Joseph Soul
Encyclopedia
Joseph Soul was a nineteenth century British reformer who worked for 36 years to assist the plight of orphaned children in London and in support of the abolition of slavery. He worked at the Orphan Working School in Hampstead and founded another orphanage at Hollway which together eventually became the Royal Alexandra and Albert School
.
in February the following year. His parents were Eli and Elizabeth Soul.
He took up the position of secretary to the Orphan Working School in Hampstead
. The school had been in existence since 1758.
In 1840 he attended the World's Anti-Slavery Convention in London where he his portrait was included with other notables in a painting that is now in the National Portrait Gallery in London. Over the next few years Soul corresponding with the aging Thomas Clarkson
keeping him informed on the progress of measures to abolish slavery completely.
By 1859, the Orphan Working School was home to 250 children and since its inception it had acted in loco parentis for 1,889 children. The school relied entirely on public subsciption but it was hoping to expand to take on additional children. The children learnt of the History and Georgraphy of the Bible as well as studying scripture. Two of the orphans were those saved by the bravery of Alice Ayres
. Alice had died saving these children and had been buried with public mourning due to her heroism. The school was able to teach these children so that they could become domestic servants.
Another orphanage was envisaged in 1864. The second school was intended for children between the age of five and eight and was founded by the Orphan Working School with Soul as the first honorary secretary. The establishment was based at Albert Hill in Holloway, London
and was open to children independent of the religious denomination. In 1867 Queen Victoria planted a Wellingtonia Gigantea tree during an "Inauguration Ceremony" for the new school.
In 1870 the "Orphan Working School" was noted to include History, Geography, English and Maths. The Maths in the boys school was described as "excelent" although the girls school was not as good "as would be expected". The school was still working. The school in one year made over 1,000 items of clothing and repaired 17,000 other items. It made 130 frocks, trimmed 130 bonnets and repaired over 18,000 stockings.
In 1875, Soul was creditted with leading the way for a convalescent home in Margate
which was used by the children from the Hampstead school. The home was opened by Princess Mary
and the Duke of Teck
. The leading liberal politician, Earl Granville
noted that "sadly" the children "inherited diseases from their parents"
Soul died in 1881 and the school went on to become The Royal Alexandra and Albert School
.
The Royal Alexandra and Albert School
The Royal Alexandra and Albert School is a co-educational, comprehensive, state maintained boarding school located in Reigate, Surrey. The current, full-time headmaster is Mr. Paul Spencer Ellis...
.
Biography
Soul was born in 14 November 1805 and baptised in St. Leonard's church in ShoreditchShoreditch
Shoreditch is an area of London within the London Borough of Hackney in England. It is a built-up part of the inner city immediately to the north of the City of London, located east-northeast of Charing Cross.-Etymology:...
in February the following year. His parents were Eli and Elizabeth Soul.
He took up the position of secretary to the Orphan Working School in Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
. The school had been in existence since 1758.
In 1840 he attended the World's Anti-Slavery Convention in London where he his portrait was included with other notables in a painting that is now in the National Portrait Gallery in London. Over the next few years Soul corresponding with the aging Thomas Clarkson
Thomas Clarkson
Thomas Clarkson , was an English abolitionist, and a leading campaigner against the slave trade in the British Empire. He helped found The Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade and helped achieve passage of the Slave Trade Act of 1807, which ended British trade in slaves...
keeping him informed on the progress of measures to abolish slavery completely.
By 1859, the Orphan Working School was home to 250 children and since its inception it had acted in loco parentis for 1,889 children. The school relied entirely on public subsciption but it was hoping to expand to take on additional children. The children learnt of the History and Georgraphy of the Bible as well as studying scripture. Two of the orphans were those saved by the bravery of Alice Ayres
Alice Ayres
Alice Ayres was an English nursemaid honoured for her bravery in rescuing the children in her care from a house fire. Ayres was a household assistant and nursemaid to the family of her brother-in-law and sister, Henry and Mary Ann Chandler...
. Alice had died saving these children and had been buried with public mourning due to her heroism. The school was able to teach these children so that they could become domestic servants.
Another orphanage was envisaged in 1864. The second school was intended for children between the age of five and eight and was founded by the Orphan Working School with Soul as the first honorary secretary. The establishment was based at Albert Hill in Holloway, London
Holloway, London
Holloway is an inner-city district in the London Borough of Islington located north of Charing Cross and follows for the most part, the line of the Holloway Road . At the centre of Holloway is the Nag's Head area...
and was open to children independent of the religious denomination. In 1867 Queen Victoria planted a Wellingtonia Gigantea tree during an "Inauguration Ceremony" for the new school.
In 1870 the "Orphan Working School" was noted to include History, Geography, English and Maths. The Maths in the boys school was described as "excelent" although the girls school was not as good "as would be expected". The school was still working. The school in one year made over 1,000 items of clothing and repaired 17,000 other items. It made 130 frocks, trimmed 130 bonnets and repaired over 18,000 stockings.
In 1875, Soul was creditted with leading the way for a convalescent home in Margate
Margate
-Demography:As of the 2001 UK census, Margate had a population of 40,386.The ethnicity of the town was 97.1% white, 1.0% mixed race, 0.5% black, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% Chinese or other ethnicity....
which was used by the children from the Hampstead school. The home was opened by Princess Mary
Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge
Princess Mary Adelaide Wilhelmina Elizabeth of Cambridge was a member of the British Royal Family, a granddaughter of George III, and great-grandmother of Elizabeth II. She held the title of Duchess of Teck through marriage.Mary Adelaide is remembered as the mother of Queen Mary, the consort of...
and the Duke of Teck
Duke of Teck
Duke of Teck was, in medieval times, a title borne by the head of a principality named Teck in the Holy Roman Empire, centered around Teck castle in Germany. That territory was held by a branch line of the Zähringen dynasty from 1187 to 1439, known historically as the first House of Teck...
. The leading liberal politician, Earl Granville
Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville
Granville George Leveson Gower, 2nd Earl Granville KG, PC FRS , styled Lord Leveson until 1846, was a British Liberal statesman...
noted that "sadly" the children "inherited diseases from their parents"
Soul died in 1881 and the school went on to become The Royal Alexandra and Albert School
The Royal Alexandra and Albert School
The Royal Alexandra and Albert School is a co-educational, comprehensive, state maintained boarding school located in Reigate, Surrey. The current, full-time headmaster is Mr. Paul Spencer Ellis...
.