46-48 Copperfield Road

These canalside warehouses, built in 1872, were once used to store lime juice & general provisions. They are now the only mid-Victorian canalside warehouses left in Tower Hamlets.

In 1868, Thomas Barnardo started a ragged school at Hope Place, Limehouse. Ragged schools were free schools for poor children. The pupils' plight prompted Barnardo to open his first home for homeless boys in 1870 at Stepney Causeway. This charity cared for children regardless of their age, faith, colour or disabilities which was very unusual at the time.

Between 1880 and 1900, children from China, the West Indies, Africa, India & America were cared for. By 1875, Hope Place & another ragged school he had opened were condemned due to overcrowding so he needed to rent larger buildings. In 1876, Dr Barnardo rented 2 warehouses (now 46 Copperfield Road) & converted them into the Copperfield Road Ragged School for children aged 5-10 years. Here poor local children received a free education, breakfast, dinner and help finding their first job.

Each floor was made into a big classroom with a fireplace, & the loopholes (warehouse doors) were replaced by windows. The basements became the playgrounds. A pediment (triangular structure) was added to the top of the building to make it look more imposing. The separate boys', girls' & infants' schools opened in 1877.

By 1879, this building housed the largest ragged day school of the 144 in London.  In 1895, overcrowding in the classrooms led Dr Barnardo to rent & convert the warehouse next door for the girls' and infants' school. New doorways & fireplaces were put in. A school bell was added to the pediment & can still be seen today.

By 1896, there were 1,075 children attending the day schools & 2,460 attending the Sunday school.  In 1908, the London County Council condemned all the Copperfield Road buildings as unsuitable for the education of children so the day school was shut down. The school pupils then attended local council schools, which were free from 1890. The Sunday school, evening classes & other activities continued at Copperfield Road until 1915.