The first home started November 18, 1871, at 10 Renfrew Lane, Glasgow and was followed by a girls home at Renfield Street. Rapid growth saw further establishments in 1872 for lads at Cessnock, Govan, and girls at Newstead and Elm Park. In April, 1876, 40 acres of land was purchased for £3560 at Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire which became the "Orphan Homes of Scotland" at Bridge of Weir, opened September 17, 1878. Here up to 30 children were housed in each cottage with a "mother and father" where they were taught about self-reliance and received a good education in the village school.

William Quarrier was acquainted with other social benefactors and became involved in sending children to Canada. Between 1870 and 1936 some 7,000 children were relocated where they were mainly employed as farm labourers.

William Quarrier sent the first children on board St. David which arrived in Quebec on July 17, 1872. He first used Annie MacPherson's Marchmont Home in Belleville, Ontario as a distribution point and later established his own receiving home Fairknowe in Brockville, Ontario. He and Annie MacPherson both insisted (unlike Dr Barnardo) that the child's guardians gave their consent before a child could enter his Home. In 1925, Quarrier's relocation to Canada ended and children were then sent to Australia.

Time has since moved on and Quarriers today provide a multi-million pound range of social services with outreach programmes for children, young people, the disabled and families which aim to enhance their lives. This all from the awareness and philanthropy of one man who knew what it was to be cold and hungry.

Back to History of Children Main Page

Part One: History of Children 1200-1800
Part Two : The Industrial Revolution to Today
Part Three : The Dustbin Kids
Part Four : Reverand Canon Charles Jupp
Part Five : Quarrier Homes
Part Six : Dr. William Buchan
Part Seven : Thomas Guthrie
Part Eight : Neither Waif nor Stray, Book Review