Page 5 - Barnardo Children PDF 2_Neat
P. 5
Barnardo’s “Babies’ Castle”
In 1883, Theodore Moillet donated
property in Hawkhurst to estab-
lish a Barnardo’s home for babies.
Within a year, the newly founded
“Babies’ Castle” was open, and able
to house up to twenty-six babies.
As pressure was put on the insti-
tution to increase the number of
places provided, the Castle soon
expanded, adding an extension that
would enable housing up to 120
babies. The new building contained
dormitories, nurseries, playrooms,
and a doctor’s room.
By 1908, the Babies’ Castle had
raised its entry age from 3 years
to 8, specifically for children not
well enough to be boarded out with
foster families.
By 1964, the home was designated
a nursery, housing just 48 babies.
Babies’ Castle officially closed its
doors in 1965. Fifty years later, the
site was repurposed for residen-
tial redevelopment, but the Castle
remains empty.
