art studio
The Ragged School, 47 Union Street, SE1 1SG
Built in 1907, The Ragged School SE1 has been part of the community for nearly 120 years. starting off as a poor school in the worst and first borough of London, the school aimed to transform lives of the ragged children that lined the streets. The church then took over the school to form a club, pass through developers into the hands of an artist. The White room will open for creative delight.
Borough, Clapham South, London Bridge
London Bridge
ragged schools were for the raggamuffin children that ran around the local area barefoot
they were often the children of single women who made their living from the only thing they had - their bodies
and consequently the school is situated directly opposite the Crossbones graveyard also known as the single women’s burial ground and the king’s whores burial ground.
a post medieval burial site
which was saved from development by the action of local people not least the lady who restored the Ragged school
so there’s a plethora of amazing stories
Not least this was the area where Dickens lived as a teenager whilst his father was at the Marshalsea debtors prison, once situated at the end of the street. Dickens’ Oliver references the Mint workhouse and the ragged school was the replacement of both that workhouse and the gospel lighthouse mission.
Many of Dickens novels have an element that relates to the area. Little Dorrit is actually set in the Marshallsea prison, the winding of which still remains and Chaucers Canterbury tales started here, because Borough High st, the pilgrims way to Canterbury is also at the end of our street.
This fascination with ‘the borough’( where the school is located) is also true of Shelley, Keats and Blake to name but a few.
At the Ragged School, we invite you into one of the spaces, sometimes you can see in nd other times private - always creative and a space to behold.
there are steps into the space. Unfortunately it is not wheelchair ready.
We welcome you to visit and see something creative and for a chat to learn more about The Ragged School
