大象传媒

Why听do some mothers abandon their babies?

The Foundling Hospital, an 18th century charitable institution for babies whose mothers couldn't take care of them, stayed open for 200 years in Bloomsbury in London . It finally closed in the 1950s and opens for the first time as a museum on 15 June.听

The Hospital was originally the brainchild of an 18th century seaman with social vision, Thomas Coram. And although the hospital itself no longer exists, it has been replaced by a charity known as the Coram Family.

Victoria Shepherd speaks to Dame Gillian Wagner, author of Thomas Coram, Gent,听and Rhian Harris, Director of the Foundling Museum , shows her the trinkets that were left with some of the hospital children.

But what do we know about mothers who give up their babies and what is the effect on the child as听it grows up?听 Jenni is joined by听Lorraine Sherr, Professor of Clinical and Health Psychology at the Royal Free and University College, and Christine Simm who was adopted and only discovered she was a foundling at the age of 32.听

The Foundling Museum , 40 Brunswick Square , London opens 15 June 2004

Thomas Coram, Gent听 is published by The Boydell Press,听 ISBN 1843830574
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