Ground floor - Reception

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About this image

The Reception room was the place where visitors to the home could be met or entertained.

All sorts of people from the community would visit the home. Often they would bring gifts, or take children on outings.

Visitors books were kept. These record the details of who came and any food, gifts or other treats they gave. Under the Related documents list you can view four pages from the Visitors book of Talbot Home for Boys, Bournemouth, Dorset. These are from January - July 1896. People bought gifts of food, books, clothing and even a load of manure! Children were given a tea party by one visitor. Others took the children on outings to Swanage and Chewton.