Have you ever given any thought to the one thing many superheros, legendary characters and villains have in common? Apparently I have not because when I went to the Foundling Museum I stood in front of a large wall that was inscribed with this very point of commonality and was astonished.
Just consider the following list:
Peter Parker, Clark Kent, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Pipi Longstocking, Bruce Wayne, Rapunzel, Prince Caspian, Romulus & Remus, Scarlett O'Hara, Snow White, Tom Riddle, Tom Sawyer, Wolverine, Yuri Zhivago and so on. Each of these characters were either foundling, adopted or orphans.
While each of the above were of course characters from fiction or legend, the reality was that in the mid 18th century London was awash with children whose mothers (many being prostitutes) were no longer able to keep or care for them but there was no place for them to take their babies.
The Foundling Hospital was established by the philanthropist Thomas Coram in 1739. After 17 years of tireless campaigning, Coram was finally granted a Royal Charter by King George II, enabling him to set up the UK's first children's charity in Bloomsbury, London (Wikipedia).
As it was pointed out to me, before this time children were viewed merely as smaller adults, not as we today consider children. We know understand the need for love, warmth, health, clothing, and education.
The museum celebrates the history of the work done by this institution, as well as holding a vast collection of original work by Handel, who was partially instrumental in setting up the institution.
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