His Family Was Destitute
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Charlie’s mother struggled financially to support her family. Her only sources of income were a little bit of nursing and dressmaking. Charlie’s father did not help at all. When he was just seven, Charlie was sent to Lambeth Workhouse. He later moved to the Central London District School for paupers.
About a year and a half later, Charlie moved back home to live with his mother, but she couldn’t afford to take care of him by herself. At age nine, he once again moved to the workhouse. He and his brother attended the Norwood Schools for destitute children.
