The British Orphan Asylum was founded in 1827 by the Revd Andrew Reed, one of many philanthropic works he engaged in. It was originally based at Kingston Green in London, and in 1834 it moved to Clapham.

In 1863, a gift of £14,000 from Major Edward Mackenzie of Fawley Court, Henley (after whom Mackenzie Street is named), allowed the Asylum to buy and convert the old Royal Hotel (which had been closed since 1852) as its' new headquarters. The building could house up to 170 children.

The opening ceremony was on 24th June 1863, and was attended by Prince Edward and Princess Alexandra. They each planted a sequoia tree, which had been presented by Charles Turner.

In 1920 the Asylum in Slough had to close for financial reasons, and so amalgamated with the London Orphan School in Watford, moving on to Cobham in Surrey in 1946, where it still exists today as Reed's School.

Following the departure of the Asylum, the building in Slough was used as the Licensed Victuallers' School until it was demolished in 1938.