Dartford Talk, Thomas Coram and the Foundling Hospital with Carol Harris

Doors open 9.45am. The meeting / talk will start at 10.30am and end by 12.30pm.

Carol Harris is a freelance journalist, speaker and social historian.

She is currently Social History Editor at Coram, the UK's oldest children's charity.

Carol will explain the history of the hospital, the aims of its founder and what primary sources are still available.

https://www.coram.org.uk/about-us/our-heritage-foundling-hospital

Coram is the UK's first dedicated children's charity with a fascinating heritage that spans more than 275 years.

It was established by Thomas Coram as the Foundling Hospital, London’s first home for babies whose mothers were unable to care for them.

Every child admitted to the Foundling Hospital was baptised and given a new name.  Mothers also left a token which could be used to identify their child if they returned to reclaim them.

 The Talk venue has a large, free car park but it is shared with other users and can be busy at times.

No booking, just turn up.

The Society is a registered charity and membership fees and donations are an important part of our income. The Talk is free to members but guests and visitors are asked to make a donation towards hall hire and speaker's fee. There will be a donations box at the venue.