne near Selby. He is a shoemaker. The military record says his apparent age is 14 yrs 6 months; he is 4ft 10ins tall and weighs 87.5 lbs. There is a letter of 9.12.1914 from a Grace Jamieson asking for information about Walter as his fiancee. There is a record of his death on 16th September 1914 at Vailly. This would have been during the First Battle of the Aisne. His mother is recorded as Rose Lee, Burstwick, Hull. Another letter from an officer to his mother explains that the notice of his death in action was first sent to Balne, but returned address unknown. His service record lists several misdemeanours such as staying in bed and refusing to pay a public bus fare. He is described as a good worker at his trade.]

Oliver Hodson, 11, b Leics

[In 1891 Oliver is with his family, age 1, in Newark. His father Henry, 37, is a dyer, his mother is Mary M, 38, silk winder, and there are five siblings. In 1911 he is boarding in Leicester, working as a boiler rivetter at an iron foundry. He died in Cheshire in 1958,]

John P We[i]llis, 11, b Bristol Kingswood

[In 1891, John P Willis, age 1, is in the home of his parents in Oldland, Gloucestershire, William, 27, shoemaker, and his mother Amy, 25, he has two siblings. In 1911 he is living with his grandparents, Joseph and Angelina Pearce, in Bristol working as a galvanised iron labourer. He died in Bristol in 1960.]

George W Goodwin, 11, b Tottenham

Frederick Kent, 10, b Chertsey Surrey

[In 1911 Fredrick is a private in the 2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment in Meerut, India.]

Charles White, 10, b Ipswich

Robert Patts, 10, b Lambeth

Frank C Saunders, 10, b London

[Frank C Saunders in 1891 was living with his family in Marylebone where his father Henry, 32, was a shop porter, and his mother Emma, was 33. He had three siblings. In 1918 he is recorded serving in the RAF, his wife is Fanny.]

Edward C Marshall, 9, b Battersea

[In 1939 Edward C Marshall is an insurance agent living in Wandsworth, London.]

Thomas Conolly, 9, b Crowborough Sussex

Bertram George York, 9, b Bushey Heath Herts

[His father George died in 1900. In 1911 he is living with James John Cutler, 39, labourer, in Watford as a stepson with his mother Harriett, 42, a printer, and three siblings. he joined the 1st Btn The Royal Fusiliers and was killed 28.3.1918.]

James Lowther Sa[u]nderson, 9, b Bishops Noyse Yorks

[In 1911 he is living with his uncle, Henry Sanderson, 41, head man at a racing stable, with his aunt and five cousins. He is working as a stableman.]

William Henry Toney, 9, b London

{There is evidence he served in the army in WWI.]

David Arthur Marshall, 8, b Battersea

[In 1911 he is serving in the 1st Btn South Staffordshire Regiment in ‘Arabia, Cyprus, and Gibraltar.’ Occupation is shoemaker. He was killed in action on 7 Nov 1914 in France.]

See case study 8473

See case study 9146

---

1911

Miss Mary Connell, matron, 43, b Bradford

May Gifford, assistant matron, 23, b Cambridge

Herbert Saunders, 13, b London

Edward Harding, 13, b Gloucester Hill

Fred Nash, 13, b Norfolk

Gordon Hinchcombe [Stinchcombe?], 13, b London

[May have have travelled to and from Canada circa 1925]

Thomas Jones, 13, b London

Sam Carr, 12, b Durham

Victor James Collis, 11, b Somerset

[In 1901 is living with his family in Abbas and Temple Combe Somerset. Edwin, 36, is an ag.lab., Susan is 30, and he has two siblings.]

Kenneth Croucher, 11, b Norfolk

Stephen Hughes Harvey, 11, b Guildford

[In 1901 he is 1 and with his family in Guildford. There is a mother, Harriett, 28, charwoman and two siblings. There was a father, William, 38, not in the census. In 1923 he seems to have emigrated to Chile where he had about nine children with Maria Estelle Harvey (nee Guajarde). The family returned to England in 1936. He died in 1979. For photo see Ancestry]

Murrice [sic] Henry Dunn, 10, b Cheshunt

[In 1901, Maurice, 1, is living in Cheshunt, with his mother, Emma Dunn, and grandparents, Thomas, 54, bricklayer, and Charlotte Kirby, three siblings and an aunt and a cousin. He died in Herts in 1944.]

Robert Smyth, 10, b Durham

[It seems very likely that this is the same Robert Robinson Smyth, b 7/5/1900 in Hartlepool, Durham, who was killed on 31st May 1914 during the Battle of Jutland. He had started service in the Royal Navy in September 1915. He was a 1st Boy on HMS Queen Mary which was sunk by enemy gunfire with the loss of over 1200 lives.]

Walter James William, 10, NK

Robert Parcell, 10, b Enfield

[In 1901 Robert is living with his family in Enfield: James, 28, bricklayer, Florence,23, and three brothers. When he married in Enfield in 1929, he was a nursery hand. He died in Enfield in 1977.]

Fred Clary, 10, NK

[This is most probably Frederick Henry Clary who was living in 1901 with his family in Suffolk. William, 29, was an engine turner, Ellen was 32, and Fred was the youngest of five children. He died in Chelmsford in 1989.]

Fred Bennett, 9, b Croydon

Frederick George Bram[b]ley, 9, b Hants

[Frederick George Bramley was born at Alton Hants in 1902. His father Samuel died in 1904; his mother Kate died in 1906. He served in the Royal Navy from 1929 to November 1941, his last ship being HMS Dauntless. He died in 1978. For photos see Ancestry.]

Bertie Parcell, 8, b Enfield

[Brother of Robert, above.]

Fred Flint, 6, b Surrey

[This is probably Frederick George Flint, born in Coulsdon, Surrey in 1905]

 

---

1913

The Harvey Goodwin Home for Waifs and Strays

Miss Mary Connell, matron

S Luke’s Boys School

T Holt Headmaster

---

1914 the home was closed because of its deteriorating condition.

---

1924 foundation stone of new home laid in July on site to the north known as St Luke’s Fields. It was officially opened 1st October 1925. The home could now hold 31 boys up to the age of 13. The Harvey Goodwin home set up its own Boy Scout troop and Wolf Cub pack.

---

1933 a successful Pound Day

---

---

1939-1945 The home continued operating during WWII taking in boys evacuated from other homes that were at risk of bombing.

---

1930s – 1950s:

This was the home of the 8th Cambridge Scouts.

---

1947 the home was converted for use as a nursery and was reopened 2.10.1947. the nursery provided accomodation for up to 20 children who were waiting adoption or boarding-out. It was also a training centre for nursery nurses.

---

1970s: the focus shifted to that of older children. In 1972 the residents of the Society’s St Agnes Home at Pevensey moved to Cambridge and the property was renamed Harvey Goodwin House.

---

1980

The  home closed and the building was used for private residence.

---

For more information on the Harvey Goodwin home see:

http://www.childrenshomes.org.uk/CambridgeWS/

Dear Visitor,

 

Thank you for exploring historical Cambridgeshire! We hope you enjoy your visit.

 

Did you know that we are a small, independent Museum and that we rely on donations from people like you to survive?

 

If you love Capturing Cambridge, and you are able to, we’d appreciate your support today.

 

Every donation makes a world of difference.

 

Thank you,

The Museum of Cambridge