From The Warminster Parish Magazine, May 1869:
On the 24th [April 1869], the Eve of the Festival of S. Mark, the Boys’ Orphanage in Silver Street, was opened with a short service in the House to invoke the blessing of Almighty God on the undertaking.
The Orphanage opened with two little orphan boys of Warminster, and the same afternoon a third orphan was admitted from Wootton-under-Edge. The boys attend the national school.
This Orphanage, which is a part of the Orphanage of Pity, is on exactly the same principle as the girls’ orphanage. Admission is free. No one will be asked to support it. Prayer and faith will be exercised on its behalf. There will be a common fund for the two houses.
We gratefully record that there has been quite sufficient money in hand to furnish the boys’ orphanage. The fittings of the Prayer Room are the gift of a friend. All the ironmongery also was given by one who has the care of the orphans much at heart.
Another little orphan girl of Warminster has been admitted this month, into the Girls’ Orphanage, making our number in that house seventeen.