A Foundling girl’s cloak
This woollen cloak was once a part of the 1940s-era Foundling uniform. Every girl was issued with the same cloak, a garment made from durable, woven serge fabric. In the winter, the cloak was worn with a-long sleeved dress to keep the girls warm.
Hospital uniforms were usually re-used, passed down from child to child. During the 20th century, grown Foundlings left the Hospital with very few belongings, namely, a suitcase containing one change of clothes, a comb and a toothbrush. Many students entered military or domestic service after leaving the Hospital where they received a new kind of uniform to wear.
Lorna’s life
This particular cloak belonged to former pupil Lorna Brown. Lorna was born in 1934 and spent her early life at the Foundling Hospital in Berkhamsted. On leaving the Hospital, she returned to her original foster family in Addlestone. She eventually started a family of her own, moving back to live in Berkhamsted during her later years.
