Victorian 'Baby Farming' Is A Deeply Unsettling Piece Of Forgotten History

Of all the dreadful things that have happened throughout history, only a few are actually taught in schools. The existence of "baby farms" isn't one of them. Baby farms existed in the darkest corners of Victorian-era England, and though thousands of victims emerged as a result, hardly anyone remembered them...until now. The real story behind baby farms is finally coming out, and it's just as terrible as you'd expect.

In Amelia's arms...

On a foggy night in England, a woman named Amelia Dyer crept alongside the River Thames. She moved quickly and quietly. From afar, it may have seemed like she was on a late-night stroll. But those who looked closer were in for the shock of a lifetime. In Amelia's arms was a dark, huddled mass...

Toxic fumes

Amelia's story began in the 1800s, at a time when many cities were rapidly expanding. Industrialization was the law of the land, and everyone who lived in cities was inhaling polluted air. This toxic air wreaked havoc on people's lungs, but children were especially vulnerable. And in England, the baby boom was going strong.

The ultimate sacrifice

At a time when birth control and women's rights were virtually nonexistent, many women found themselves pregnant with unwanted children. And that left them truly in a bind. You see, while living in a densely populated area gave women more job opportunities, it also meant sacrificing their families' health.

A new kind of care system

Rich women had another option: they could simply make the baby somebody else's problem. If a wealthy woman fell pregnant, she could send the child to another home, where someone would raise them for a fee. Those who couldn’t afford this option, however, had to rely on a new kind of care system.