Infant deaths at the 'Home of Compassion'
23 September 2021 (Updated 24 April 2023)
The building that stands on the corner of Catherine Street and Howard Street is now divided into four houses, but in the 1860s was the 'Home of Compassion', a foundling hospital that took in illegitimate children and abandoned babies.
Despite its compassionate mission, less than two years after its formation in 1864 the home was under investigation for the neglect and cruel treatment of the infants in its care.
Four deaths in a week
In the past year, no less than seventeen children had died in the care of the Sister of Mercy who ran the home, fuelling rumors of mistreatment. Infant mortality was high at similar homes throughout the country, which were often underfunded, understaffed and which took in children who often already had underlying health issues.
However, when four infants less than a year old died in the space of a week, an inquest was initiated. The babies were found to have been emaciated and showed signs of neglect, while some had untreated disease or other health conditions.
Sisters of No Mercy?
The mortality rate for the home was found to be 40 percent. This seems a shocking statistic by today's standards, but this was actually below the average for the time. The average mortality rate for similar establishments at the time was between 60 and 80 percent.
As a result, the inquest concluded that the home was being run in a satisfactory manner and the four infants were ruled to have died from 'natural causes'.
The Home of Compassion, Catherine's Street, Oxford.
The building today
It's not clear how long the 'Home of Compassion' was in operation. It was originally four houses, but was converted into a single building during its time as a foundling hospital, before being converted back to four dwellings.
Today it can still be recognised as the same building featured in the above illustration from An Oxford Childhood by Phyl Surman.
Sources
- 'A Grim Almanac of Oxfordshire' by Nicola Sly (The History Press, 2013, ISBN: 978752465814)
- 'An Oxford Childhood: Pride of the Morning' by Phyl Surman (The History Press, 2009, 9780752494647)
