Victorian Orphan’s Small Tin Trunk with Possessions List

Small antique Victorian tin trunk formerly an orphans, complete with a list of their possessions dating from circa 1900. This small tin trunk features a dome top and is in its original painted/scumbled finish, along with carry handles to the sides and a hasp to the front. A fantastic piece of social history, the lid lifts up to reveal a paper list for the Crossley & Porter Orphan Home & School Halifax along with an itemised list of possessions. Presumably this tin trunk along with its contents were issued to the orphan upon entry to the orphanage and their name, in this case one “S.L. Smith” painted on the front. Founded by Francis, John and Joseph Crossley, Crossley and Porter Orphanage, Halifax first opened its doors in 1864. With a planned capacity for 400 orphans with classrooms and dormitories, together with dining and washing facilities for boys aged between 2 and 15 years, and girls up to 17 years. The first boy to be admitted was James Labron Plint, who later became a seaman, as Third officer, twice decorated for bravery for the rescue of a French ship crew in 1879 and for saving a drowning boy at Antwerp the following year. After becoming a secondary school in 1919, it came under the control of the local authority in 1944 eventually becoming The Crossley Heath School in 1985, as it exists in its present form today. Construction/Wood:- Tin, painted finish