Dr Thomas John Barnardo founded a boy’s orphanage in Stepney Causeway.
The street has existing in one form or another - and under various names - since the eighteenth century when it began life as a rope walk. Ann Street became Barnardo Street in 1911.
The philanthropist Dr Thomas’ Barnardo (1845-1905) opened his first home for destitute children at 18 Stepney Causeway in 1870. Barnardo was brought up in Dublin and his family was of Spanish origin. A Protestant, he worked as an evangelist in Dublin and came to London intending to train as a missionary to China. He stayed to work for children in East London, and opened his home under the patronage of Lord Shaftesbury.
Dr Thomas John Barnardo founded a boy’s orphanage in Stepney Causeway.
