Lads' Rest

boys' homes

 

 

 

I would love to be able to find out more about these homes, but as yet I only have scant details.

 

I have found two Lads' Rest institutions so far (described below). These were very different institutions and there appears to be no link between them.

 

Whether there are other Lads' Rests I do not yet know.

Lads' Rest
106 Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood
Formerly 69 Park Road, West Dulwich

 

The Lads' Rest in Norwood was founded in 1886 by William Henry Dalton, a preacher. Living in London, he was concerned for the ewlafre of 'numerous rough lads' he came into contact with each day. As a result he founded the Lads Rest in West Dulwich (69 Park Road), which moved to bigger premises in Upper Norwood in 1893.

 

In 1916, the Rev Frank Thornton, after visiting the Lads rest, wrote "The young plant is nourished an cared for until in after years there blossoms forth the rich ripe of character. Mr Dalton is father and mother too, and the boys learn to come to him with all their rtoubles, temptations and difficulties, not only while they are in the Home, but more especvially after they have gone out into the world to carve out their cvareers."

 

William Dalton spent 30 years as Supertintendent of the Lads' Rest.

 

After he resigned with ill-health, the Lads' Rest continued but, in around 1920, became part of the Shaftesbury Society and was known as the Beulah Home for Boys.

 

The Beulah Home for Boys closed in 1939, 53 years after William Dalton founded it. For the last twenty years Mr and Mrs Potts were Master and Matron of the Home.

 

Lads' Rest - Beulah Hill

taken from an article which featured in
the Norwood News on Saturday 15 June 1912

 

"For a number of years a home for the training and education of poor lads from the London streets has been very successfully, though quietly, carried on at 106 Beulah-hill, and known as The Lads' Rest. It is a work in which many philanthropic people take deep interest.

 

"At the rear of the house and approached by its side entrance, was another private house. known as The Avenues. The lease of this has now been acquired for £555, and the acquisition gives much additional accommodation to The Rest. It is not expected that any serious increase of burden will ensue, as the enlargement of the kitchen garden will, it is believed, bring in about £30 annually to the institution. The hon. director, Mr WH Dalton, has acted very wisely in securing such an important annexe to The Rest, and the lads who find a home among such delightful surroundings may consider themselves very fortunate. 

 

On Thursday and Friday, the annual sale of work in support of "The Rest" was held, and largely and influentially attended. The visitors enjoyed the privilege of inspecting both the old and the new homes, and in the latter there were some objects of special interest, notably a very old oak staircase. 

 

 

 

 

 

Lads' Rest 
24 Digbeth, Birmingham

 

This was founded in 1916 for boys working in munitions by Canon James Adderley.

 

This is a letter he received from the Lord Mayor:

 

10th August 1916

Dear Canon Adderley, - I am very pleased to hear that you are proposing to start a club or rest house for boy workers in Digbeth. Half the troupbles that boys get into are due to the fact that theey are not given opportunities of interesting themselves in rational pursuits and amusements. Your club with help them out of working hours and, if well and systematically managed, will be immensely appreciated by boys and their parents. I shall be very glad to contribute £5 myself towards the fund you propose raising for this object. - Yours very truly,

Neville Chamberlain
(Lord Mayor)

 

 

At the blessing of the club when it opened in October 1916, it was described as:

 
At the Lads' Rest for munition workers at 24, Digbeth, the Bishop also gave a short address. This, he said, was time of difficulty with hoys and young men, because many were deprived of parental control and the influence elder companions of a good sort, who had been removed through the war. Addressing the boys more particularly, he said, "Play the game, boys". That building, he said, had been got ready for them. He urged them remember that they were part it, and not to say anything nor do anything there of which they would ashamed.
 
The Rest is club house, non-residential, in which refreshments may be obtained at modest prices, and in which, billiards, bagatelle, and other games may played. There are also available to members a reading room and a bath room, and the whole has been admirably fitted out and equipped, thanks to the generous support of 35 employers in the locality. Forty-seven boys have already joined the club.
 
(as reported in the Birmingham Mail, 7th October 1916)