Hull Seamen's General Orphanage

Hull Seamen's and General Orphan Society was established at Spring Bank in 1865. It was set up to house children whose fathers had been lost at sea. The orphanage was very expensive to run. From the beginning the Wilson family, who owned a very successful and world renowned shipping company, gave generously to the orphanage funds. They donated thousands of pounds, paid for extensions to the building which could accommodate more children, and organised summer excursions for the orphans. Other funds were generated by placing metal collection tins at various sites across Hull, the East Riding and Lincolnshire, including pubs, hotels, social clubs and institutions, the Wilson Line vessels and the Humber ferries, as well as Tranby Croft (Arthur Wilson's home in Anlaby). #SUBHEADING#Finding a New Home#SUBHEADINGEND# In 1916 the Wilson Company was bought out and the Orphan Society lost a major source of its funding. Three years later, the Spring Bank premises became unsuitable for the orphanage's needs and the search began for a new home. In 1920, the children visited Hesslewood Hall in East Yorkshire. They must have liked it because the Society moved into it. Girls arrived on 18th January 1921 and the boys followed in February. Hesslewood was a large country house which had been built for Joseph Robinson Pease Senior in 1792. His son was the first chairman of the Mariners Church Orphan Society (the pre-runner of the Hull Seamen's and General Orphan Society) from 1853. #SUBHEADING#Raising New Funds#SUBHEADINGEND# The premises at Hesslewood were expensive to run and struggled to accommodate the children residing there, who totalled over 100. The boys had to live in a wooden hut until a new wing was completed for them in 1924. From the 1930s, the master demanded that each child received pocket money of 1 shilling per week. Maintenance to the aging buildings had to be periodically undertaken. All of this put pressure on funds. The situation had become so bad by the 1950s that even food bills were cut to save money. Funds were raised by various means including concerts by the school band, theatrical performances, fetes, charity events and film advertisements. Much still relied on benevolent funders, but collections boxes also continued to bring in money. These were now made from wood. Some of them are held at the Maritime Museum. The one pictured here is roughly cut, suggesting it may have been made on-site at the orphanage, perhaps by one of the children. [image: KINCM: 2006.5190] Looking back, the orphan's motto 'courage to climb' was a fitting slogan for the perseverance shown by staff, children and the local community in maintaining financial support for the Hull Seamen's and General Orphanage for over 100 years. Further Reading: J.D. Hicks, Our Orphans: the story of the Hull Seamen's and General Orphanage, 1853-1979 (Lockington Publishing Company, North Ferriby, 1983) G.M. Attwood, The Wilsons of Tranby Croft (Hutton Press, Beverley, 1988)