Ragged School Museum

Museum history

 The building were built as warehouses in 1872. But were late turned into a ragged school by Thomas Barnardo.

The Ragged School Museum

The Ragged School Museum is a community museum for Tower Hamlets, they aim to enable everyone to gain inspiration, learning and enjoyment from exploring the history of the East End, its people and their culture.

The Beginning of the Copperfield Road Ragged School

The warehouses were used to store goods that were carried bu barge up the Regent's Canal, which runs past them. The building you see in the right was used by lime juice merchant for about 20 years.

In 1876 Thomas Barnardo began to lease part of the site and turned into a Ragged School, which opened the following year. There was a classroom on each floor and he converted the basement into a playground.

Ragged Schools got their name because the children who came were so poor that their clothes were ragged.

Thomas Barnardo, commonly known as "Dr Barnardo" (1845-1905) was born in Dublin and came to East London in 1866 to train as a medical missionary. But he was so shocked by the conditions there that he devoted his life helping the poor - especially children.

In London, Ragged Schools had started in the early 1800s to give a free basic education to children who family either to buy food or put children in the education on 1pence per week per child. After teaching at one of them in Ernest Street in Stepney. Barnardo set up his own schools - at Hope Place in 1868 and Salmon Lane in 1870. He founded the new school in Copperfield Road after these two become overcrowded and were condemned by Government inspectors. 

Life at the School

There were three day School there, a mixed infants' school and separate schools for older boys and girls. The Lessons were the same as those in Government schools. Classes concentrated in particular on reading, writing, arithmetic and religion. Where possible, the children also received free meals, which is one reason why the school became very popular. In fact, it soon became overcrowded, so the school was expanded in 1895-96. When it re-opened, 1 075 children were registered for the day schools.

as as the day schools, there were Sunday schools there, attended by up to 2 500 children. there were also evening classes for older children in  work. The Factory Girls' Club and Institute began in 1877 and taught the Bible, writing and sewing to girls from local factories. The Working Lads' Institute was established in 1884. The Boys had a gymmasium amd reading room as well as educational classes

The day schools shut in 1908, after Government inspectors said the buildings were not suitable. The boys and girls then went on the other local schools or left school altogether. The other activities carried on for longer and the Factory Girls' Club was the last to leaver the building in 1916.

The Ragged School Museum

Open hours and admission cost

General visitors - between 10 am to 5pm each Wednesday and Thursday, and between 2pm and 5pm on the first Sundays of each month.

The Museum is open for schools and group talks from Monday to Friday during term period. They also run family day during holidays and Victorian Lessons - every 1st Sundays of each month.

The entrance is Free, charges apply for school and group talks.

Getting there

The Ragged School Museum is situated next to Mile End Park on the towpath of the Regent's Canal.

Tube

The nearest tube station is Mile End.

DLR

The nearest DLR station is Limehouse.

Bus 

There are numerous bus routes, include 277, D6 and D7, 25, 339, 323, and 309.

Train

The nearest rail station are Liverpool Street and Stratford.

Bike

Probably the best way to get to the Museum, because most of transports require take from 5 to 14 minutes walking also depending of circumstances. There are three Bike Hire stations around the area.

Driving

Apparently there are no problems on parking either cars or coaches.

Displays and layouts

Entrance (Ground Floor)

On the entrance of the Museum, alongside fascinating stories about Dr Barnardo's Ragged School, with its creaking old floorboards and narrow staircase, there are also available some of his work and life.

A small gift shop is allocated on the left side on the entrance.

Tower Hamlets Gallery (Ground Floor)

In this area they display small stories about local area of Tower Hamlets, from Stepney and Bethnal Green to Canary Wharf and Wapping, via Brick Lane and Regent's Canal.

The Victorian Classroom (1st Floor)

The room has been recreated in one of Dr Barnardo's original classrooms, restored as it was in the 1870s. Also equipped with authentic and well- used school desks, slate writing board and chalks, blackboards and easels and even dunce hats.

The Victorian Kitchen and small Gallery (2nd Floor)

They also have reconstructed typical domestic Victorian Kitchen as it would be in the year 1900, with utensils and artifacts that visitors can hold and touch.

 

Playground, Cafe shop and toilets (Basement)

There is a room in the basement where supposedly having according with one member of staff around 300 children a day playing, two children's toilets and a baby change room and small cafe where they only have snacks, tea and biscuits.

                              

The V&A Museum of London

History of the Museum

The Victoria and Albert Museum

In 1855 Prince Albert proposed the construction of an iron framed building in South Kensington to house parts of thee Great Exhibition of 1851. this was the first step in establishing the V&A.

A new museum for Bethnal Green

Local philanthropists has been lobbying for some years for a trade museum in Bethnal Green. Henry Cole, the first director of the V&A, believed in bringing good design to ordinary people's lives. These efforts combine resulted in a new East End branch of the V&A, in Bethnal Green.

The building 

The iron structure of this building was part of the original V&A building in South Kensington. It was transported to Bethnal Green and reconstructed here in the late 1860s. A new red brick exterior was built around it. The original design of the building, largely by architect J. W. Wild, was not actually completed owing to shortage of money.

The fish scale marble floor was made by women prisoners from Woking gaol.

The opening 

The Prince and Princess of Wales - later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra - opened the Bethnal Green Museum in 1872. by the end of the  first year of opening the museum had attracted 1.5 million visitors.

Collection

When thee museum opened in 1872 three main collections were display - food, animal products, and French art from the 1700s. Throughout the museum's early history many important collections were also housed here temporarily, before they found permanent homes. These included the Wallace, National Portrait and Pitt Rivers collections.

Arthur Knowles Sabin was the Officer-in-charge at Bethnal Green from 1922-1940. He started to direct the museum towards children. All the paintings were re-hung at child's eye level. Children's visits and activities become an important educational part of museum. He also started to develop a childhood collection with the help of generous donors, one of whom was Queen Mary.

V&A Museum of Childhood

It was not until 1974 that the V&A childhood collections were moved to Bethnal Green, renaming the Museum the V&A Museum of Childhood.

Today, the museum's mission continues to encourage everyone to explore the themes of childhood past and present, and develop an appreciation of creative design through the inspirational collections and programmes.

The Museum today

Between 2001 and 2006 the Museum underwent a major two-phase redevelopment. Working in partnership with local architects Caruso St. John an award winning new entrance, front room gallery and enlarged learning centre have been created. The new exterior was inspired by the original building drawings of 1871 by Wild.

The re-presentation of outstanding childhood collection under new themes has greatly increased the quantity of objects now on display.

V&A Museum of Childhood

Welcoming over 400,000 visitors through its doors every year, the V&A Museum of Childhood in London's Bethnal Green houses the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection of childhood-related objects and artefacts, spanning the 1600s to the present day.

The collection includes toys - including dolls, dolls' houses, puppets and teddy bears - games, childcare, clothing, furniture and art and photography. In addition, the Museum runs a dynamic programme of temporary exhibitions and displays, a wide variety of activities, events and workshops for adults and families, outreach projects in hospitals and the local community, and an award-winning programme for schools.

Getting there

V&A Museum of Childhood
Cambridge Heath Road
London E2 9PA
United Kingdom

Switchboard +44 (0)20 8983 5200
Shop +44 (0)20 8983 5231
Fax +44 (0)20 8983 5225

 

FREE admission

Open daily 10.00-17.45 (last admission 17.30)
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December and 1 January

Underground, Central Line, Zone 2 

The Museum is less than five minutes walk from Bethnal Green Underground station. Unfortunately Bethnal Green Underground has no lift.

Overground

The Museum is a short bus ride or 20-25 minute walk from Shoreditch High Street (Bus 8 or 388) and Whitechapel (Bus 254 or 106) Overground stations.

 

Rail

The Museum is less than 10 minutes walk from both Cambridge Heath and Bethnal Green railway stations. The nearest main line station is Liverpool Street, which is less than a five minute Underground journey from Bethnal Green.

 

Bus

D6, 106, 254, 309 and 388 stop outside the Museum and 8, 26, 55 and 48 stop nearby.

 

Bike

The Museum is less than a five minute cycle ride from Regents Canal. Bike stands are available in the Museum grounds. A Barclays Cycle Hire docking station is situated across the road from the Museum.

 

Coach

A drop-off point and parking for two coaches is available outside the Museum on Cambridge Heath Road.

 

Parking

Free on-site parking can be arranged for visitors with specific access needs. To book a space, call 020 8983 5200. The nearest pay and display bays can be found on Cambridge Heath Road. The Museum is not in the congestion charging zone.

Eating and drinking

Packed lunches

For visitors wishing to eat their own packed lunch, outdoor picnic tables are located in the Museum's grounds. Additional facilities may be available at weekends and during school holidays in the Summerly Room on the Lower Ground Floor, but please check availability in advance of your visit.

Highchairs

Highchairs are available from benugo café.

Baby changing

Baby changing facilities are available in both the Male and Female toilets on the Lower Ground Floor and in the Quiet Room.

Buggy park

A buggy park is located near the stairs in the Front Room Gallery. Items are left at the owner's risk.
- See more at: http://www.museumofchildhood.org.uk/visit-us/facilities#sthash.CdNLk9y9.dpuf

The cafe is a open plan, meaning that visitors can enjoy a snack whilst soaking up the ambience of the space. the cafe offers a wide selection of sandwiches and salads, hot dishes, cakes and pastries and hot and cold drinks.

They do have vegetarian option every day as well  as children's portions and a kids 'pick and mix' menu.

Access and Facilities

the staff are trained to meet the needs of all visitors and the facilities are equipped with necessary equipments such as level access ramps and/or lifts, designated disable parking close to the main entrance, all routes suitable for limited mobility users to assist disabled people to access the required service.

Packed lunches are welcome for visitors that wish to do so, rooms and gardens in a good weather are available.

A buggy park is located near the stairs in the Front Room gallery.

Baby changing rooms are available in both Male and Female toilets in two floors. A Quiet Room is also available, this room has multiple uses: as a prayer room, a space for nursing mothers, or a chill-out space for families with children with autism.

Free WiFi is available throughout the Museum.

Groups and Tours 

If you are planning a visit for a group of 10 people or more, you are advised to book advance to enhance the experience.

Adult tours - a range of guided tours for adult groups are available, looking at particular theme related to childhood, for a price.

Galleries

 The Museum is arranged into four main galleries

Visitor map of the Museum 

Moving Toys 

The Museum's Moving Toys Gallery is divided into four sections – Pushes and Pulls, Springs and Cogs, Circuits and Motors and Look See. - See more at: http://www.museumofchildhood.org.uk/visit-us/galleries#sthash.x0NvUU1t.dpuf

The Museum's Moving Toys Gallery is divided into four sections – Pushes and Pulls, Springs and Cogs, Circuits and Motors and Look See. - See more at: http://www.museumofchildhood.org.uk/visit-us/galleries#sthash.x0NvUU1t.dpuf

The Museum's Moving Toys Gallery is a four sections - Pushes and Pulls, Springs and Cogs, Circuits and Motors and Look see.

The Museum's Moving Toys Gallery is divided into four sections – Pushes and Pulls, Springs and Cogs, Circuits and Motors and Look See. - See more at: http://www.museumofchildhood.org.uk/visit-us/galleries#sthash.x0NvUU1t.dpuf

 

 

Creativity Gallery

The Museum's Creativity Gallery is divided into four sections -  Image, Be Inspired, Explore and Make it Happen.

Childhood Galleries

The childhood Galleries are arranged into the following themes: Babies, Home, What We Wear, Who Will I be? and Good Times.

 

Front Room Gallery

The Front Room showcases the Museum's community projects, which involve established and emerging artists working with community groups.

 

The café is open plan which means that visitors can enjoy a bite to eat whilst soaking up the lively ambience of the space - See more at: http://www.museumofchildhood.org.uk/visit-us/eating-and-drinking#sthash.Q1YxajZ7.dpuf

The café is open plan which means that visitors can enjoy a bite to eat whilst soaking up the lively ambience of the space - See more at: http://www.museumofchildhood.org.uk/visit-us/eating-and-drinking#sthash.Q1YxajZ7.dpufall these content has been supplied by V&A Museum of Childhood