The Guild of the Brave Poor Things was a British charity for disabled children. It was established in 1894 by Dame Grace Kimmins (1871–1954) ''et al.'' to provide resources for disabled boys to enable them to make a productive place for themselves in society.

History

Play was seen as a major positive addition to the more traditional methods of learning by rote and of other much more drilled aspects of the elementary schools of the time, especially when teaching the physically handicapped. This resonates with teaching in mainstream schools today where play is a part of the UK's

National Curriculum A national curriculum is a common programme of study in schools that is designed to ensure nationwide uniformity of content and standards in education. It is usually legislated by the national government, possibly in consultation with state or other ...

for all children. The Guild of the Brave Poor Things provided education for physically handicapped children (in those days the term "crippled" was current and not viewed as pejorative). In 1894, Kimmins organised a meeting which resulted in the foundation of the Guild of the Brave Poor Things.

Juliana Horatia Ewing Juliana Horatia Ewing (née Gatty, 3 August 1841 – 13 May 1885) was an English writer of children's stories. Her writings display a sympathetic insight into children's lives, an admiration for things military, and a strong religious faith. L ...

's 1885 novel ''The Story of a Short Life'' inspired Kimmins to start the Guild to help children with disabilities. Grace (and later Ada Vachell took their motto ‘Laetus sorte mea’ (‘Happy in my lot’) from Ewing's book. '' Child Life,'' the journal of the

Froebel Society The National Froebel Foundation (NFF) was a foundation which validated examinations and set standards for teaching training courses at pre-school level in the United Kingdom. Named after German educator Friedrich Fröbel, it began in two separate bo ...

, described the Guild as "a band of men, women, and children of any creed or none, who are disabled for the battle of life, and at the same time are determined to fight a good fight". While this may seem patronising in the 21st century it was typical of the way good quality initiatives were started by women of strong character in the 19th century. In 1895 the guild inspired Ada Vachell to create a similar facility in Bristol which continued until 1987. The Guild of the Brave Poor Things also spawned the

Chailey Heritage Chailey Heritage School is a special school located in North Chailey, East Sussex, England. It is owned and operated by the Chailey Heritage Foundation. The school is for children and young adults, aged between 3 and 19, with complex physical ...

residential centre.

Supporters

Millicent Fawcett Dame Millicent Garrett Fawcett (née Garrett; 11 June 1847 – 5 August 1929) was an English politician, writer and feminist. She campaigned for Women's suffrage in the United Kingdom, women's suffrage by Law reform, legal change and in 1897– ...

(1847–1929), the leader of the

National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies The National Union of Women Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), also known as the ''suffragists'' (not to be confused with the suffragettes) was an organisation founded in 1897 of women's suffrage societies around the United Kingdom. In 1919 it was ren ...

Hugh Price Hughes Hugh Price Hughes (8 February 1847 – 17 November 1902) was a Welsh Protestant clergyman and religious reformer in the Methodist tradition. He served in multiple leadership roles in the Wesleyan Methodist Church. He organised the West London M ...

(1847–1902), American Christian theologian, who ran the West London Mission, which provided premises for the Guild of the Brave Poor Things prior to its move first to Bermondsey University Settlement and later to the Chapter House of

Southwark Cathedral Southwark Cathedral ( ) or The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, Southwark, London, lies on the south bank of the River Thames close to London Bridge. It is the mother church of the Anglican Diocese of Southwar ...

* Mary Neal (1860–1944), responsible for the direction of play sessions at Marchmont Hall *

Emmeline Pethick Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence, Baroness Pethick-Lawrence (; 21 October 1867 – 11 March 1954) was a British women's rights activist and suffragette. Early life Pethick-Lawrence was born in Bristol as Emmeline Pethick. Her father, Henry Pethick, ...

, better known as ''Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence'' (1867–1954) and a leader of the substantially more militant

Women's Social and Political Union The Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) was a women-only political movement and leading militant organisation campaigning for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom from 1903 to 1918. Known from 1906 as the suffragettes, its membership an ...

(WSPU) and a 'Sister of the People' at the West London Mission. *Mrs

Mary Ward Mary Ward may refer to: Scientists and academics * Mary Ward (nurse) (1884–1972) English nurse to the boat people on the waterways * Mary Ward (scientist) (née King, 1827–1869) Irish amateur scientist, was killed by an experimental steam car ...

(1851-1920), suffragette and novelist * Lord Llangattock (the 1st Baron Llangattock) (1837–1912), responsible for finance for Boys and Girls Craft Schools.

Other resources

Part of the Guild of the Brave Poor Things facilities via the

, but at some distance from Chailey itself was the now derelict

Heritage Marine Hospital The ruins of the Chailey Heritage Marine Hospital stand to the seaward side of Tide Mills, east of Newhaven, Sussex, in England. History The hospital, which was built to provide aftercare and recovery for disabled boys who had undergone surgery ...

Tide Mills Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon (and to a much lesser extent, the Sun) and are also caused by the Earth and Moon orbiting one another. Tide tables can ...

on the beach east of Newhaven harbour.

References

External links

A Great Army of Sufferings': The Guild of the Brave Poor Things
'A Great Army of Sufferings': The Guild of the Brave Poor Things and Disability in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries - Michael Mantin - University of Bristol - History Department (Best Undergraduate dissertations of 2009)

From the archives of Sussex County Council

Visit To Bishopstone Tide Mills
Information on the Guild Heritage, Bristol
Pamphlet on the Guild Heritage, Bristol which was the built by the Guild of the Brave Poor Things in 1913. Commissioned by the owners in 2012. {{Authority control Charities for disabled people based in the United Kingdom 1894 establishments in the United Kingdom

History

Supporters

Archives

Other resources

References

External links