Gordon Home For Boys, Croydon

Gordon Home was established as an independent children's home in around 1881 by Mr G. J. Murdoch, under the patronage of Miss Mary Augusta Gordon. Mary was the sister of the famous General Gordon of Khartoum and the Home was named in his honour. In 1891 the building, known as North End House, was transferred to the Waifs and Strays' Society.

Dr. Robert Gregory, Dean of St Paul’s, formally opened the home in 1891. The Rev. G. C. Fisher also came to the Home on this day to conduct a dedication service. The ground floor was divided into many different rooms, including a large dining-room, a day-room, a small office for Mr Rogers, the Secretary, and a sitting-room for the master, Mr Sudgow. Upstairs were the bedrooms, and the kitchen and scullery were situated in the basement. There was also a large gravel playground at the front of the house, where the twenty-eight boys could 'kick up their heels in play for hours, to the benefit of their health and to the detriment of their shoe-leather.' By June 1892 an extension in white and red brick had been built on the house, which would be the new prayer room.

Gordon Home was managed by a committee led by Rev. John Masterman Braithwaite, Vicar and Rural Dean of Croydon. In 1903 they decided to move to new premises in Morland Road. The old premises were sold and the boys moved to their new home. The children also changed schools, and started to attend Christ Church School in the weekdays and St Michael’s on Sundays. In 1912 a permanent chapel was added on to the Home, which was opened with a blessing by the Bishop of Croydon.

The Home was evacuated to Shoreham during the Second World War. After the War the Gordon Home reopened as Gordon House Home, and ran from 1947 until 1965.