MARTIN WARE (1818-1895), SECRETARY OF BRUNSWICK SQUARE RAGGED SCHOOL, LONDON, AND...

Journals of Martin Ware, Secretary of Brunswick Square Ragged School, London

The journal of the Brunswick Square Ragged School is in 7 volumes covering the period 1850-1856, 1857-1858, and 1860-1867. The gaps in the series presumably correspond to missing volumes and it is likely that there were others covering the period from 1846 when Ware joined the School Committee.

The entries are not made regularly, sometimes they are daily and sometimes weekly and there is a gap, usually between August and October, while the school was on holiday. The journals do not give detailed accounts of the daily routine of the school but rather record those events which are of interest to Ware, and give details of his work among the ragged boys and their families in the King's Cross area.

Ragged School Activities: details of the following are usually given - the attendance and behaviour of Ware's own Sunday Class; meetings of teachers, committee, parents and the public; the appointment of teachers; visits by Missioners etc; treats, trips and prize givings: and events such as the move to Brunswick Buildings (1855), setting up of clothing fund (1850).

Charitable Work in the King's Cross area: entries include details of-

(1) visits, made to families, meetings with individuals in the streets, the appearance of boys at school, and individual talks with the boys on conduct, their future etc. Details are often given of the boys' ages, backgrounds, convictions, and occupations, especially when an application form for the Ragged School Shoe Black Society (RSSBS) has been completed on their behalf. This information is not given for all the individuals mentioned.

(2) relief given in the form of loans, and gifts of money, clothing and meal or coal etc tickets.

(3) the admission of boys at the Britannia Street Industrial School and the RSSBS (both of which Ware helped to establish).

(4) the arrangements for boys to emigrate often giving details of sponsorship, clothing and passage, and letters received from the emigrants (some of these survive and are held as 1487/119-177).

(5) the admission of boys to the Marine Society and the Armed Services.

<p>For further papers of the Ware family of Tilford, 1621-1988, see 1487, 1576, 1584, 1694 and 1718. Further papers of Martin Ware relating to his Ragged School and other philanthropic activities, and including letters from boys assisted by him and his memoirs, are in 1487.</p>

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Deposited by Dr Martin Ware in February 1989. The journals were originally given by Dr A M Ware to the Shaftesbury Society in 1946 (see 1487/100/1).

Martin Ware (1818-1895), the second son of Martin Ware (1789-1872) and Anne Tayler (d.1859) of Tilford, was a barrister, law reporter and philanthropist. In 1846 he joined the committee of the Ragged School in Compton Place (later Brunswick Buildings), Brunswick Square, London, and from 1849 also served on the committee of the Ragged School Union. In 1851 he was a co-founder of the Ragged School Shoeblack Society. His involvement with the Ragged Schools ceased upon his marriage in 1867.