Bankfield Children's Home

The opening of Bankfield Children's Home was part of the Lancashire County Council's Children's Committee's work in the aftermath of the Second World War to close it's large institutions for children and replace them with smaller, more 'homely' children's homes.

Bankfield, opened inthe early 1950s, could accommodate 28 children.

The home was situated in Ainsworth and had been a boarding school before becoming a children's home in 1952 with Mr and Mrs Kinmont as the live-in houseparents. They were followed by Mrs Haigh and Mr and Mrs Booth.

Ainsworth is between Bury and Bolton.

It appears that the home closed in the late 1960s.

We've had this following message from a former resident:

"I was in a childrens home called Bankfield in Ainsworth near Bolton along with my brother and sisters. It was in the mid 60s I think, and was run by Mr and Mrs Booth. It was run very well -we had lots of holidays and nice memories. Have been trying to get any more information on it. It's now a old people's home"

Memories of Bankfield

"Firstly Hi to you all from Australia

"The fact that you are able to read my memories of Bankfield proves that we have survived a very difficult childhood to say the least.

"I arrived at Bankfield in November 1953 age 12, my school report said I was un-kept and not clean, prior to Bankfield I had been sent to Moorefield home, I think for assessment before a more permanent placement, it was a dark and wet night some time after tea. My brother and I were asked if we were hungry, coming for our home address where food was a bit of a rarity of course we were, so they gave us cold spaghetti on toast Lol.

"Any way after a short time I was sent to Bankfield to be greeted by George and Nancy Kinmont. I am not able to relate to any other names from that time sorry about that.

But what I can tell you is that Bankfield was the best thing that ever happened to me as a child. After settling in I started to stretch my legs, at night we would go down the fields and chase rabbits, this was all on the quite mind you. I remember a long piece of steel pipe laying on the ground in one of the fields and the rabbits used to hide in it.

One of the most enjoyable things I was allowed to do was go down the lane to John Smiths farm, I spent every minute I could just being with the animals.

"From time to time we were allowed to go into Bolton to the Grand Theatre where I saw Eddie Calvert the trumpet player. 

"The other thing that I remember I had a disagreement with one of the other boys, so George had the tables in the dinning pushed back to the wall and on went the boxing gloves and we just went for our lives until one of us gave in, then we had to shake hands, I still didn't like the kid afterwards.

"One other thing I remember and someone will have to correct or confirm me on this, on a Saturday was floor polishing day in the dining room, we used to get on our hands and knees and rub polish into the floor, then they were polished with some sort of devise, a heavy weight on top of a polishing pad on a long handle and we used to swing it up and down the floor.

"Then there was school at Bury we used to get plastic tokens in place of money, blue and red.

"Then there was Ken the gardener he used to spread cow manure all over the lawn and left it to winter, and the magpie nest up in the  trees in the lawn.

"I have written to Lancashire Council chasing records of my time in care, but they have the same excuse, after so many years we don't them.

"After Bankfield I was sent to a foster home, not sure where but close by."

Barry.

If you have any information about, or memories of, this children's home, we'd love to hear from you. Please email or complete this short form.

LOOKING FOR RECORDS?

Does anyone know who to approach for former residents to apply for their case files? Please let us know.

There is a website dedicated to the home at http://bankfield2.wix.com/bankfield [external site]