Each year from 1884 to 1939, with a few exceptions, parties of boys from Fegans emigrated to Canada. Generally the boys would be 14 years of age when they went, although on occasions they might be younger, particularly if accompanying an older brother. The party would travel by train from Euston station in London, to board the boat at Liverpool in the early Spring.

Not all boys emigrated. Some returned to one or both parents and others were helped to find work placements in the United Kingdom.

LOCATIONS OF FORMER FEGANS HOMES - 1870 - 1960:

High Street, Deptford: The first home was opened in May 1872. The need was so great that the house next door was taken on as well. The lease expired in 1882, when the boys were transferred to Southwark.

GreenwicH: The Little Wanderer’s Home was opened in 1879 to help cope with the ever growing demand. This home closed in 1900 when Stony Stratford was purchased.

Southwark Street: The work was transferred here from Deptford in July 1882 and continued until about 1914.

Ramsgate (Hereson): In 1883 those boys who needed the fresh air and healthy surroundings of a seaside town were transferred to this orphanage. It could house 80 boys but
was closed by 1898.

Toronto: A ‘Receiving Home’ was established in 1886 in Toronto, from where the boys would be found a placement on a farm. Regular visits were made to the boys up to the age of 21, to check on their wellbeing and to make sure the placement was working out appropriately.

Ramsgate High Street: These further premises were purchased in 1898 to replace the other orphanage at Ramsgate. They were enlarged by the purchase of the adjoining property in 1907. The boys were transferred to Stony Stratford in 1918.

Stony Stratford: Purchased in 1900, at 10% of the original asking price, with the exact money being raised within the two week deadline given to complete the deal. This was a wonderful demonstration of Fegan’s faith and God’s provision. This became the main Boys Home until it closed in the summer of 1961.

Goudhurst: The Training Farm was purchased in 1911 to train boys in Canadian farming methods, and so to prepare them for a future career. The farm was sold in the 1950s.

Westminster: Known as The Red Lamp, premises on the corner of Horseferry Road and Tufton Street were acquired and built in 1912. The next year this property housed the offices of the Society, a receiving depot for boys referred to the homes, and a Working Boys’ Hostel. The accommodation had to be let for other purposes when war broke out in 1914, but the offices remained there until the 1940s. They suffered bomb fire damage in 1941.

Yardley Gobion: The Little Boys Home was purchased in 1938, and opened in 1940, this property accommodated younger boys from the ages of about 4 to 7 years. From 1955, it housed the first girls to come into the care of Fegans, following the amalgamation of the Society of Hope for Young Women and Children into Fegans.

Buxted: Originally part of the Training Farm, the house and some land were retained when it was decided to discontinue the farming activities. The first boys were accepted in 1958. The home closed and was sold in 1966.

LOCATIONS OF FORMER FEGANS HOMES – 1960 - 2001:

With the closure of the Stony Stratford home and the Goudhurst farm, Fegans work became centred upon a number of ‘family-style’ children’s homes. These were situated at Hill House, Carshalton, Surrey: Stoneleigh, Canterbury, Kent: Beechwood House, Prospect House and Tinkers Hatch in Heathfield, East Sussex: and Sunnyholme and Little Dumpton, in Broadstairs, Kent. There was also a Hostel for 16 – 18 year olds at James Fegan House, Beulah Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

The last of the children’s homes, Little Dumpton, was closed in late 1991. The property was then used as a Residential Family Assessment Centre for 10 years prior to its closure in 2001.

For a number of years Pinewood in Heathfield operated as a Hostel for young people leaving our children’s homes in the town. Pinewood then took on the role of a Day Nursery.

POLICY

IT IS OUR POLICY to make available a copy of the boys’ records to relatives where this is available. The earliest records for Admissions date from 1887, but the information within them is sparse. Records from about 1915 onwards contain more information. Please contact us for a Request for Information Form which will need to be signed by the former resident or surviving next of kin.

Unfortunately, some records are missing. Damage was suffered in the Wars, and some boys came into Fegans from other organisations simply to join the party emigrating to Canada, and a file is not always held.

CANADIAN RECORDS

BRIEF DETAILS of the early Canadian farm placements are kept by Mr Douglas Fry, who may be contacted at 30 Miles Avenue, Brantford, Ontario, N3R 5B3, Canada.

Mr Fry may also be able to advise on how to search for family history information. Details and charges should be obtained direct from him.

TRACING RECORDS

Our resources do not allow us to undertake tracing or research work for relatives seeking to re-establish links with family members.

The Salvation Army Family Tracing Service exists to restore family relationships. Details are available from The Salvation Army 101 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BN. Telephone 020 7367 4747. Website address: www.salvationarmy.org.uk

The website www.look4them.org.uk gives access to 8 organisations in the UK who deal with missing persons.

CHARGES/COSTS

WE DO NOT MAKE A SPECIFIC CHARGE for providing family history information to relatives, but we do not receive separate funding for this part of our work. If you feel able to make a donation, however small, then this would be very much appreciated, and will help us to maintain the various aspects of the work of Fegans.

Contact us to research information about a relative.