Salvation Ch. 1 Alice Marchant

In comparison with other similar establishments, St Saviour’s orphanage is a large, bleak and imposing building. More a series of buildings attached to each other rather than one building, each builder trying to stamp his authority on the overall structure.

Standing in its own private grounds and set back from the road, the only way into the property is by a long and winding driveway. At the rear of the main building are several smaller buildings, an enclosed courtyard next to the old stables and a large walled garden.

Foundered by the Marchant family in 1837, it has provided care and shelter for children who have lost their parents at sea, for the past 60 years. Located in the St John’s Wood area of London, it serves, through the family connections with the navy, much of the south coast of England.

In keeping with naval traditions, the day-to-day routines and discipline at St Saviour’s are harsh and the children are treated very roughly. This has always been justified as character building, but the staff has always taken full advantage of this excuse, to satisfy their own sadistic lusts.





[ part 1 ]

Alice Marchant

It was into this atmosphere that Alice Marchant was born in 1862, her childhood and teenage years spent learning all about the running of St Saviour’s, that one day she would inherit.

During her wonderings around the buildings and grounds, she would enjoy watching the children being punished. When she was older, she always took an active part at the special punishment parades, held in the great hall every Friday night.

Special, because the punishments were much more severe and carried out in front a packed hall of complete strangers.