| Your say! Again...
A while ago we put out an appeal for people to send us details of homes we haven't got listed.
And so many people responded that we have been able to put together this completely new page - thank you!
Here's some of the homes you told us about... (list updated 25th July 2014)
Chelmsford Union Cottage Homes
East London Industrial School for Boys
Lewisham Industrial School for Boys
Meriden Cottage Home, Coventry
Springwell House, Clapham Common Summerdale House, Shotley Bridge
Tilsley House, Weston Super Mare
where? Fell Lane, Keighley when did it open? not known when did it close? not known who ran it? local authority description? “My mum was in here in the 1920s. It was at the back of the workhouse on Oakworth Road, Keighley. Big gates. Have seen one picture - looked a bit darkand dingy. Mum said everything was regimental andbeing a girl had lots of jobs to do. The kids only got to play with toys if potential adoption seekers came to the home. All their hair was cut like a bowl crop - boys and girls. There was no love. It affected my mother all her life.”
name? Chelmsford Union Cottage Homes where? Great Baddow Road, Chelmsford, Essex when did it open? not known when did it close? not known who ran it? not known description? "I think my mother was in this home. There were 22 children there"
where? Leeds when did it open? not known when did it close? not known who ran it? A charity description? "I was in this home as a child. It was a detached large six-bedroomed house. There were 9 of us. We were well cared for. We called the staff aunties."
name? Springhill Green Children's Home where? Plymouth when did it open? not known when did it close? not known how many children? 15+ who ran it? not known description? "It was close to a children's park. A 2 storey home with a small back garden. Spent 5 years there, life was ok, but as with a lot of homes you felt like a number and that staff were there purely to do a job, having said that I was raised to be polite respectful, and have good manners."
name? Tilsley House, George Muller Homes where? Clarence Road, Weston Super Mare when did it open? approx 1973 when did it close? It is now a residential home for the elderly who ran it? Christian charity how many children? 17 description? "Very large house near to the sea front with adjoining home also ran by Muller homes"
where? Bower Mount Road, Maidstone how many children? "I think it was about 30" who ran it? Local authority description? "I was there in the 1950s. It was a large house with additional building in the grounds. I was not very happy there but it was not the worst I have been in."
where? Old Road, Clacton on Sea when did it open? 1947? when did it close? 1958 how many children? I can only guess at around 100 who ran it? Barnardo's? Although our family was financed by the Essex County Council description? "My three brothers and two sisters were in the same home.all placed in different cottages and houses. As I recall, the home closed because the main road, Old Road, went through the middle of the homes. I was in a little cottage, Suffolk, that I was placed at the age of 4 very well. And the Big House, Essex House, I graduated to when I became 11"
name? not sure. 11 scattered homes I think. where? Foxall Road, Ipswich when did it open? not known when did it close? not known who ran it? not known description? "My wife and I now own home 1, and we would love to find out more information on the history of our home. It is pictured in a book by Linda Sexton- Suffolk Children in Care, our house is pictured on page 48"
where? Forest Drive, Leicester when did it open? not known when did it close? 1980?how many children? 15/20 who ran it? A charity - nuns description? "It was a bog house with lots of outside space and orchards. It was wonderful. I loved every part of my life there"
where? Brownlow Road, Palmers Green, London when did it open? not known when did it close? not known who ran it? not known description? "I lived near it in the 40s and early 50s. It was made up of maybe two or three terraced houses"
name? Summerdale House children's Home where? Snows Green Road Shotley Bridge, Co Durham when did it open? not known when did it close? "It became a care home for the elderly in the early 1980s" how many children? "around 15" who ran it? Local authority description? "it seemed to be a huge building to me (I was quite young and probably wasn't as big as I erceived). there was the ground floor and 2 floors above. it had a big black door at the top of a concrete stairway. the driveway was gravel and a big grass area at the end passed the house. at the back of the building there was a large garden and a long metal fire escape. there was a few old out buildings that were unused. and further round there was a second entrance. inside entering the black door there was a hallwAy and to the right was the staff office and to the left was the sitting room. this was furnished with lots of wooden armed armchairs and a tv and a couple of book shelves at the back. further along the hallway to the right was the play room. it had a big window at thwarting back looking over the garden and a slight stage area where sat a very large wardrobe that housed the toys. back into the hallway and straight ahead of the door the hallway."
where? 117 Whitewell Road, Frome, Somerset when did it open? not known when did it close? 2012how many children? Max 20 who ran it? Local authority description? "It was a large house with a playing field"
where? Tavistock Villa, Tavistock Road, Yiewsley, Middx when did it open? not known when did it close? not knownhow many children? 15 who ran it? Local authority
name? East London Industrial School for Boysaka Lewisham Industrial School for Boys where? 19 Brookbank Road, Lewisham, London when did it open? not known when did it close? not known who ran it? not known description? "My maternal granduncle was an inmate in 1891"
Currently known as Naldera. where? Cliff Promenade, North Foreland, Broadstairs when did it open? not known when did it close? not knownhow many children? "probably no more than a few dozen at most" who ran it? not known description? "I was in there as a child. There are pictures of 'Naldera' available on internet, since flats are frequently advertised by estate agents. There's even one of the bedroom I stayed for a month, with fantastic sea view. The building was once owned by Lord Curzon" name? Ivo Cottage where? Albion Street, Spalding, Lincs when did it open? 1970s when did it close? 1990how many children? 15 who ran it? local authority
where? Mayford Green?, Woking when did it open? not known when did it close? early 1990s how many children? 100+ who ran it? local authority description? "Large C.H.E run by Surrey SSD split into 'houses' but with communal areas ie Main hall, farm etc. Boys only. regimented, lots of discipline. The place where nearly all Surrey SSD problem kids ended up!"
where? St Georges?, Mitchum, Surrey when did it open? not known when did it close? late 1980s how many children? approx 20+ who ran it? local authority description? "detatched house (large) in normal residential road. Used as an O+A center by Surrey SSD." name? Pinehurst where? Camberley, Surrey when did it open? not known when did it close? 1985 who ran it? Local authority description? "old detatched large house set in approx.3 acres of own grounds 10mins walk to Camberley town center. (is now a nursing home). Staff were ALL fun and caring as I recall" name? Woodrough where? Bramley, Guildford when did it open? not known when did it close? 1987? who ran it? local authority description? "two co joined units, one catering for babies and small infants called Thames, and the 2nd unit called Shannon was for teens. on site school and playing field. A good home, good caring staff, sad to leave!" name? Oakfield where? Witney, Oxfordshire when did it open? not known when did it close? not known who ran it? not known name? St Joseph's Roman Catholic Convent where? South Road, Southall, Middx when did it open? not known when did it close? moved to new address in approx 1931 Whetstone, North London who ran it? "I believe it was run by an order of nuns called Daughters of the Cross. Between maybe 1921 to the 1930s" description? "At the time my Mother was in the convent, a few of her memories were - Having an egg once a year, that was at Easter. One present at Christmas. If the children had any parents, they were allowed to visit once a month. Each child had a number, my Mothers number was 25 but later changed to 32, this number was sewed into all clothes. Black woollen stockings were worn with garters, the stockings were washed so often they turned green. Every Monday evening the holes in the stockings had to be darned. Two weeks holiday each year was taken at Broadstairs in Margate. The only other time my Mother left the Convent was when she went into hospital to have her tonsils out. The Dentist would visit the Convent, anyone needing to have teeth removed would have to line up and have them taken out without any anaesthetic. My mother remembers having pneumonia and being taken to the Infirmary, which was in the school grounds. The girls all had guardians when they left the Convent at the age of 16, were also given £20 to buy an outfit and a suitcase, ready for their life outside the Convent. I was told by my Mother that when she left the Convent in approx 1932, she set off for her first job which was in service, she sat on the tube with tears streaming down her face, as she was leaving all she ever knew to begin a life in the complete unknown." name? Bell Cottage where? Cheam Road, Epsom when did it open? not known when did it close? not known who ran it? not known name? Crondall Cottage Home where? Dippenahll Street, Crondall, Surrey when did it open? not known when did it close? not known who ran it? not known description? "my Grandmother was matron of this home during the second world war. Later on it was converted into houses and as a child I lived one of the houses which was called Lavender Cottage until 1968." name? Royston Home for Little Girls where? Barkway Road, Royston, Herts when did it open? 1908 when did it close? not known who ran it? National Refuges for Homeless and Destitute Children description? "A society called the National Refuges for Homeless and Destitute Children opened a new home for little girls between the ages of five and ten at the top of the Barkway Road hill in 1908. This splendid site offered a magnificent view over Royston towards the north-west, but the main entrance (seen here) is on the south-east side of the complex. The site in all amounted to five acres. Eighty children were accommodated and the principal staff were a matron and two teachers. Rather later many of the girls who arrived were under the impression that their fathers had been killed during the 1914-1918 Great War - a way of evading the stigma of illegitimacy which no doubt afflicted many of them." name? The Cottage of Blunham where? High Street, Blunham, Bedford when did it open? not known when did it close? not known who ran it? not known description? " I just wanted to let you know it did exist. My Grandfather was sent here in 1928 as a baby and left in 1931 aged 3 after he was adopted!"
where? Amos Lane, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton when did it open? not known when did it close? not knownhow many children? there were 3 units with possibly 10 or 12 children who ran it? local authority? description? "3 units, play room dining room shared bedroom with 2 0r 3 dining room. I was there for 16 months was like our own little family called the staff aunty or uncle we had pocket money which we spent at penkridge market then went to milford common on the variety bus, raf cosford put on a Christmas party and the airmen used to visit us, I went on my first holiday to wales, not a bad experience at all for me."
where? Orchard Lane, Leigh, Wigan when did it open? 1960s when did it close? not knownhow many children? about 20 who ran it? local authority. description? "Very large detached house behind leigh infirmary.We went out to school.St Marys catholic or manchester road protestant. Very nice.The house mothers and fathers were very kind."
where? 22 Highgate, Birmingham when did it open? 1970s when did it close? It has now been demolished how many children? 16 who ran it? local authority. description? "It was a small L-shaped unit built around a small square in the centre built in the early 70's directly behind the Birmingham Central Mosque the back wall of the Mosque being the garden wall to the side of the house, the back garden exited to the foot of two hi-rise flats on on the right in Highgate Close and on the left two rows of prefab type garages, the lift door type There was a cut through to the shops via the broken fence and wasteland behind the garages. The garden gate was at the bottom of the cul-de-sac that Highgate formed. there were around 16 of us 8 boys and 8 girls there was a live in manager with his family and a staff flat for one member of the care staff to live. There were usually two care staff on at anyone time apart form the manager. We had a female cook, who prepared all the meals. My stay there was an unhappy one as bullying was rife, there were many events and I must admit I played my part. some of the boys including myself went to Highgate secondary school which was across the main road out front. The staff however were very nice we used to go to the ice rink on a Wednesday with a member of staff and get chips on the way home. I was there for nine months starting at the beginning of the school holidays in the summer of 1977 during which we went self catering to Butlins in Skegness. There were three changes of management in my time there, the second managers were the best, but now days may have gotten into trouble as during Christmas gave me glasses of Port which I enjoyed very much. it was during their tenure that I was reasonably well behaved and their son was my best friend. They are the only good memories of the my time there I have. The manager that came afterwards, for me was not good, it is enough to say my relationship deteriorated further [I was already having problems] and I was moved on again."
aka Clent Remand Home where? off the Hagley Road, Clent, Staffs when did it open? not known when did it close? late 1970s how many children? about 20 who ran it? local authority. description? It felt like a prison. a large grand house with lovely grounds to which we had no access"
where? Wake Green Road, Moseley, Birmingham when did it open? not known when did it close? not known how many children? 12 who ran it? local authority. description? "large house with 4 boys in each bedroom workshop/play room in seperate building at the back large grounds running down to moseley bog with an orchard and large field. we went out to school (pitmaston smb) in hall green."
where? Manchester when did it open? not known when did it close? not known how many children? not known who ran it? local authority.
where? Rhyl, North Wales when did it open? not known when did it close? not known how many children? "Lots" who ran it? not known description? "I was approx 8 went to this home twice in about 1959. It was a really big home so I thought. They had a green room, blue room, sunshine room ie bedrooms. I did not like it I was made to sit by myself and eat cold and greasy dinners. It has had a great impacted on me over the years"
where? Shere, Surrey when did it open? not known when did it close? 1970s how many children? 13 who ran it? "Westminster Social Services I think" description? "Large Victorian house. Hell on earth."
aka Northern Police Orphanage where? Harlow Moor Road, Harrogate when did it open? 1898 when did it close? 1956 how many children? approx 70-90 who ran it? Northern Police Orphanage Trust description? "The main building looked like a stately home"
where? Showell Lane, Meriden, Coventry when did it open? not known when did it close? not known how many children? 21 who ran it? Poor Law Union? description? "Researching ancestor in 1911 census came across 21 children, matron Nellie Fairbank and assistant matron Rose Vann, under Meriden Cottage home"
name? The Leasaka The Lea's, The Lees where? Scholes, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire when did it open? not known when did it close? "There is reference to children being there in 1960s " how many children? not known who ran it? "I read on one blog that it was the WYCC (West Yorkshire County Council)" description? " I am researching the family tree of a friend, her mum resided in this children's home. There are references to the home on the internet from people who attended the home. However there appears to be scant information. No Pics, registers, no documented information at all. The area has been redeveloped, just the hall remains. From what I have read there were 4 cottages and one hall where the principle and his family resided. I read that the houses were named after trees. Scholes village a lovely rural village in midst of hills and dales. There was a mill in the village."
where? Moseley, Birmingham when did it open? not known when did it close? it moved to a large house in Handsworth Wood Road how many children? about 10 who ran it? local authority
where? North side, Clapham Common, London when did it open? not known when did it close? not known how many children? not known who ran it? local authority
where? Franklin Avenue, Skegness when did it open? not known when did it close? not known how many children? 14 or 15 who ran it? local authority description? "Large detached house in a residential street. In general it was okay..I lived there from April 1965 to June 1968."
aka St Anne's where? Greetby Hill, Ormskirk, Lancs when did it open? 1940? when did it close? not known how many children? 20 who ran it? The Children's Society description? "Detached large stone built house in its own grounds."
name? Church Village Cottage Homes where? Church Village Please see the separate entry for these under the name Pontypridd Cottage Homes
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