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Tuesday 10am - 5pm Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday 11am - 5pm

The Foundling Museum

Name: The Foundling Museum
Address: 40 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N1AZ, GB
Telephone: +442078413600
Price range: $
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The Foundling Museum

Explore compelling stories of love, loss and care through art and objects. Visit us Tuesday-Sunday. We’re free for 21 & under.

We present the story of the Foundling Hospital, the UK’s first children’s charity and public art gallery. Founded in 1739 by the campaigner Thomas Coram, it was an innovative home for children whose mothers couldn’t care for them, supported by some of the leading artists of the day including William Hogarth, George Frideric Handel and Charles Dickens. Their compassion and generosity show that art

transforms lives. Inspired by our 300-year history of social change, today we work with outstanding contemporary artists, writers and musicians to deliver ambitious projects for young people and marginalised groups. With a focus on local communities, early years and care-experienced young people, our pioneering work delivers positive and lasting outcomes. Across the four floors of the Museum we present this relevant historic story through our art and objects. Discover objects and records from the original Foundling Hospital, extraordinary works of art and furnishings, thought-provoking exhibitions plus a programme of concerts, talks and children’s workshops. You can visit us Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, and Sunday 11am-5pm. Plus, we’re free for age 21 and under.

14/01/2025

Join us tomorrow for an evening of self-reflection and creativity to make a striking vision board with all your goals for 2025 🎨

Led by artist Tascha von Uexkull, we'll set clear intentions and capture them using artistic techniques to make an aesthetic and practical roadmap for the year ahead.

Book your place now: https://bit.ly/3Pw2Lsa

06/01/2025

There’s a chill in the air and frost on the grass in Brunswick Square... must be January! Here’s what’s on at the Foundling Museum this month:

📚 8 Jan: Join us online for a talk by Professor Ellen Ledoux to learn about the role of working mothers in the long eighteenth century.

🎼 9 Jan: Enjoy a lunchtime trumpet recital by Tom Thornton as part of our Young Artists’ Platform with .

✂️ 15 Jan: Get crafty in a guided creative vision boarding workshop and refine your personal and professional goals for the year ahead.

🎼 19 Jan: More music! Enjoy a gentle afternoon performance by The Lodore Trio in our beautiful Picture Gallery.

🎼 21 Jan: And more music still! We’ll be hosting cellist Willard Carter and pianist Gorka Plada for an afternoon recital of the music surrounding Benjamin Britten.

🎤 22 Jan: Dr Clare Twomey will chair a panel discussion on ‘Clay & Identity’, featuring artists from the Museum’s ‘Self-Made: Reshaping Identities’ exhibition.

29/12/2024

This token is a commemorative medal marking an early victory in the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763) in which Britain and France competed for global dominance. Countries across the world were involved, either as allies to Britain or France, or as disputed colonial territories.

One side of this medal shows Frederick the Great of Prussia in victory. Prussia (a kingdom stretching between Central and Eastern Europe) was Britain’s ally. Frederick had just overseen two victories over Austrian and French forces.

At least two babies were left with a medal of Frederick of Prussia as their token. This one was left with Priscilla Strudnall, renamed Elizabeth Glyn by the Hospital.

Priscilla’s mother, Jane Strudnall, wrote to the Hospital in 1762 asking for her daughter to be returned to her. She had not seen Priscilla’s father, Christopher, for more than four years but she remembered that the token they had left was ‘a medal of brass’. She was told that the child had died soon after admission.

25/12/2024

Oh bring us some figgy pudding 🎄🎶

Emma Brownlow's 1877 oil painting shows a girl in her Foundling Hospital uniform, enjoying Christmas dinner. On the table lies a mug, an orange, a soup plate, and a branch of holly.

For nineteenth-century Foundlings, food at the Hospital was much improved during advent. They were given pork, ale, and mince pies throughout the season. On Christmas day, children ate the Hospital Matron’s famous plum pudding, a meal that became an annual tradition.

🍴What's on your Christmas menu?

🎨 'Foundling Girl at Christmas Dinner', 1877, by Emma Brownlow

23/12/2024

It's nearly Christmas🎄

What's your favourite thing about this time of year? Tell us in the comments below!

👁️ Archival photographs featuring Foundling Hospital pupils singing carols.

22/12/2024

🎵We're simply having a wonderful Christmastime🎵

From classical music concerts to joyful family-friendly days complete with crafts and carols, we've had a memorable festive season. Here are a few snaps from this month.

Did you attend any of our events?

20/12/2024

Our object of the month is a treasure from our collection - the fair copy of George Frederic Handel's 'Messiah', bequeathed to the Foundling Hospital in the maestro's will. Originally performed in Lent, the oratorio is now also a Christmas staple 🎄

Today, Handel’s Messiah is ubiquitous around Christmas. Yet for much of its history, it was an Easter oratorio. In fact, the famous ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ celebrates Christ's Resurrection.

It was only in the 20th century that performances began to be staged regularly at Christmastime too.

Handel was an established composer of opera and celebratory anthems, like Zadok the Priest. The swelling choruses in Messiah, especially in the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ (which is often added to Christmas performances) attest to Handel’s love of musical theatrics and voices raised in jubilant song, making it as festive a Christmas work as any.

17/12/2024

Happy birthday Dame Jacqueline Wilson 🎂

Wilson is best-loved for her children's books that tackle difficult topics with heart, including fostering and adoption. She has won numerous awards for her books, including the the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and the Blue Peter People's Choice Award for 'The Story of Tracy Beaker'. She became one of our first Foundling Fellows in 2008 and wrote 'Hetty Feather' for her fellowship.

You can see this striking portrait by Saied Dai when you visit us and find Hetty Feather-themed treasures in our shop.

🎨 'Dame Jacqueline Wilson', 2019, by Saied Dai

16/12/2024

Happy Birthday Sir Quentin Blake 🥳

As one of the UK's most beloved illustrators, Blake's signature illustrations have brightened the pages of our favourite books, delighting children and adults alike. He became a Foundling Fellow in 2020, creating a moving series of imagined portraits of foundlings during his fellowship.

He also designed this beautiful Christmas card for us, featuring the Foundling Hospital lamb originally depicted in the Hospital's Coat of Arms.

🛍️ You can buy this card for your Christmas stack in our online shop, linked in our bio.

✏️ Christmas card by Sir Quentin Blake

13/12/2024

Give your gingerbread biscuits an 18th-century twist this year 😋

Towards the end of his life when no longer actively involved in the running of the Foundling Hospital, Thomas Coram would visit the children with gingerbread to give out as treats. We like to imagine the biscuits were crisp and full of flavour, like the ones in this recipe from a 1791 cookbook titled 'Mrs Mary Cole’s The Lady’s Complete Guide; or Cookery in All Its Branches'. Let us know if you give it a go!

You can find the Hetty Feather cookie cutters in our shop: https://bit.ly/3OWXnOd

🍴 Recipe from 'Mrs Mary Cole’s The Lady’s Complete Guide; or Cookery in All Its Branches' (1791), attributed by the author to Hannah Glasse.

10/12/2024

Thank you for helping us raise £22,590 during our Big Give Christmas Challenge!

Your support will help us bridge past and present, using art and objects to continue vital conversations about love, loss and care.

While our Big Give Christmas Challenge has now closed, if you would like to support our work, please visit this link: https://bit.ly/3OPiylu

A big thank you to all our generous supporters! We hope to see you at the Foundling Museum again soon.

09/12/2024

One donation, twice the impact.

Our Big Give Christmas Challenge campaign closes in less than 24 hours! With only £710 left to raise to meet our goal of £20,000 please give today to have your donation doubled.

Your support will help us bridge past and present, using our art and objects to continue vital conversations about love, loss and care. Please donate here: bit.ly/3CWs9nW

07/12/2024

This token started as a shilling from the reign of Charles II (1660–1685). It was rubbed flat on both sides and inscribed with the motto ‘Innocency in Safety’ on one side and initials ‘R.L.’ and ‘E.D.’ on the reverse.

It has been connected to a little boy brought to the Hospital in 1758. The child was originally named Oliver Luke and renamed Luke Perkins by the Hospital. He was left with this token, a note describing it, and a piece of yellow ribbon.

The couple were not married but had three children together. Only Oliver survived infancy.

Both Richard and Elizabeth were excommunicated from the church following the birth of their first ‘illegitimate’ child.

How does this token make you feel? ❤️

04/12/2024

Help us make a difference to the lives of care-experienced young people this Christmas by supporting our award-winning work, drawing on our unique history. We have a big goal to raise £20,000 by noon on Tuesday 10 December. Donations made to our campaign this week with be doubled!

Your support will help us continue delivering ‘Tracing our Tales’, our creative training programme for care-experienced young people which builds confidence and professional skills. Evaluation shows at least 80% of trainees each year have improved wellbeing, confidence and self-esteem, and at least 70% of young people taking part each year go on to secure employment, education or further training.

Funds raised will also help support our unique exhibition programme which explores themes which matter deeply to care-experienced people and those who look after the children of others: love, family, loss, care, motherhood, and more.

Thank you for supporting the Foundling Museum this Christmas 🎄 bit.ly/3CWs9nW

Big Give

03/12/2024

This , we’re excited to launch our Big Give Christmas Challenge campaign🎄Please support the UK’s only cultural institution celebrating care-experienced people to raise our goal of £20,000.

Donations made to us this week will be doubled thanks to generous support from The Reed Foundation and others. Your support will enable us to continue exploring our compelling stories of love, loss and care through art, music and objects.

⭐️ Double your impact today – please donate here: https://bit.ly/3CWs9nW

Thank you for supporting the Foundling Museum!

02/12/2024

One donation, twice the impact.

We’re participating in the Give Christmas Challenge starting tomorrow to help us continue our award-winning work with young people and share our stories of love, loss and care.

Can you help us raise £20,000 in one week? Donations made from noon on Tuesday 3 December until noon on Tuesday 10 December will be doubled, thanks to support from The Reed Foundation and others.

Thank you for supporting the Foundling Museum and helping to spread the word!

01/12/2024

Calling in the festive season like 🎵🎄

28/11/2024

See ceramics in a whole new light at our exhibition, 'Self-Made: Reshaping Identities'. Featuring works by Rachel Kneebone, Matt Smith, Phoebe Collings-James, and Renee So, this compelling show explores the many facets of identity through the medium of clay.

Add it to your must-visit list – book your tickets now: https://bit.ly/40NHh0P

📸 Fernando Manoso

Address

40 Brunswick Square
London
WC1N1AZ

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 5pm
Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm
Sunday	11am - 5pm

Telephone

+442078413600

Website

https://foundlingmuseum.org.uk/

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Videos

If you could gift a handmade token to someone, who would you give it to? Tag them in the comments ⬇️ Here’s a BTS peek at our @bloomsburyfestival ceramics workshop inspired by our historic token collection, led by @studio1ceramic. #LondonEvents #BloomsburyHistory #Makers #CreativeLondon #MuseumEvents #FoundlingHospital #18thCentury

Daylight saving time ends today so be sure to check your clocks 🕰️ Here’s our wonderful volunteer Thomas winding the 18th-century clocks which once chimed through the halls of the Foundling Hospital. #BTS #BehindTheScenes #Museum #AntiqueClock #LondonHistory #Conservation #18Century #DaylightSavings

Food glorious food…or was it? Here’s Deb to tell us about September’s object of the month, a menu book from the Foundling Hospital. Which meal would you most hate to give up if you had to subsist on a Foundling Hospital diet?

Time for a token! Here’s @sissaylemn talking about an engraved mother-of-pearl token and what it tells us about the parent who left it. #History #GeorgianHistory #FoundlingHospitalToken #CareSystem #Adoption #18thCentury #HistoryPodcast

Have you seen this poignant sculpture by @traceyeminstudio on our doorstep? 🎥 Shared with special thanks to @look_uplondon. #LondonSecrets #ThingsToSeeLondon #HiddenLondon #ContemporaryArt #TracyEmin #LondonArt #Bloomsbury #RussellSquare #BrunswickCentre #ArtAppreciation

Have you heard of the Foundling Hospital tokens? 🗝️ In the 18th century, mothers leaving their babies at the Foundling Hospital would leave small objects as a means to identify them, including coins, jewellery and scraps of fabric. Although these objects served an administrative purpose to the Hospital, they were often personal to the mother. The tokens are possibly the most-loved artefacts in our collection. Dive into their stories on our podcast, ‘Take this Token’, linked in our bio. Here’s a sneak peek featuring award-winning writer and artist @sissaylemn from episode 2 of the pod 🎧 #History #GeorgianHistory #FoundlingHospitalTokens #EnglishHistory #BritishHistory #Adoption #CareSystem #LondonHistory #HistoryPodcasts #HistoryPodcast

Screams, squeals and joyful jumping welcome 💫 Visit us between 10am-1pm on any Thursday this month to enjoy our collection with your kids without worrying about being quiet. Don’t forget that under 21s get free entry 🎟️ Learn more via the Kids Aloud link in our bio. @artfund #KidsAloud 🎥 Footage by Hat-trick Design #ThingsToDoWithKids #LondonKids #WhatsOnLondon #Museum #FunDaysOut

What did Handel strike out so thoroughly in his will? 🤔 Here’s Gerald Coke Handel Collection Librarian Katharine Hogg talking about the attempts made to decipher the crossed-out section in Handel’s will. We chose the will as our #ObjectOfTheMonth because of the unique insight it gives us into the maestro’s personal life, friendships and philanthropic spirit. See it when you visit us in person! Book your visit via the link in our bio 🎟️ #HistoryLovers #HandelsWill #ClassicalMusic #MusicHistory #18CenturyHistory #HistoricalObject

Hands itching to get stuck into some summer crafting? Our friendly and knowledgeable team are waiting to teach you a new skill in our beautiful historic rooms. And best of all, the bar is free 👀 Check the link in our bio for our next workshop 🎨 #londonmuseum #crafting #thingstodoinlondon #foundlingmuseum #18thcentury #weekendplans

Sofiia was a teenager when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Once a student at a prestigious language school, she and her friends found themselves scattered across Europe overnight. Follow their journeys rebuilding their lives after dispacement in our exhibition, 'Leaving Ukraine', featuring intimate photographs and films by @pollybraden. 🎟 Learn more and book tickets via the link in our bio. #LeavingUkraine #WarDisplacement #PhotoExhibition #RefugeeStories #LondonExhibition #PollyBraden

If you love art and history, you’ll love the Foundling Museum. But don’t take our word for it! Here’s @corneliaparkerartist talking about what the Museum means to her. What’s your favourite part about visiting us? #FoundlingMuseum #ArtistsTalk #ContemporaryArt #Artist #CorneliaParker

Stuck for plans this weekend? Artist Cornelia Parker has the perfect suggestion 🎨

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Our story

The Foundling Museum explores the history of the Foundling Hospital, the UK’s first children’s charity and first public art gallery. Through a dynamic programme of exhibitions and events, we celebrate the ways in which artists and children have inspired each other for over 275 years. Discover the intriguing story behind this important London institution and the children who grew up there, alongside original period interiors, poignant artefacts and inspiring art. Make the most of your visit by hiring a guide, picking up a unique artist-designed souvenir in our Shop, or attending one of our many events from free lunchtime concerts to curator-led tours.

To keep up to date with our latest exhibitions, events and more join our mailing list: https://goo.gl/AMBqsa