author looking for information on orphanages

[authorww2]

Author looking for information on orphanages during world war II in England. Specifically information on orphanages for girls in Yorkshire and Devon area. If you or anyone can describe how life was in such an institution, names of these institutions, location and how it was run, please contact me. All information will remain confidential and be used solely as background for my book. Thank you.

[Terry Waters-Marsh]

Author looking for information on orphanages during world war II in England. Specifically information on orphanages for girls in Yorkshire and Devon area. If you or anyone can describe how life was in such an institution, names of these institutions, location and how it was run, please contact me. All information will remain confidential and be used solely as background for my book. Thank you. A few years ago the BBC and the ABC did a joint production on the orphans and foster children brought to Australia, Canada and New Zealand at the end of WW2 to give them a better life. There was a book with it as well in which many surviving children talked about their life in English orphanages before emmigrating. For the life of me I can't remember the title but I am sure some other member will assist. Good luck with the book.

[Ladkyis]

Have you tried asking Barnardo's?
http://www.barnardo's.org.uk

they might help with sources as long as you don't intend slagging them off :) even I'd get upset at that :D
Ann

[authorww2]

Thank you Terry for the information. I do hope someone can identify the title of this book because until now the only group I had heard similar to the one you mentioned is the British Home children which were sent away between 1833-1939. The University of Waterloo in Ontario Canada does research on the topic.
Thank you for your good wishes.
Josée

[authorww2]

I have written to the author of the following letter sent to the University of Waterloo in 2001 but her e-mail address is no longer active - she may not work at Barnado's anymore. So I have sent my request to someone else at Barnado's and waiting for a reply.
We will see what happens. Thank you Ann.
Josée

[Terry Waters-Marsh]

Josee,

Found the authors and another reference - "Philip Bean and Joy Melville’sLost Children of the Empire, published in 1989, or Gillian Wagner’s Children of the Empire from 1982."

[Geoffers]

Author looking for information on orphanages during world war II in England. Specifically information on orphanages for girls in Yorkshire and Devon area.....names of these institutions, location and how it was run, please contact me.
Re the second part of yor query, have you tried TNA catalogue?
http://www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk/search.asp
just searching on 'orphanages' and the years 1939-1950 comes back with 76 hits, including one for Headingly - possibly something there that may be of use?

Geoffers
Charlbury, Oxfordshire

[Terry Waters-Marsh]

Josee

Ann suggested you contact Barnadoes directly. I did so a few months ago seeking information about my grandfather's employment there in the 1930's. They were less than helpful - but quick to ask for a donation! :(

[authorww2]

Dear Terry,

I have heard from Bernado's and they are too busy too help me. However they suggested a reading list which they will forward to me. I am surprised and disappointed that, since I have posted my request on this site, nobody with first-hand knowledge of orphanages has contacted me.

Josée
Author

[flyer]

there as been a lot of info on Sheffield Forum. afew of the family will be starting up web site in new yr.I was in fulwood for 5-6yrs,250 children half of them girls housed in 20 homes I landed up with one of the house mothers fm hell my brothers got one just as bad,they would certainly spend jail time today,(this is in 39-1946), I do however remember when talking to my pal he told me he had a nice kind house-M(I was shocked to learn such a thing )
luck of the draw I guess.most of us still find this very painfull you'll get your info one word at a time

[flyer]

Hi its me again just niped back to sheffield Forum there was 362 children in fulwood ,THURSDAY was in the girls sec. there's a book out somewhere, "For the love of children" tonque in cheek account of how lovely it was in there

[Genielle]

my grandad was in the Fulwood Cottages Sheffield from 1927 to 1936 could you supply any info regarding the orphanage as we are looking for his sister Ethel Whitehead, mum name is Florence ...any info would help. thanks genielle

[flyer]

Hi Genielle,I wouldn't hold your breath on this thread,no one seems interested in answering,maybe 3mth vacation in spain.Lots of good info on Sheffield Forum,do a little digging on expats,some of the replys gets a little emotional,I was there in39 and it was a hell hole.72 today the numbers are down for those who remember.

[gdoheny]

Hi I would love to know if Fullwood cottage homes are still standing. My mother in law was there from 1930 to 1939, She would love to see the old place as she has not been back to Sheffield for over 35 years. She also spoke about a fever hospital and wondered if this is still there or has it been knocked down.

Any information would be fantastic

[claireg]

Hi there

I recently found out that my mum who was adopted had brothers and sisters who were sent to fullwood cottage homes as young children, as we are now in contact and the sister of my mum still lives in Sheffield, she has told me that the homes have been turned into much more luxury individual homes, but that the area can still be recognised. I also sent for some information on the homes from the library to give to her, it was copied out of a book that the library held and sent to me, so you could try contacing them or asking at your local libary, i don't know what the book was called as it was a few pages and must have contained information about other places.

Hope this helps

Claire

[Stan Whitehead]

Hi,
Noted your request appropro Residents of 'Orphanages'...My sojourn in such homes was in the Boys homes.
Wartime...approx 1940/41 evacuated from London dockland to Swindon to a
private house. After the Man of the house was killed whilst fire-watching I was
shipped to the Home of the Good Shepherd situated in Hanley Swan Worcs.
The home was quite a pleasant place with very considerate Master and Matron and other staff. We were boys of ages around 6 to 9 years old. I consider now that it was a somewhat 'upper-class' type of existence!! Although we were a motley lot we made up the majority of the local Church's choir. I attained the dizzy heights of soloist! The local school - St Gabriels primary was also quite pleasant....from a misty memory that is....we also had dry toilets!
In the home we had a strict dietary regime - bearing in mind it was under wartime rationing. None of us was fat!
We used to visit the local American wartime hospitals and sing at Christmas time all the old and favourite carols. We saw some hundreds of wounded americans. They would be crying as we sang. Occasionally we had visits from US army personnel on a sort of reciprocal basis. I remember a visit from a well-known Boxer ...and as I was somewhat pugnacious I was chosen to punch his bristly chin. I recall that hygiene was also of importance as we all had inspections for nits and rashes occasionally. The number of boys was about 20 at most. We used to assist in the yearly harvesting in the locality - mostly chasing rabbits - a great addition to the pot.
The most significant time whilst there was the night that we were all downstairs under the tables in the dining room which had been strengthened with posts from floor to ceiling. During that night we heard the bombing of Coventry - I have since learned. 1943.
Later in the war 1944/5 we were transferred to another Boy's Home in Sampford Peverell,Nr Tiverton by the name of St Boniface. It was another 'Waifs and Strays' home.
I guess that is enough to being going on with.... Good luck with your search.
I was born in 1933.

Stan Whitehead.

[Procat]

Hi Stan,

Thank you for posting that information.

Unfortunately authorww2 is no longer a member of the forum.