When Thomas Barnardo left his native Dublin for London’s East End in 1866, he was intending to train as a doctor and join the China Inland Mission. But he was so moved by the poverty in his new neighbourhood, and how that impacted children, that he resolved to help. Join Alastair Owens, Professor of Historical Geography at Queen Mary University of London, to learn about Barnardo’s life and work in east London. Beginning at the Museum, we explore the education initiatives, children’s homes, coffee houses, training facilities and other ventures through which he transformed young people’s lives – radical work which resonates 150 years later.
Start: Ragged School Museum, Copperfield Road E3
End: Victoria Park, Grove Road E3
Professor Alaistar Owens Guide
