Plymouth, Devonport Royal Dockyard Orphanage

PLYMOUTH
DATA

The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

DEVONPORT ROYAL DOCKYARD ORPHANAGE

Founded in 1849 as the Dockyard Female Orphanage, it was originally housed in Morice Square, Devonport. It was to maintain, clothe and educate orphan children of Royal Dockyard workers who had contributed to its funds.

Only girls were admitted for the first fifty years but in 1900 a boys branch was added. This called for a move to larger premises, however.

The Devonport Royal Dockyard Orphanage at Milehouse

Lady Sturges Jackson, wife of Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Sturges Jackson KCVO, Admiral Superintendent of the Dockyard, laid the foundation stone on the afternoon of Saturday June 21st 1902.

Eight other memorial stones were then laid by Mrs J B Huddy, lady president 1886-1892; Mrs G Crocker, lady president 1892-1895; Mrs H R Champness, lady president 1897, on behalf of the Chief Constructor's Department; Miss Highton, on behalf of the Chief Engineer's Department; Mrs W J Clarke, for the Superintendent Civil Engineer's Department; Miss E de Ridder, for the Naval Store Department; Mrs Dexter, on behalf of the Expenses Account Department; and Mrs R N ommanney, on behalf of the Staff Captain's Department. A purse containing £247 was placed on the foundation stone, the result of a recent collection among the men of the Royal Dockyard.

Others present at the ceremony were the Mayor and Mayoress of Devonport, Mr & Mrs E M Leest; Mr S W Wright, the orphanage's secretary; Mr R Cerutty, the assistant treasurer on behalf of the treasurer, Mr T J A Byfield, who was unable to be present; the Reverend F C Stebbing, the Dockyard chaplain; the Dockyard Chapel choir; and Mr G Hele, at the harmonium, who presided over the whole event. It was regretted that Lord St Levan could not be present as he had granted them the site at Milehouse upon which the orphanage was to be built.

Mr Snell, a local architect, designed the new building and this was opened by Mrs Henderson, the wife of Rear-Admiral W H Henderson, the Admiral Superintendent of the Dockyard, on Saturday July 4th 1903. As a result, 25 boys and 25 girls could now be admitted to the orphanage, compared to only 22 in total before.

The building had a frontage of some 60 feet while the whole site extended some 120 feet from the road. On the ground floor were the dining rooms, a board room, reception room, matron's room, kitchen, lavatories and scullery. On the first floor was the matron's bedroom plus dormitories for 25 girls, along with wardrobes, lavatories, bathrooms and an isolation room. The accommodation for the boys and master were on the second floor. Mr and Mrs Cubbins were the master and matron.

Upon the outbreak of the Second World War, Devonport Royal Dockyard Orphanage moved out of the City, to Mary Tavy, north of Tavistock, and their premises at Milehouse were purchased by Plymouth City Council and converted in to one of what the National Assistance Act 1948 termed 'guest houses for old people'. It housed 25 men.

The building has now been converted into private apartments.