Philanthropy & Panto: How children of the Asylum brought Britain together

Why do Caledonian Road and Caledonian Park have Scottish names? Join us for a series of talks that explore the close connection between Scotland and Islington through the home and school called the Caledonian Asylum. For nearly 8 decades the sound of bagpipes and the sight of children in kilts must have been a familiar one in Islington. Their story illuminates 19th-century philanthropy, the creation and maintenance of cultural identity, education and urbanisation.

 

 

Talk 3. Philanthropy & Panto: How children of the Asylum brought Britain together

In the late 18th century, wearing tartan was banned in Britain. A few decades later, tartan was the favourite holiday wear of the Royal Family and no major London charitable event was complete without a performance by the tartan-clad children of the Caledonian Asylum. Join us as we look at the part played by Scottish philanthropy – and the pageants, processions and performances of the children of the Caledonian Asylum – in achieving this transformation.