George Müller (27th September 1805 - 10th March 1898) |
| Day by day more gifts of money arrived, some just a few pence, others hundreds of pounds but Müller was determined never to get into debt. He waited until £1000 had been given specifically for an Orphan Home before he rented No. 6 Wilson Street. This was a large terraced house in the centre of Bristol. |
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The first house in Wilson Street |
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| As he began to furnish it, household items of all descriptions were given. Müller kept very detailed records and some of the lists in his diary are amusing, but remind us of how even poor people wanted to help, for example - (December 14) " ten basins, eight mugs, one plate, five desert spoons, six tea spoons, one skimmer, one toasting fork, one flour dredge, three knives and forks, one sheet, one pillow case and one table cloth"; and also material from which to make clothes for the children - (December 17) "30 3/4 yards of print, 6 3/4 yards calico, 4 yards linen, a sheet and a yard measure". | |
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The first Orphan House was opened on April 11th, 1836 for orphan girls aged 7 and over. Within a few weeks, this was filled to capacity with 30 girls and two Christian ladies to care for them. |
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girls in school |
| Müller was saddened to have to turn away younger orphans and so, six months later, he rented another house (No 1) in the same street, together with a piece of land for a playground. Within a month this house was furnished and opened for infant girls and boys. |
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cots for babies |
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During the winter, an epidemic of typhus broke out in Bristol, but only two of the 60 orphans became ill and they both recovered. In October, 1837, Müller opened a third house (No 3 Wilson St.) for 40 orphan boys aged 7 or over. |
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boys in school |
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