Foundling Hospital, Bloomsbury

The Foundling Hospital is a former orphanage in Bloomsbury, London, that took in and educated abandoned children. The building housed the children and offered them schooling plus practical skills for their later lives.

The institution opened in 1739 after its founder spent years campaigning for royal approval and funding. It became a major response to London's problem of abandoned children during the 1700s.

The place drew support from London's artists and musicians, who saw it as a cause worth their time and talent. Performers and painters contributed their work to help the children living there.

The Foundling Museum is now located at Brunswick Square and displays items from the hospital's era. Visitors can see documents, artworks, and personal objects that tell the stories of the children who lived there.

Each child admitted received a new name and carried a token for identification, often a small object left by the mother. These tokens sometimes allowed mothers to reclaim their children later if their circumstances improved.

Location: London

Inception: 1739

Founders: Thomas Coram

Official opening: March 25, 1741

GPS coordinates: 51.52470,-0.11970

Latest update: December 6, 2025 21:27