Bishop’s House, standing on a prominent corner in Lansdowne Crescent and now divided into apartments, was purpose-built and opened in 1831 as Worcester Female Asylum.
Its charitable aim was to rescue women from a life of prostitution on the city’s streets and set them on a virtuous honest livelihood in the “paths of virtue.”
Census returns of the time reveal that the “inmates” were nearly all aged between 15 and 19.
Colin Roberts, a keen historian and researcher, had said a Worcester public meeting was held in 1825 to set up this hostel “for those unfortunate women who may desire to find a refuge from vice within its walls”.
A statement was read, explaining: “An eligible matron has been appointed and the house is now ready for the reception of those females who may feel desirous of leaving their abandoned courses and gaining an honest livelihood in the paths of virtue.
“The expenses of such an establishment must necessarily be considerable but, with the object being so truly benevolent, there can be no doubt the undertaking will meet with that patronage which its importance to society so reasonably demands.”
The founding ladies’ committee also stressed that they would “feel greatly obliged by the gift of furniture and linen, either new or old, which the benevolence of individuals may be willing to contribute”.
However, Colin said the records created confusion over the location of the original female asylum which was founded and opened in 1825 “a short distance from the Gas Works at Lowesmoor”.
A further report of 1929 said 34 young women had so far been admitted to the refuge which could house 15 at a time.
Clearly, some had already been sent on the “paths to virtue”.
But Colin said it was not clear whether the first asylum was located at Lansdowne or elsewhere.
The Worcester Directory of 1837 gave a description of the Lansdowne refuge: “There is a garden running round the house, surrounded by a high wall,” — which is still there — “where inmates are allowed regular exercise.
“The building consists of two probationary wards, two sleeping wards, rooms for the matron and sub-matron, a committee room, sick ward, work room and kitchens.”
The chaplain was the Rev John Davies and the three physicians included Dr (later Sir) Charles Hastings, founder of the British Medical Association.
A census in 1841 listed the names of the 14 inmates housed at the time, 13 of them aged from 15 to 19 and just one in her 20s.
Colin added the female asylum was only in operation at Lansdowne from 1825 until it closed down sometime in the 1840s.
The building at number 18 Lansdowne Crescent was then turned into a private residence and called Lansdowne House.
Its first occupant from 1850 to 1860 was Richard Varden, resident engineer of the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway.
He was followed as house-owner from 1860 to 1888 by Worcester solicitor Martin Cutler.
Other occupants of Lansdowne House over the years were William Madeley, a Mrs Davis, Frank Everill and in 1903 and 1904,a bishop, the Rt Rev Charles Gore.
In fact, it was simply on the basis of his two-year residence of the property that the next owner Emily Ogilvy decided to rename it as Bishop’s House!
The next occupant was Miss Diana Ogilvy — Emily’s daughter? — who twice made civic history when she became Worcester’s first woman mayor in 1931.