History
It was founded in 1854 by Miss Elizabeth Gilbert, daughter of the Bishop of Chichester, to help the blind make work in their own homes
This then developed into “the Association for the General Welfare of the Blind, with small premises in Bloomsbury” (Henry J. Wagg, A Chronological Survey of Work for the Blind, 1932)
It later became the Incorporated Association for the General Welfare of the Blind
In 1869 “Miss Elizabeth Gilbert played a leading part in the drafting of a memorial, pleading the cause of the blind child, for presentation to Mr Gladstone’s Government” (Henry J. Wagg, A Chronological Survey of Work for the Blind, 1932)
“When Mr Forster’s Education Bill became law the following year the blind were not mentioned, but largely through Miss Gilbert's action they were not debarred from the right to compulsory education” (Henry J. Wagg, A Chronological Survey of Work for the Blind, 1932)
In 1887 there were 67 workers and pupils, and in 1930 about 200 (Henry J. Wagg, A Chronological Survey of Work for the Blind, 1932)
It continues to employ blind people in a factory and sell the products commercially, but it remains a registered charity
|
What was reforming about it?
It aimed to get blind people into work instead of just giving them charity
Where in Bloomsbury
It began in very small premises in the Holborn area, south of Bloomsbury, but then moved to Brunswick Square
It later moved again to larger premises in Euston Road
A purpose-built factory was opened in Tottenham Court Road in 1893
It moved out to east London in the early twentieth century and to north London later in the century, moving again in 2002, as its location was needed for the new Arsenal football ground
Website of current institution
|
>
Books about it
Henry J. Wagg, A Chronological Survey of Work for the Blind (1932), available online via the RNIB website (opens in new window)
There is a short account online at www.clarityefbp.org (opens in new window)
Archives
Records of its investigation by the Charity Organisation Society are in London Metropolitan Archives, ref. A/FWA/C/D/41/002/01–05; details are available online via Access to Archives (opens in new window)
|
+44 (0)20 7679 3134 - Copyright © 1999-2005 UCL
