This is the third-floor hallway of an abandoned orphanage.
Opened in 1940 to house English children orphaned because of World War II, it continued operating until the mid-1960’s.
Now, bedrooms that once housed dozens of orphans at a time, pictured above and below, are empty and forgotten, and have been for over 40 years. The original green paint is faded and flaking…
The white-tiled bathrooms are in shambles:
Walking the halls, you’d never have any idea that children once called this home.
Except, for one clue: a beautiful hand-painted illustration, which still remains on one wall.
I can’t tell you how much I love this piece:
Delightfully whimsical, it’s made all the more poignant to think it was created as a small way of brightening the lives of children seeking refuge from the horrors of war.
One wonders how many children gazed on this with a smile, or perhaps slept beside it, dealing with a traumatic loss few could imagine.
A sun, a moon, and a star. I love the slight dots of brilliant white used to accentuate them:
It really is a wonderful piece, and if you liked it as much as I did…
…wait until you see the entire house:
Check back on Monday for the full tour…
-SCOUT
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