Bedern, York. Mid-19th century. The “York Industrial Ragged School” was the place where hundreds of orphan children where rounded up and kept against their will. Forced to work in squalid conditions, many of them died shortly after their arrival to the “school”. Currently, local residents know this building to harbor the souls of the misfortunate children that perished there.
In those days, the church had hired George Pimm as the local Schoolmaster. Pimm’s job was to clear the streets of orphans, waifs and strays. Placing them in the set institutions like the “Ragged School”.
The local church of course paid Pimm for each child he housed. Pimm, seeing a greedy opportunity in this, would use the children as workers. Having the children work in farms, local places and even as chimney sweepers.
