My name is Michael Brown and was admitted to Goldie Leigh Hospital, Lodge Hill, Long Leigh Lane, Abbey Wood, S.E.London from the year I was born (1953 - 1960)
I had contracted severe eczema and spent many years with other children in Shamrock House.
My older sister Jacky spent 4 years in Rose Cottage.
I have many fond memories of my 7 years at G.L.C.H. and have never forgotten the wonderful nurses such as Matron Fisher, Sister Wilson, Nurse Westropp.
I remember the School, Church, Laundry House, Tuck Shop,Ringworm House, Hawthorne House Matron's House, Soap Box Derby's, Scout Parades, Black railings that ran up Lodge Hill to the maingates where Mr. Woodgate was the keeper in his lodge.I was discharged in 1960 and finally lost my eczema at the age of 18.

I was in beecholm up untill 1966 I was in Thistle house and I had 2 brothers by surname of kelly who were in willow house

Hi, I spent a few weeks at Erdington Cottage Homes in 1959, the reason being that I didn't go to school. I have just completed my childhood memoirs which is basically how I stopped going to school because I was hit by a teacher and I ended up having a nervous breakdown. This led me to being sent first to a converlesent home, then a childrens home in Devon and finally to Birmingham Magistrate Courts where they locked me in a room with a load of boys who were going to Borstal, but I was dropped off at ECH, where I spent a few weeks in home 14 " Beach Croft House. No one was nasty to me while I was there, but nobody really engaged the children, or gave them any affection. I consider myself as being a bit like the Prince and the Pauper, because I swopped my clothes for the home uniform.

Myself, 4 sisters and my older brother were in Wednesfield Cottage homes from 1948 - 1955.
Names were Mary, Elieen, Jill, Shirley, Christine and Bill. Would be delighted to here from anyone who recognizes our names or were themselves in Cottage Homes during this time. I have many a happy moment of good memories from that time and would appreciate yours too.

I was in Princess Mary Village Homes ( P. M. V H ) as we used to call it then for short, I was sent there from a juvenile court for care & protection. In 1962. My Matron was Miss Flex. & the head was Miss Weaver. Dept Head was.Miss Clark Miss weaver had a corgi dog, & my matron Miss Flex had a cat named. Queenie. It seem's like yesterday! Yet I am now sixty six. I used to obscond quite often, & ended up being in Holloway Prison ( Hospital.wing) at the age of 15 years old. It was only then did I realise that Princess Mary's village Home's wasn't so bad after all. My e- mail. akeating47@ icloud.com

I've just discovered that two of my ancestors James & Gertrude Bradshaw were in the Padgate children's cottage home ( 1891 census ) Would love any more info on them & the home please
Regards Barbara

Hi my name is Tommy Bolton and I was in Medomsley Cottage Homes with my two sisters from 1944 umtill 1954, we were in separate houses as you were in those days and I only saw them a few times a year it is amazing that we have such a close relationship as adults. Would any one have any information or photographs to share. I was in Oak and Elm cottages the boys homes were all named after trees and the girls after flowers.

My brother Ken & I were in Manston Cottage Homes druing the 1950's - My House Master was Tom O'Neil with his wife Gwen - I can remember a few names of other children who were at Manston with us at that time - David Plowman, Frank Butt, Gerald Knight, Dennis Foster, Dennis Robinson & Malcom Wass. I would be pleased to hear from anyone who was also at Manston at that time to share memories.

Hello my mother was in Erdington Cottage homes from 1936 until she was grown up. She was evacuated to Wales with the children. Would love to hear of any other memories over people have, my mother remembers both bad and some good memories. Interested in other memories of that time.

Hello
My Mum along with her Brother and Sisters spent several years at the Medomsley Cottage Homes from about 1938 onwards. I have little information regarding the home but would appreciate any literature or pictures to help Mum who is now suffering from memory problems. Does anyone know of a register of the residents and what their movements where on leaving the home?

my name is susan pickering and my brother michael were in a home together mr heslop was the uncle the year around 70s we had 2 brothers as friends leo and brian sayers hope someone can help?

Hi Susan - whereabouts were you? Which town?

Greetings, I was in three different childrens' homes in the Portsmouth Area in the early 1950s, the second two being Kimpton House in Southsea, and the Cottages in Cosham. I have a few (not so good) memories of the times there, but from curiosity was trying to find out more information of both places to fill in some of the memory gaps. Have not seen any other mentions of Kimpton House... if anyone else was there in that period, get in touch. Email address is mitch48905@aol.com

Thanks

i was in various homes in the 60s to early 70s mostly wolverhampton based apart from field house in clent and one lovely home in lampeter wales would love to see pics of these times i was also in kingswood open air school albrighton my maiden name was hardy

hi was in wednesfield cottage homes (amongst various other care homes) i would love to hear from anybody who remembers me i was there at various times in the 60s to 1974

Hi my name is Denis I have two sisters Janice and Deirdre formaly Ali, we first went into Hornchurch Cottage Homes 1955 into Nelson Cottage,I was 5years Janice 3years and Deirdre 18months after afew years we were sent to another home in Timberlog lane Basildon,after ayear or so our father got myself out,but after afew months he died.I was then sent to foster parents in Bow,my sisters joined me there after six months.then after 2years we were picked up from school by our Welfare Officer and taken back to Hornchurch Cottage Homes this time we were in Rose Cottage.I went to Hylands School and Janice and Deirder went to Bushelms.My sisters live in Suffork and Essex, I live in Perth Australia

I was in South Acres childrens home from 1992/93-95. I have been trying to get in touch with people from there for a while but have been unsuccesful, It would be great anyone reading this who can maybe help me or was in south acres to please get in touch. I have a lot of things to discuss with people, many hidden secrets. traluvie@yahoo.co.uk

Hi, I am working with Gudrun on the book memories of Portsmouth Cottage Homes; we still need some personal memories of the Homes on the Hill. You can send them to me at the e-mail address above or to Gudrun - gudrun@childrenscottagehomes.org.uk - thanks Dave

Nice to see the Guest Book up again - Thanks - have missed it

I have reasearched fully the history of Penkhull Cottage homes and compiled a full history form in inception until it closed. Each person I interviewed not one stated that they knew of any sexual abuse at that home. Physocal abuse yes.
My work containing over 21,000 words and many photogrphs of children at the homes can be found in my history book The Royal Manor of Penkhull.
I am an authority on the subject locally and also that of the Pooe Law.
Further information from richard.talbot88@btinternet.com

Hi My father his sister and brother were all residents in the Cottage Home in Hornchurch i am trying to find out any information that i can about their stay at this home.
their names were,
Joseph john Carter
Edward carter
Florence carter
Sadly Joseph myfather and Edward my Uncle are both now deceased only Flo is alive but cannot remember much can you help.

myself my brother .Paul Anthony johnson. and my sister .Ruth Amelia johnson were in cottage homes . amos lane.wednesfield . app 1951. myself and paul were in cottages 7- 8..Ruth was in girls cottages . we were only there while our mother was in hospital and converlesant home. our time spent there allthough being away from rest of family was good .well looked after .good food .we went to church. also swimming (own pool) . we had our plastic money (bus fare) each morning .on saturdays we would go pictures or football match .. hope this is of interest to anyone., P S Johnson

Hi
I'm searching for a Magdeline Patricia Allsop, apparently she was a school teacher in Derby in the 1960's she had two sons of which I don't know there names. She adopted her third son Paul Allsop at 6 weeks old in 1966. I believe Paul was in an home for the 6weeks before adoption. Magdeline lived at 35 reeves road, derby at this stage. I'm very interested in any information about her or the two sons she had.
Thanks for reading.
E-mail carliejayh@msn.com

My name is Brian Parkes and I was in Fazerkley Cottage Homes from 1940 until approximately 1955. I had two brothers John Parkes and Michael Parkes who were older than me and we were all put in there in 1940 when I was a baby. If anyone remembers me please get in touch. My e-mail address is kathparkes123@btinternet.com.

Hi I was in the Cosham homes between 1946 till 1949 and again in 1957 to 1958. I was in the nursery to start with i was 17months left when i was 6 . Not a lot of memory of first time . The 2nd time i was 13 yrs old The Superintendents at that time were MRS PERRIN who had 2 daughters in the same cottage. My stay there was happy both times as far as i remember. I believe these cottages have now been demolished. Cannot find a picture anywhere on internet. Loved to go up the hill to the old fort. I am almost 69 now ( January) If anyone remembers me please email

My Sister and I were in St Christoper's from 1963 - 1965. I was very scary and we were treated like the hired unpaid help! We were also put in the Board room if we spoke at night, it was very dark and scary for a 7 year old. The only good thing that came about from me being there was that I went to a foster mother at weekends Iris Smith (rip) she was lovely and so were her 3 daughters, whom I still keep in contact with. I suppose they were a necessity but still very scary for a young child. My mum used to visit when she could but being a widow and not having anyone to look after us, this was the only option.

I WAS IN ERDINGTON COTTAGE HOMES FOR 3 YEARS WITH MY BROTHER, WHO WAS IN A SEPARATE PART. 2 WHEN I WENT IN 1956 TO 1959

I was in the Hessle Cottage Homes in Hull and it was an ideal 'stop-off' for children who's parents were not able to look after them for short periods and also for children who were more unfortunate and had to stay there for more intense and sometimes, unfortunate reasons.

i use to live at no 4 cottage homes leicestershire in the 60s before it moved to tatlow rd it was run by auntie kath , my nickname was totty , iremember the peters girls, the miller brothers, paul dann, john mckillop to name just afew

My name is David Whittaker, born David Alexander Colclough. I Believe I was in Penkhull Homes, Stoke on Trent probably in the late 50's to early 60's, having been eventually adopted in 1963.
I am keen to hear from anyone who was there at that time, and possibly remembers me. Any details about Penkhull Homes gratefully received.

Hi my mother Frances Lee was in the Cosham cottage in the 1950s. and returned later after her adoption. her name was changed when adopted to Doris Drew and the birth date was the wrong date on the official adoption certificate. Her natural mothers name was Kathleen Alice Hopkins whom was married to a Leonard Lee. It has been along time researching the family tree due to the in-correct birth date on my mothers adoption certificate. Mothers actual birth date is 22nd Dec 1943 - not 22nd November 1943.
We have had phots of Frances in the cottage home but have mislead them.

Michael Marvin (birth name Adams) born in 1943 is looking for Roy John Adams born 03/03/1945. The mother of both boys was Evelyn May Adams of Leicester. Roy John may have lived in the Countesthorpe Cottage Home. Any information would be appreciated

Evelyn, Hope you find what you want about the homes on the hill, and happy that you read the book. I also hope that WordWorks book on the homes answers some of your questions when its published. My brother & Sister were in the Nursery in 1954, they cannot remember much, I was 8 and remember vividly. If you are ever in Portsmouth call in at the records office in the Central Library. Good Luck. Dave

Hi, my name is Charlie Forshaw, my twin brother and I lived at BEECHHOLME between 1951 to 1955, we lived in Cedar cottage.I have many fond memories of the place. Does anyone remember us boys.

safety.adviser@ntlworld.com
dave
thanks for that, will look and see, i was in the homes late 50s onwards started in the nursery lol.

i was in portsmouth cottage homes for a good while whilst i was a youngster, have just read the book forgotten, very upsetting, i dont remember dates of times i was in care i was in the nursery, so would be late 50 s as i was born 55, then i was in again, in the mid sixties, i would love to put dates to this, but really have a jumbles up head for these dates, my dad and big sister both died, my mum, was the reason i was in the homes, so i wont ask her, i would like to sort this out,

I was in this care home from 1941 to 1944

trying to find information on my father john stewart who was in ponteland cottage homes does anybody remember him ?

My Great Aunt Jane Doris Smith (b:1897) was taken from her family in 1905 and placed in the Princess Mary Village Home Addlestone Surrey, and was discharged in 1913 aged 16. According to Surrey Archives she would have went in to local employment (no records of this) however she wouldn't have been obligated to stay in it. The Surrey Archives also informed me that there was a holiday home provided by the school as accommodation for the girls who had no where to go when on leave. I can't seem to find the name of this home or any information on it. It also appears from other records and information that Jane Doris Smith never returned home to her family's care. Hoping to find more details on Jane Doris Smith or any of her descendants. Any help would be gratefully appreciated.
Thanks
Karen

i am Pat Little, I was in Hornchurch Milton cottage home from 1956 to 1959.
Does anyone remember me? I have 3 brothers Paul, Peter and Tommy Reid.
The house master was Mr Jack & Jill Papworth, then Mr & Mrs Cousins.

I am on here to find others who knew me at that time and maybe we can share what happened to us.
I was on friends reunited some years ago but have not found anyone on there.
Get in touch if you know me.
Pat

Pat Little here, resided in Milton Cottage from 1953 to 1959.
Anyone who knows me or my brothers Peter and Paul , get in touch.

I am searching for Mary (TESSA) Johnson born 1945 and was in Shenley Fields Childrens Home in the 1950's. Mary (TESSA) went to Tinkers farm and cotteridge schools. Please done anyone have any idea what happenend to her. Her family are searching.

In reply to post 71, the answer is Penkhull infant's, Hatshill junior's and Penkhull senior's.

JAMES LIONEL WESTON.I forgot to put the homes dad was in from 1943/44.They were union cottage homes in Wednesfield Wolverhampton.thankyou.

My farther namedJAMES LIONEL WESTON past away in 2006.We had talked about putting a family tree together but never got round to it.Will be so hard now.He was here aged aprox 9 due to moms death.Father was JAMES PRICE.He is long gone.I would love to hear from anyone who remembers my dad,JAMES WESTON.He was born in 1935 he had a cousin named Joan now deseased and an older sister named Sheila now deseased.we think he was there from 1943/1944??we have no idea when he was there until?Dad was born in newcross hospital and lived his life until retirement in and around willenhall.He had quite dark memories of the cottage homes.he was eventualy fosterd,as the adoptive family who were to take him in declined last minute when they found out his natural father was still alive.thankyou for reading.

Hello I am helping a friend trace his family history. We have been fairly successful in tracing his history since the age of about 15 but his early years (1952-1959 approx) were spent in a home in Birmingham. He believes this may have been Sunnyside or Suncrest or something similar. I think these homes were part of the Shenley Fields Group. Does anyone know if any records about admissions discharges case files etc still exist for these homes from the 1950's?
Regards
Alan Howe

REPLY FROM CHILDRENSCOTTAGEHOMES.ORG.UK

Hi Alan
Suncrest was the name of Home 2 of Shenley Cottage Homes. There are some records (admission and discharge registers) for these homes - held in Birmingham Archives and Heritage at Central Library. If you go to the Shenley Fields page of this website
(http://www.childrenscottagehomes.org.uk/shenley.html), there is a link to a leaflet at the bottom of the page which will guide your friend into trying to find any information about himself from these records.
Sunnyside, was the name for Home 1 of Erdington Cottage Homes. Like Shenley, there are some admissions and discharge records held by Birmingham Archives and Heritage. Again, the page on Erdington Cottage Homes on this site, has a link to a leaflet which will give you all the details. (http://www.childrenscottagehomes.org.uk/erdington.html),
Any problems, please drop me a line gudrun@childrenscottagehomes.org.uk

Gudrun Limbrick
www.childrenscottagehomes.org.uk

i wrote about me and my sister in fullwood cottage home i forgot to put the year it was 1944 from albert sykes

i was in f.c.h when i was 7years old due to my mum dying iwas in with my sister miriam what year i dont know anybody can tell me thank you

my dad was in penkhull homes in the 1920 s long gone now bless him he never talked much about the times in there his name was george william birkin does anyone know him

Hello again
Regarding Penkhull Homes - which schools (middle & high school) would the children have attended in the late 40' & early to mid 50's and are the records accessible?
Thanks

This web site is great!

My dad (who sadly passed away 4 yrs ago) was in Penkhull Home 13 after his mom passed away. He was there from the age of 5 to when he finished high school. I have a photo of him & another gent in front of the house probably taken in the mid 50's. I also have one of him with about 80+ others in the dining room. I believe I have one of him and others in the kitchen peeling potatoes. He said he peeled so many potatoes that he could peel them without breaking - one long strand of potatoe skin. The house mother was Mrs. Wade. She attended my parents wedding. Have that photo as well. He told me of the good times & the bad. I've connected with a second cousin on my grandmother's side and finally have a photo of her and his brother. Too bad my dad didn't get to see what she looked.