WILLIAM BAKER COMMEMORATION FUND.
A BARNARDO TECHNICAL SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY.

A LONG ‑CHERISHED IDEAL.

For a long time the Council of Dr. Barnardo's Homes have had in mind the urgent necessity for removing all their Boys' Homes out of the crowded city, away into the country. It is proposed that this new move be associated with the memory of the late Honorary Director, Mr. William Baker, to commemorate the life‑work of that noble, unassuming Irish gentleman, who put aside all earthly honours and preferment that he might freely serve the weak and helpless children of our land. Mr. Baker cherished the thought in his heart for years, but never lived to see it materialize. Leopold House, with its three hundred boys, and the large Home in Grove Road, both in the East End of London, were in 1912 removed to the beautiful Boys' Garden City at Woodford Bridge, with wonderful results.

One of the most important of the Homes, the Boys' Home, Stepney Causeway, has still to be removed.

OLD METHODS.

The work in Stepney Causeway, though organized under the most careful conditions, has a bare stone yard for a playground, and an undesirable neighbourhood abutting on the slums. This has made it in many individual cases almost heart-breaking, the brief hour of leave is spent in the glare of the gin palace and under the lure of the two-penny cinema. There is that strange something in the boy, as in the plant, the continual reversion to a type a stepping back unless there is brought to bear upon him the strong, good influence of a soul larger than himself, in surroundings that are a continual appeal to his latent sense of beauty. There must be the challenge, which shall develop in him the qualities that make for noble manhood.

The one great difficulty that is crippling all our efforts with these senior boys is that the workshops are in the heart of the East End of London. The boys learn their trade so well that, in spite of the unemployment that prevails, there is little difficulty in providing them with good situations, but the fact that they are gathered in from our country homes, and from boarding out centres, and placed in Stepney, undoes much of the work that we have aimed at in their previous upbringing.

Few of our friends realize what splendid work is being done in training our boys in the workshops at Stepney Causeway, under skilled instructors. The following trades and occupations are in full swing: Baking, Basket - making, Blacksmiths' and Wheelwrights Boot making and Orthopaedic work, Brush making, Carpentry, Painting and Decorating, Printing, Tailoring, Tinsmiths' and Tool making, Bandsmen.

In the Bakery more than 5,000 quartern loaves are baked each week. From the Carpenters' Shop repairs at Headquarters are executed, furniture and useful utensils are made and mended for our several Homes. In the Bootmakers' Shop repairs are executed for more than 1420 girls and 1350 boys; new boots are made; and, in addition to this, special boots and apparatus are designed and manufactured in the Orthopaedic Department for our cripples, of whom we have nearly 500. Young decorators and painters are learning their useful trade, and putting it to practice in the Homes, making good the wear and tear caused by our large family. And so on.

A Government Inspector paid us a visit recently, and expressed himself as follows: " I had no idea your work was being done so well and so thoroughly.”

One of the great contributions of the Barnardo Homes to social science is that they have proved, in their fifty-five years', experience, that environment plays a greater part in influencing the child than almost any other factor.

Undoubtedly these young people, upon whom so much depends, should have the best chance we can give to them during their years of adolescence. We need not fear for the future if in all our education of the young we appeal to the soul of the individual child.

These lads have been rescued to be saved, saved in body and soul: that is the Barnardo aim, that the secret of all true social work. These young hearts, hungering for love, in surroundings that are clean and beautiful, will more quickly respond to the redeeming power of Christ Who came to seek and to save that which was lost. The open country, with plenty of liberty, tempered with strong and wise discipline, is the best for the boy.

The New Estate.

For a long time the Council have been looking for a suitable place, not too far from Headquarters. A few months after Mr. Baker's death a most exceptional offer was made to them so suitable in every respect that it would seem as if it were a direct answer to their prayers.

The Estate the Council have decided, to purchase is known as " Goldings," in Hertfordshire - that famous bird county - and is about one and a half miles from the town of Hertford.

It is within easy motor access of our Girls Village Home and Boys' Garden City. This is important, as there will be frequent interchange of commodities between these Homes. In the William Baker Technical School boots, clothing, furniture, and many utensils will be made. All its bread will be sent out from the Boys' Garden City, and at the Girls' Village Home all the washing is to be done.

“Goldings "is a magnificent structure, is in a splendid state of repair, and stands about 200 feet above sea - level. So commodious is it that it will take the whole of the boys now being instructed at Stepney. One very important adjunct is the stabling, built in the shape of a quadrangle and standing a few hundred yards from the main building. It can accommodate all the Trade Shops, with 3,000 super feet area to spare. In addition, there is a substantially built covered - in tennis court, which will make a fine Gymnasium and Hall for entertainments and lectures, and for the use of the Band. The only additional buildings required are a spacious Dining Hall and suitable washing arrangements and lavatories for such a large number of boys. There are about fifty acres of land, so that there will be ample room for playing - fields and for training some of the lads for outdoor work.

The owner, a gentleman who has shown great interest in Dr. Barnardo's Homes, hearing of our needs, generously offered the property on most exceptionally favourable terms. He has stated that nothing could be more fitting than that the home of his fathers should be placed at the disposal of these lads, many of whom, but for the Barnardo Homes, might have come to grief.

The call has come, an exceptional 'offer has presented itself, and we ask our friends and helpers to pray and work, so that this new move shall win the success it merits.

WHAT IT WILL COST.

The sum of £50,000 will be required for the completion of the scheme: to include the purchase, alterations, drainage, lavatory extensions, and equipment. That is considerably less than would have to be spent if land were purchased and buildings erected.

We appeal with confidence to our friends to enable us to carry this project to a speedy completion, so that these boys may leap up with joy and courage to meet the temptation, the warfare, and the suffering of life with faith and undaunted courage.

The new move is fraught with infinite possibilities. We plead for these boys, who will spend most of their years in the factories and workshops of England, that they may be given a chance to make the very best of life and to serve their God to the utmost that is in them. We want them to take the true missionary spirit into the ranks of labour; the sprit that engenders love of work and reverence for the beautiful things of life.

A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

We suggest that this is a unique opportunity for a steward of God's wealth to create: a permanent memorial, which will for many generations be the greatest blessing to unnumbered lads. If such an one were to ask “ What real service can I render ? the answer of the Council is, " Give to these boys the boon of a richer and a fuller life, and help us to set their feet running toward the holy places where dwell the strong and noble of the race."

If 1,034 friends will come to our aid with the following amounts, this great move forward will be an accomplished fact: -

1	@	£I0,000 =	£10,000	Goldings built in 1870
1	@	£5,000 =	5,000
2	@	£2,500 =	5,000
10	@	£1000 =	10,000
10	@	£500 =	5,000
10	@	£250 =	2,500
50	@	£100 =	5,000
50	@	£50 =	2,500
100	@	£25 =	2,500
100	@	£10 =	1,000
200	@	£5 =	1,000
500	@	£1=	500
1,034			£ 50,000

  © Barnardo archive

On the 19th April 1922, 260 boys marched out from Stepney to go to their new home, The William Baker Technical School, Goldings, Hertford, Herts. The then Prince of Wales opened the school officially on 17th November 1922 This was set for the 15th November but due to the general election the opening was put off for two days which just happened to be the second anniversary of the death of Mr. William Baker.

MR WILLIAM BAKER, M. A., L L. B.  Honorary Director of Dr Barnardo’s Homes, 1905- 1920
The man whose name and work are commemorated in the William Baker Technical School, was born at Lismacue, Tipperrary in 1848. For fifteen years Mr. Baker filled the position of Honorary Director and Chairman of Council of the Barnardo’s Homes. Under his term served, he swept away all its debt's and more than doubled the income that Barnardo's received, thus allowing him to carry out his many cherished ideals, but due to lack of funds was unable to carry out prior to this amazing feat. It was a great day for Barnardo's boys when they vacated their cramped, over-crowded workshops in Stepney, paraded
for the last time in their stony playground and full of hope and anticipation marched through the gates headed by their
band, en route for Goldings to take possession of the well - quipped, modern Technical School which had been acquired
as a memorial to the man who unhesitatingly sacrificed all worldly prospects in order to devote time and talents to guiding
and directing the work of the Barnardo Homes through the most critical period in its history

A. E. Williams Dr. Barnardo’s personal secretary.

Barnardo's expanded Goldings over the years with the land expanding to 100 acres of which some was rented out to local farmers, the rest was used to grow crops of vegetables for the school.

Click here to see the speech. The address by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales as given to the boys of Goldings.