Lewisham Children

The Girls’ Evening Home Movement, which emphasised reading, music and cooking lessons, was established in response to the perceived need for separate social activities for working class men and women, following scandal at Plymouth’s Fancy Fair in 1886.  Social purity campaigners claimed that young girls were being ruined at Plymouth’s Fancy Fair every week, and then bringing contamination into the homes of the well-to-do where they worked as servants.  When a girl disappeared at the fair, a man with a history of brothel keeping was prosecuted, but the trial was almost entirely devoted to ‘the immoral influence of the fair’ and opposition to working class entertainments like fairs, which allowed easy socialising between the sexes, quickly grew.

The Lambeth Girls' Evening Home was founded in 1887 by Mary Beatrice Hoare.

By 1901 the Home was located at 122 Kennington Road.

The 1901 Census of 122 Kennington Road was taken on the night of Sunday March 31st 1901.

The Times, Tuesday, Jan 17, 1905:

LAMBETH GIRLS HOME.

THE BISHOP OF ROCHESTER, on Saturday, formally opened a new hall built in the rear of the Lambeth Working Girls' Evening Home, in Kennington-road.  The Duchess of Bedford, the Archdeacon of Southwark, the Rural Dean (Rev. Canon Bromfield), Mr. S. H. Leeder, and a number of ladies interested In the Home and the “Girls' Realm Guild of Service and Good Fellowship" took part in the proceedings.  The Rector of Lambeth (Rev. Dr. Walpole) presided.
Mr. S. H. LEEDER (vice-president of the Guild), described how the hall was the outcome of a spontaneous desire on the part of members of the Guild to do honour to the memory of Queen Victoria.  Contributions from members were largely supplemented by the proceeds of a concert held by the kindness of the Duchess of Sutherland, at Stafford House, in 1903, to which Queen Alexandra and other members of the Royal Family gave their patronage.  The building with electric lighting was completed at the cost of £330, and on behalf of the Guild he presented the Queen Victoria Memorial-hall in the hope that it would assist the useful work of the Home.
The keys were presented to the Duchess of Bedford, as president of the Girls’ Evening Homes, and the Bishop of Rochester conducted a short dedicatory service.
The DUCHESS OF BEDFORD said the gift was the result of much self-denial, enthusiasm, and perseverance, on the part of members of the Guild, qualities which were not lacking on the part of those who conducted the Home as she well knew, having stood at the cradle of the club in 1887, and having since then been associated with the work.  The help was given to those who wore worthy of it.  The constant care of Miss Evans and Miss Sutherland, who resided in the house, had maintained a high standard of conduct among the members.  In a spirit of amity and unity the work had been carried on under difficulties arising from restricted premises, difficulties which would be removed by this generous gift.  With increase of members there would be increased expenditure and need for more workers, and knowing the kindness and energy among the 2,000 members of the Guild, she hoped that experienced delegates from that institution would give their assistance to the committee.
The BISHOP OF ROCHESTER said the work done by the Home was such as he should like to see indefinitely multiplied, and the present gathering was a happy instance of how those who had and those who had not, the material comforts of this life could combine for material well-being.  The conditions of life in London pressed hardly upon young working women, not only through the hours of irksome toil, but during their off time.  Their surroundings often did not afford much pleasure in home life, and they needed help to find a bettor means of relief and recreation. This the club afforded, providing a second home with companionship that would make life truer, purer, and more Christian.  The association of young women of education and leisure with their poorer sisters would create a great force for the good of the girlhood of London.

By 1908 the Home had been renamed the Queen Victoria Girls’ Evening Home.

The Times, Monday, Dec 14, 1908

QUEEN VICTORIA GIRLS’ EVENING HOME. -  Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein attended, on Saturday afternoon, the 21st anniversary celebrations of the Queen Victoria Girls' Evening Home, held at the Chelsea Town-hall.  The Princess was accompanied by Mrs. Randall Davidson, and was received by Miss Hoare, the founder of the home, and Miss Evans, the Principal.  Two little girls presented her Royal Highness with a bouquet of flowers.  Canon Walpole, who presided, was supported by a number of ladies interested in the work of the club.  Canon Walpole recalled the time when the club had but 25 members, who met in a tiny room in Oakley-street, Lambeth, and the expenditure was about £30 a year.  Now, he said, the club had over 400 members, and met in a spacious clubhouse at 122, Kennington-road, the cost of maintenance being about £600 per annum.  The past year had been a remarkable one.  An endowment of £200 a year had been settled upon the home by its founder, the members had won the drill championship in connexion with the Girls' Evening Homes, and the Bishop of Southwark, as president, had renamed the club, the old title of the "Lambeth Girls' Evening Home " having been abandoned.  He heartily thanked Princess Victoria for the interest she had taken in the institution.  Three hundred of the girls, in special costumes and smocks, gave a display of musical drill, old English country dances, and folksongs, all of which were heartily appreciated.

In 1908, the founder, Mary Beatrice Hoare, made a Deed of Gift promising to give one seventh of her expected inheritance to the Queen Victoria Girls’ Evening Home.  Mary Beatrice Hoare was one of fourteen children of Thomas Rolls Hoare, who was a partner in the firm of Noble and Hoare, manufactures of paint and varnish, and a very wealthy man.  When he died in 1891 he left a personal estate of net value £811,987 2s. 1d.  In 1908, Mary Beatrice Hoare’s inheritance was valued as upwards of £45,000.

Dated December 1st 1908

Deed of Gift
By
Miss Mary B. Hoare
for the benefit of
The Queen Victoria
Girls Evening Home

This Indenture made the first day of December 1908 One Thousand Nine Hundred and eight between Mary Beatrice Hoare of Oaklawn Crawley Down in the County of Sussex Spinster (hereinafter called the Settlor) of the one part and The Rochester and Southwark Diocesan Church Trust of 28 Great George Street in the City of Westminster (hereinafter called the Trust) of the other part.  Whereas the settlor is under the will of her late father Thomas Rolls Hoare contingently entitled in reversion expectant on her own death without issue to trust funds which after the death of the Settlor’s mother will probably amount in value to forty five thousand pounds and upwards.  And whereas the Settlor is desirous of making such settlement as is hereinafter contained.  Now this Indenture witnesseth that the Settlor in consideration of the premises hereby assigns unto the Trust so much of the said trust funds as shall when added to the sums of money given by the Settlor in her lifetime and expressed to be given on account of and in reduction of the gifts hereby made shall together be equal in value at the date of the Settlor’s death to a one equal seventh part or share of the said trust funds all of which sums of money and share of trust funds are hereinafter referred to as the fund.  To hold the same whether paid over in the lifetime of the Settlor or after her death upon trust to pay the income of the fund to the Treasurer for the time being of the Queen Victoria Girls Evening Home for the general purposes of that Institution if and so long as the Religious teaching thereat shall be carried on in accordance with the Doctrinal Standards of the Church of England and with the approval of the Bishop of the Diocese for the time being.  And it is hereby declared that if any question arise as to whether such conditions are being fulfilled a statement in writing signed by the Bishop of the Diocese for the time being or his Secretary shall be taken as conclusive evidence.  And it is hereby further declared that if the Institution known as the Queen Victoria Girls’ Evening Home shall at any time cease to exist or shall not at the settlor’s death fulfil or shall at any time afterwards cease to fulfil the said conditions then the income of the fund shall be paid by the Trust to the Treasurer for the time being of the Lambeth Branch Outdoor Rescue Work of the Southwark Diocesan Association for the care of Friendless Girls but if the said Lambeth Branch Outdoor Rescue Work shall at any time cease to exist or to carry on its work then it is hereby declared that the Trust shall pay and transfer the fund or the investments representing the same and the income thereof to the Trustees or other proper Officers of the Southwark Diocesan and South London Church Fund.  And it is hereby declared that the income of the fund or the investments representing the same shall be applied by the Trustees or other proper Officers of the said Southwark Diocesan and South London Church Fund as they in their absolute and uncontrolled discretion shall think fit it being the Settlor’s desire that preference shall always be given to benefitting friendless girls.  It is hereby declared that all death duties payable in respect of the fund or the Settlor’s death shall be raised and paid out of the fund.  In witness whereof the said parties to their presents have here unto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.

Mary Beatrice Hoare

Signed sealed and delivered by the above named Mary Beatrice Hoare in the presence of

[Signatures]

The Common Seal of the within named Rochester and Southwark Diocesan Church Trust was affixed in the presence of

[Signatures]

The 1911 Census was taken on the night of Sunday/Monday April 2nd/3rd 1911.

The 1911 Census sheets for 122 Kennington Road were completed by Mary Frances Evans.

The census sheet also states that the dwelling had 11 rooms. (The guidelines on counting of rooms state that kitchens counted as rooms, but any sculleries, landings, lobbies, closets, bathrooms, warehouses, offices or shops did not.)

(1911 Census sheets released prior to 2012 are always missing the 'Infirmity' column. This is fully closed until 2012.)

The Times, Wednesday, Jun 17, 1914

QUEEN VICTORIA WORKING GIRLS' CLUB.

The committee of the Queen Victoria Working Girls' Club appeals to all who are interested in social questions to help their work by personal service, donations, or annual subscriptions.  This Club with its premises at 122, Kennington-road, Lambeth, was founded in 1887, and has for president the Bishop of Southwark.  It provides a place where its members who are employed in factories and workshops can meet for social intercourse, attend educational classes, and receive the friendly interest, sympathy, and advice bestowed on them by the workers in the dangers and the difficulties of their lives.  Bank orders, subscriptions, and donations will be received by the hon. Treasurer, Miss Ivy Hoare, Oaklawn, Crawley Down, Sussex.  Bankers, London County and Westminster Bank, Knightsbridge, S.W.

Mary Beatrice Hoare died of pneumonia aged 55 on 26/06/1916.  Her sister Ivy Mabel Hoare who was also involved in the work of the Queen Victoria Working Girls’ Club died aged 83 on 12/05/1950.  She was the last surviving child of Thomas Rolls Hoare.  The two sisters are buried in the same plot at All Saints' Church, Crawley Down.

The Queen Victoria Working Girls’ Home was later known as the Queen Victoria Girls’ Club.  The Lambeth Archives hold records for the Home (still located at 122 Kennington Road) 1945-51.

A photo of 122 Kennington Road in 1927.