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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => London and Middlesex => Topic started by: frederickay on Friday 28 September 07 06:31 BST (UK)
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My father and three siblings were bought up in the Ashford Residential home . he was put there as a two year old in 1927. i have been on old school friends to no avail . is there anyone here that may know something of the pupils at this school . he was there as James(jimmy ) Wharton 2 years old , with two older sisters and another older brother Arthur .i think . he left to go to war 16years later . thanks for any ideas .. Jan
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This may have been West London District School in Ashford? LMA (London Metropolitan Archives) has a register of children there going up to 1931.
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html?WestLondonSD/WestLondonSD.shtml - here it is labelled on the map as 'Ashford Residential School'
http://www.missing-you.net/NoInfo.php?startnum=28320 - there is someone listed here who was there from 1945.
You're going to need a lot of luck to find someone - but if you find a list of names of those who were there with him in 1927, you might be able to locate their children or grandchildren. Are you trying to track what happened his siblings as well?
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My Great Uncle and later hos daughter taught at the home and another relative by marriage was the engineering superintendent [I think] I have some photos stored away somewhere of various children at the school but don't have any names I am afraid. I think the school was actually called
The West London Residential School and housed around 600 pupils from very young babies until late teens. My aunt always said that there 200 of each and 200 infants whether this is true or accurate I don't know. Her father retired around mid 1930's
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Thank you both for your answer . dad has passed away now . i would love to make contact with anyone who had attended the school or like you had photos . all dad told me was it was Ashford residential school . middlesex .
I went looking for it but couldn't find it in the street i looked in . the only place that looked remotely possible was a 1960's type salvation army establishment which made sense . maybe i was in wrong place .
Thank you . Jan
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My grandfather and his brother were at this school around the turn of the century and I was able to find their names in the school registers at the LMA.
The site is now a small prison I believe...
John
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The photos are on the mainland and I am living in Alderney but am waiting for my things to arrive over the next few months. Will let yopu know when they do. The building I believe were demolished after the War and were at the bottom of Woodthorpe Road I think. Does that agree with what you knew?
My great uncle taught carpentry I think amongst other things.
regards
Martin
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I was in Ashford Residential Home for approximately 2 years around 1950 - 1953. It was a huge building, and housed children from babies to 15 year olds.
It was very 'dickensian' and doesn't bring back very happy memories to me, but I would be interested in hearing from anybody else who may have been there during that time.
A few things I recall - There were boys one end and girls the other end of the building, with a huge corridor in between. (I recall this particularly, because one of my punishments for running away, yet again, was to get on my hands and knees and scrub the whole corridor - can you imagine an 11 year old doing that now?)
I also recall, that there were long dormitories (which we had to clean daily with a huge ronuk(?) polisher, and we had special name for the mice! I was beaten up on my first day. We used to go scrumping fruit in the orchards at the back of the building. We were always hungry. I got 1shilling and threepence for pocketmoney, and periodically got beaten up in the air-raid shelters and relieved of said money! If not, I, and others got over the wall into the village to buy some cigarettes! Oh, and I recall the 'blacking room' where all shoe polishing was carried out, and I still recoil in horror at the hundreds of cockroachers that scattered on turning the light on!
Apologies for going on a bit, but it's quite theraputic for me I suppose.
When I left there, I was sent to another 'Home' in Banstead till I was 15.
This was all because of my parents splitting up - it was certainly all different in those days................
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Florentina, Sorry life was so harsh makes me worry what sort of regime was in place during my relatives time. Always posed by daughter as being good but what she knew was only what her father told her and what little she saw during the war. All my limited info is from the 30's well before your time
Martin
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I lived in Ashford for years and it was a REMAND centre. This was flatteded then a women's prison was built.
I never knew it was a school. My mum moved there in abt 1924, I'll ask her if she knew it
Bob
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Was Ashford assiciated with the Catholic Church?
Great-grandmother had 14 children with 2 different husbands. The children from the first marriage were Catholic, and at least 4 of them (including my grandfather) went to St Vincent's Mill Hill, after their father died in 1914.
In the second marriage, I'm not sure if they were Catholic. After my great grandmother died in 1926, four of her children from the second marriage were sent to Ashford.
- William -------- (b. 1922)
- Jane Catherine ------- (b 1924)
- Walter ------- (b. 1926)
- Arthur ------- (b.1926)
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They were admitted in on October 30, 1926. Arthur died shortly after. We have traced William and Jane, but have no idea what happened to Walter.
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I entered the school in 1929 when I was just 2 years old and I was there until I was evacuated to Maidenhead in 1939. I remember Mr Wright (English), and the first Headmaster I recall was Mr Tregonning (unsure of the spelling). Every Summer we enjoyed a holiday in either Dymchurch (for the under 11's) or Wallton on the Naze. I lost touch with my friends Bill ------ (who I shared a dorm with), Gerald -------, and Bernard ------- so if anyone knows anything of them, or indeed anyone who was at the school at this time, I would be pleased to hear from you.
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Hi argyll, you would have been in Ashford the same time as my father James aka jimmy and his three sisters doll, Winnie and olive Wharton . dad would have been in there late 1927 at age three and stayed until he went out at 16 .
do you recognize any of these names . am i right in looking for the address of ashford residential home near Woking in old middlesex. dad told me nothing .
thanks
Jan
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I have been trying to trace inmates from Ashford Residential School for years and came across The Rootschat by accident.
I can't help the originator of this enquiry but can confirm that I was there, along with my younger brother from 47 to late 49
(5o in his case)
Yes it was situated at the bottom of Woodthorpe road on a bend. It was, as has been commented, very Dickensian (Victorian). In my day it was a school for children with problems, of all sorts, at home.
I remember a few names 'Quigley' who I had a fight with,
Cedric ------- and his brother. George -----------. About 6 of us won a scholarship and travelled to a Central School in Southfields (a journey of well over an hour in each direction but that's another story. We used to go to Saturday morning pictures in Staines. one or two of us would pay 6old pence to go in, then charge 3old pence as we held the fire exit open for the rest! We had two (typically ex Army types) in charge 'Wally' Hammond and a Mr Walton. Although the discipline was tough (I had to stand facing a wall with my arms stretched out for about two hours just for scrumping) I found them both to be decent men and fair.
Does anyone remember 'The Tunnel' ? well it was a ditch that ran under the railway we used it often as a short cut to go to Staines or to escape if confined to quarters.
I was eventually stretchered out via 'The infimary' with suspected scarlet fever, which, as it turned out was the more serious Rheumatic Fever?!
By the time I left hospital some 10 months later my Mother had found a nice Council house in Kent, so I never returned to Ashford.
I could write a book about experiences there (mostly good ones).
Moderator Comment:
Edited in accordance with RootsChat policy of not publishing details of living people here, or details of people who may still be living. This is to protect all concerned from spam, identity abuse, internet abuse, etc, etc.
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I think it must have been where the Remand Centre later was (Now knocked down and the site of a Women's Prison)
Bob
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I could write a book about experiences there (mostly good ones).
Those are the sort of current day memories that should be recorded, they are tomorrow's history.
It would be very interesting (but now probably impossible) to compare those days with my grandfather's experiences at the turn of the last century...
Thanks for that gnashers and welcome to Rootschat ;D ;D
John
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I am posting this message on behalf of my freind phil ------, he and his brother john were at the school from 1933 to 1945 . he can remember all that was bad from this period of his life, Maidenhead, beatings cruelty sexual abuse ect his toothe brush number.I am writing his memoirs and his life was not a bed of roses.
Moderator Comment:
Edited in accordance with RootsChat policy of not publishing details of living people here, or details of people who may still be living. This is to protect all concerned from spam, identity abuse, internet abuse, etc, etc.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.
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I have been trying to trace inmates from Ashford Residential School for years and came across The Rootschat by accident.
I can't help the originator of this enquiry but can confirm that I was there, along with my younger brother from 47 to late 49
(5o in his case)
Yes it was situated at the bottom of Woodthorpe road on a bend. It was, as has been commented, very Dickensian (Victorian). In my day it was a school for children with problems, of all sorts, at home.
I remember a few names 'Quigley' who I had a fight with,
Cedric Budd and his brother. George Warner. About 6 of us won a scholarship and travelled to a Central School in Southfields (a journey of well over an hour in each direction but that's another story. We used to go to Saturday morning pictures in Staines. one or two of us would pay 6old pence to go in, then charge 3old pence as we held the fire exit open for the rest! We had two (typically ex Army types) in charge 'Wally' Hammond and a Mr Walton. Although the discipline was tough (I had to stand facing a wall with my arms stretched out for about two hours just for scrumping) I found them both to be decent men and fair.
Does anyone remember 'The Tunnel' ? well it was a ditch that ran under the railway we used it often as a short cut to go to Staines or to escape if confined to quarters.
I was eventually stretchered out via 'The infimary' with suspected scarlet fever, which, as it turned out was the more serious Rheumatic Fever?!
By the time I left hospital some 10 months later my Mother had found a nice Council house in Kent, so I never returned to Ashford.
I could write a book about experiences there (mostly good ones).
It would be great if you would think about writing a book on the subject of Ashford Residential School, Gnashers ;D
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Hi
Could I remind posters please especially since this could be a very emotive subject for some people who may still be living and whose names have been posted on this topic that Rootshcat is a very public forum - Google indexes these topics within hours of them being posted and that some of these people may not wish to have their names in such a very public arena.
RootsChat policy is one of not publishing details of living people here, or details of people who may still be living. This is to protect all concerned from spam, identity abuse, internet abuse, etc, etc.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.
Regards
Valda
co-moderator London and Middlesex board
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During world war 2, my brother and I were evacuated to the residential home, as my father was in the air Force and mother seriously ill. We were seperated form each other, extremely miserable. The food was awful.. Many escapes were attempted. spent most of our time in the air raid shelters. >:(
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;D, Hi every one from ashford residential, I was Margaret rose hiller, my number was 55,in there 1940 + i am now 72 yrs old, also my brother Michael, sister beryl. i hated it with a vengeance, always absconding trying to find my mother, so on constant punishment, the only thing i liked was sports day, and the holidays in the tents walton on naze i think? marttella tower, not sure that spelt right?do not know if i can put my email on here? but would love to hear from any one.please get in touch. thank you, take care
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During world war 2, my brother and I were evacuated to the residential home, as my father was in the air Force and mother seriously ill. We were seperated form each other, extremely miserable. The food was awful.. Many escapes were attempted. spent most of our time in the air raid shelters. >:(
I was in Ashford Residential Home for approximately 2 years around 1950 - 1953. It was a huge building, and housed children from babies to 15 year olds.
It was very 'dickensian' and doesn't bring back very happy memories to me, but I would be interested in hearing from anybody else who may have been there during that time.
A few things I recall - There were boys one end and girls the other end of the building, with a huge corridor in between. (I recall this particularly, because one of my punishments for running away, yet again, was to get on my hands and knees and scrub the whole corridor - can you imagine an 11 year old doing that now?)
I also recall, that there were long dormitories (which we had to clean daily with a huge ronuk(?) polisher, and we had special name for the mice! I was beaten up on my first day. We used to go scrumping fruit in the orchards at the back of the building. We were always hungry. I got 1shilling and threepence for pocketmoney, and periodically got beaten up in the air-raid shelters and relieved of said money! If not, I, and others got over the wall into the village to buy some cigarettes! Oh, and I recall the 'blacking room' where all shoe polishing was carried out, and I still recoil in horror at the hundreds of cockroachers that scattered on turning the light on!
Apologies for going on a bit, but it's quite theraputic for me I suppose.
When I left there, I was sent to another 'Home' in Banstead till I was 15.
This was all because of my parents splitting up - it was certainly all different in those days................
I was in Ashford Residential Home for approximately 2 years around 1950 - 1953. It was a huge building, and housed children from babies to 15 year olds.
It was very 'dickensian' and doesn't bring back very happy memories to me, but I would be interested in hearing from anybody else who may have been there during that time.
A few things I recall - There were boys one end and girls the other end of the building, with a huge corridor in between. (I recall this particularly, because one of my punishments for running away, yet again, was to get on my hands and knees and scrub the whole corridor - can you imagine an 11 year old doing that now?)
I also recall, that there were long dormitories (which we had to clean daily with a huge ronuk(?) polisher, and we had special name for the mice! I was beaten up on my first day. We used to go scrumping fruit in the orchards at the back of the building. We were always hungry. I got 1shilling and threepence for pocketmoney, and periodically got beaten up in the air-raid shelters and relieved of said money! If not, I, and others got over the wall into the village to buy some cigarettes! Oh, and I recall the 'blacking room' where all shoe polishing was carried out, and I still recoil in horror at the hundreds of cockroachers that scattered on turning the light on!
Apologies for going on a bit, but it's quite theraputic for me I suppose.
When I left there, I was sent to another 'Home' in Banstead till I was 15.
This was all because of my parents splitting up - it was certainly all different in those days................
i am margaret, was there couple years before you. dont worry, most of us still bear the scares to this day emotionaly and mentaly , you take care hope to hear from you ,
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I have been trying to trace inmates from Ashford Residential School for years and came across The Rootschat by accident.
I can't help the originator of this enquiry but can confirm that I was there, along with my younger brother from 47 to late 49
(5o in his case)
Yes it was situated at the bottom of Woodthorpe road on a bend. It was, as has been commented, very Dickensian (Victorian). In my day it was a school for children with problems, of all sorts, at home.
I remember a few names 'Quigley' who I had a fight with,
Cedric Budd and his brother. George Warner. About 6 of us won a scholarship and travelled to a Central School in Southfields (a journey of well over an hour in each direction but that's another story. We used to go to Saturday morning pictures in Staines. one or two of us would pay 6old pence to go in, then charge 3old pence as we held the fire exit open for the rest! We had two (typically ex Army types) in charge 'Wally' Hammond and a Mr Walton. Although the discipline was tough (I had to stand facing a wall with my arms stretched out for about two hours just for scrumping) I found them both to be decent men and fair.
Does anyone remember 'The Tunnel' ? well it was a ditch that ran under the railway we used it often as a short cut to go to Staines or to escape if confined to quarters.
I was eventually stretchered out via 'The infimary' with suspected scarlet fever, which, as it turned out was the more serious Rheumatic Fever?!
By the time I left hospital some 10 months later my Mother had found a nice Council house in Kent, so I never returned to Ashford.
I could write a book about experiences there (mostly good ones).
It would be great if you would think about writing a book on the subject of Ashford Residential School, Gnashers ;D
I am margaret was there same time as you, i am 72 now still have emotional scares, hope you write that book, you take care, and hope you get in touch
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hi everyone
it appears that the grounds of the school later became ashford remand centre,i remember visiting this around 1975 very rundown & depressing,the remand was demolished & the ground stood empty for a few years,then bronzefield was build on the site (high security womans prison housing people like rose west)it seems like the ground have a history of doom & gloom.will look in ashford & staines libary this week & see if i can dig anything up.also the salvation army hall also on woodthorpe road is also on the grounds of a school but this was the run of the mill standard junior school my mother attended it for a while.
jeannette
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Hi
yes my mother went their too
Though born in Cheshire. the famil moved to Ashford in 1924
Bob
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Thank you for your informative responce, jeannettee,
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Hullo Maggie Rose.
Can't work out how to get in touch with you but Rootschat have my permission to pass on my E-Mail address if you want it.
Meantime, I am also 72 years old now! As you quite rightly say the girls and boys were (I suppose, quite sensibly) segregated
may have waved at you across the Dining Hall.
My later school reports claim that I was too demanding of my rights. No wonder I, like all of us, had to fight to get a sausage off the plate in the middle of the table. When I was successfull I used to spread marmalade on it. A trend I kept up for years afterwards.
I mentioned in my initial posting that I with a few others won a scholarship to a School in London and had to travel there every day, taking several trains. This was in 1948/49
There was just one girl who travelled with us most days. She attended a Grammar School in the same part of London
A very bright young lady who had to suffer our boyish pranks. I remember one of us threw her school hat out of the train window. Such fun then but I still have feelings of guilt today! You may remember her as she was the only girl in those years on a scholarship?
I am still toying with the idea of writing a short factual account of my experiences there (I left there over 60 years ago!), so would welcome any contributions to aid my fading memories.
Well enough for now and you take care as well!
Gnashers
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Thank you so much gnasher, you were obveously one of the intellegent , with guts to keep fighting back,i was just a confused, thick idiot, wanting to find why i wasnt wanted, I admire you tremendously, so you keep up that spirit and write, facing facts the life we have left is too short, and got to do the best we can with what we got, yes please do send email or am i doing wrong if i put my email on here, you take care of you, and keep that mind of yours going,
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Hi
Please use the personal messaging system to exchange email addresses. Posters cannot send or receive pms until they have made three posts.
Regards
Valda
co-moderator London and Middlesex board
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trying to get in touch to leave email , apparently you haven't enough post for me to leave email for you ? i live in coventry now only place could get a house in 1960s as London had a waiting list for years, appears the same now ? but didn't want to go in flat from the flea bitten bedsitter , hope your be in touch so i will hear your considering the book, i used write a little but preffer to narrate to video for web,and its cheap publicity for world wide audience ,mind you your always be skint, think about it? its easier as i am bad speller , and its quicker. you take care you
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I am posting this message on behalf of my freind phil ------, he and his brother john were at the school from 1933 to 1945 . he can remember all that was bad from this period of his life, Maidenhead, beatings cruelty sexual abuse ect his toothe brush number.I am writing his memoirs and his life was not a bed of roses.
Moderator Comment:
Edited in accordance with RootsChat policy of not publishing details of living people here, or details of people who may still be living. This is to protect all concerned from spam, identity abuse, internet abuse, etc, etc.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.
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you keep going genda, about time the truth was nown
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hi maggie rose
extract from ashford libary local info sheet
The west london district school for deprived children from Fulham,Hammersmith,and Paddington was opened in district road in 1870,that road was later renamed Woodthorpe Road & the old school building now forms part of the Ashford remand centre (demolished in1990)
Children from tots to teenagers were given an education,clothed& fed.most rmaned at the school for many years. london County Council took over the school in 1930 & during the next decade there where at times as many as 600 children on the roll
regards jeannette
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maggi rose
another extract says
in the early days(1887) the school had a full size model of a ship above the waterline standing in the grounds.it was used to train boys for the Merchant Navy.In 1901 there where 53 officers & their familys &790 inmates.many of these gave their lives in the great war 1914-1918. their names are recorded on the ashford war memorial.The row of terrace cottages between the district arms & the sub post office where built to accommodate the staff(these are still standing).The school also had a very fine brass band. i have a few pictures iv photo copied. when my daughter comes around at the week end i will get her to scan them in & forward to you as i can now send you a pm, if you want photos of cottages & war memorial let me know regards jeannette
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Hi
I am asking on behalf of my My Mum Sylvia Purkins who was in Ashford Residential School from the age of around two in 1938 until she left in 1950-51 and wonders if anyone remembers her or any members of her family. She was evacuated during the war to Maidenhead Berkshire.
She too remembers scrubbing the floors as punishment for running away and scrumping in the orchard behind the school and walking the the back way to Staines. She also remembers the 6d penny rush at the pictures and holding the back door open to let others in and the dreadful mashed potato you ate. Does anyone remember the School production of Toad of toad hall. ? She would love see see any photographs and hear some of your stories .
I Too have learned so much this afternoon finding this site and sharing so many memories with all of you and my Mum and would love to hear more.
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Florentina Mum would have been there the same time as you :)
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Hi swampie thank you so much,does she remember me? dorm 87, the very freckled girl, who was always made to run and hurdles for sussex team? kept obsconding,I used to fancy a boy named ali becouse I thought he was a arabin prince we beleived any thing in those days, when we ent to walton on naze I do remember a young shy mate who used to tell me horrible tales about the tower and scare the hell out of me,also tell me when we slept i tents the ear wigs would go into my ears when i slept and make me deaf?we used to dilike (possibly jelouse a young blond gir who used to sing for us all? I am now 72yrs and stil a old loney codger but wont give in xxxxxx
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Hi Maggie Rose,
Some of her memories are a bit vague. She does not remember what dormitory she was in. She does remember Walton on the Naze and the story of the Earwigs.. In fact I am sure she still believes they get in you ears to this very day. She is scared stiff of the tiny little creatures.
There are a few names she remembers which for obvious reasons I will not put on here. She would be a couple of years older than you but she remembers the older girls were always asked to keep an eye on the younger ones. My Mum would always stick up for anyone who was being bullied or needed a bit of help.
She was evacuated to Maidenhead during the war years, perhaps some of you were evacuated too.
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hi swampiesue and maggie rose (how are you?)
Since both of you have mentioned visits to Walton-on-the Naze I thought to enlarge on this. This was the annual camp and we would be transported in a convoy of green LCC wooden buses. A journey which would take all day
En route we would stop at The Rose Cafe' between Brentwood and Chelmsford on the A12.It was still there last year.
The tents were typically army style laid out in rows qverlooking the estuaryon a high field.
To me Walton was paradise, with its lovely beach, cliff walks and yes the famous tower. To say little of it's equally famous pier. Second only to Souhthend in length at the time. We were given vouchers to use at the fair on the pier
and trade sweetsor do favours to get more vouchers.
I also remelmber a group of elderly locals who would sit in a beach shelter or was it a bus shelter on the promenade. They would sing hymns and there was a very good accordionist. One hymn stuck in my head for life:_
"God be in my head
and in my understanding"
My contemporaries thought I was a but wierd as I went to listen to them most days.
And to finish, a small boast, I won the Sandcastle competion every year
As a teenager I used to go back there regularly with friends on Bikes on Day trips. Made a few friend among the locals and eventually stayed in a big house up on the cliffs as Honeymoon present. Great days
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Hi Gnashers, sorry for the delay getting back to you, broadband been playing me up...
Sounds like you remember the place very well, you have brought the memories flooding back to Mum, yes she remembers those buses but not the Rose Cafe. We spent two days talking about the place a week or so ago, I think I learned more about the place in those two days than I did in the past 40 years. Mum also remembered the sandcastle competition and the trips to the fair. She said, " regardless of the sad times she was there, she also has a lot of happy memories" and said the children there were a lot better off than some of the children who were not". You had your own orchard, bakers, and hospital and enjoyed good food and were treated from illness, something other children on the outside world did not have the luxury of. It was very strict however.
I wish I could get mum into the computer world which would make this so much easier, however she thinks she is to old for all that stuff and will not be a silver surfer ha ha.
I have never been to Walton on the Naze, I will have to get my husband to take me there sometime. I live in East Anglia so have no excuse.
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Hullo there again swampsiesue
I am working on a book 2 or 3 chapters of which refer to my time in Ashford. In the epilogue I hope to include a few quotes from others that were there. I think that your Mother, Sylvia's
observation is worth including. The bit about 'Regardless of the hard times we had we had some very happy times' and 'I think that we kids in there were better of than many on theoutside'
Quite poignant!
If I have your/her permission I will simply refer to her as Sylvia
Don't know whether I will find a publisher regards Gnashers
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Hi there Yes, Mum gives her permission, She would be Honoured. She she tells me there was roast every Sunday, Birthday cakes on peoples Birthdays and orchards for lots of Fruit something not a lot of children were able to enjoy. She was Evacuated to Maidenhead during the war, but that's another story. It will be a She also recalls the Tree on blazer badge do remember if it meant We stand upright possible. Her sister May also went to school on a train, but she does not remember where... She will have to ask her next time they are on the telephone. Do let me know if you manage to get the book published as It's one I would love to purchase and read.
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hi , i started this post hoping someone could remember my dad jimmy Wharton and his sisters , dolly , Winnie and ?
i only know he was there from aged 2 in 1930 until the war .. so he would have never known any different but he said it wasn't bad ...... interesting different perspectives .....
how do we find the records for this school and where ..
thanks ..
Jan ..
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re Molund comment
My father William says he was admitted 30th Oct 1924 and he left there 29April 1938
He has also written an article"The Story Of A White Stolen Child" to recall his time at Ashford Residential
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My mother was sent to Ashford Residential School at age 2 in 1927. She was the 4th of 5 sisters, 4 of which were all at Ashford. Mom says the posts here have revived memories. I'm amazed that at 85 years old, she remembered names of places she went to and even Mr. Wright who she says all the girls had a crush on. She said that Ashford was not a bad place to her because it was all she could remember but that her younger sister (the only sister still alive) didn't like it at all because she was sent there at age 6. Mom says that she didn't even know she had a younger sister until one day the nurses brought her and said her is your younger sister.
She says that they were there until being sent to Maidenhead in 1939 during the war (WWII).
She says that they left there proper young ladies because they were taught to be polite, how to dress and speak well.
She and her sisters would be hard to miss because they were the only mixed-race children there. There names were Ruby, Rose, Gladys, and Vera.
She remembers some names, but I won't list them here for privacy in case they are still alive.
I found another site (friendsreunited.co.uk) that was intended to help students of Ashford Residential School find each other but I wasn't able to find much there but a few photos of people she certainly didn't recognize.
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Hi, I am new to this forum but have an interest in the Ashford Residential Home (West London Schools District). My father and at least one of his brothers were there from 1914 to 1922. I have recently visited the London Metropolitan Archives to view the information they have on the home and it has been quite informative as I have learned precise dates of admission/discharge, information on training, medical records and punishments etc. My question is this if anybody can help:
I always thought that this being a residential school the 'inmates' would be there pretty well all the time from their admission till their discharge. However the records show that the 'school' was actually closed for holidays (Christmas, Easter, Summer etc). Sometimes the school was even closed for single days or half days. Knowing the background to why many of the children were there - poverty etc. I cannot imagine the parents or guardians being able to take the kids home for holidays when the school shut, so what happened to them? Any help on this would be much appreciated. Regards Johnsearch. ???
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To Johnsearch
my father William at the home from 1924 1938 says that the only time the residential school closed was when they went on an annual holiday (that is all the residents and staff) otherwise the home/ school was always open.
There where technical students who daily attended schools around middlesex for higher learning.
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hi , i started this post hoping someone could remember my dad jimmy Wharton and his sisters , dolly , Winnie and ?
i only know he was there from aged 2 in 1930 until the war .. so he would have never known any different but he said it wasn't bad ...... interesting different perspectives .....
how do we find the records for this school and where ..
thanks ..
Jan ..
First, I'd like to extend my apologies to frederickay as I have not been able to respond to your message. Apparently, my RootsChat.Com account does not allow me to respond to direct messages. To answer your question, I mentioned the names of your dad and sisters but she does not remember any of them.
Sorry!
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To Johnsearch
my father William at the home from 1924 1938 says that the only time the residential school closed was when they went on an annual holiday (that is all the residents and staff) otherwise the home/ school was always open.
There where technical students who daily attended schools around middlesex for higher learning.
My mother says the same. She spend most all of her childhood there and says that the only time she spent away from the school was on the annual holiday to the seaside (Dymchurch Holiday Camp or Wallton on the Naze).
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Hi everyone
I stumbled across the site, all the way from New Zealand. My Dad, Bill (Billy, or William) was at the Ashford Home, along with his three older Sisters Doreen, Jean and Elsie from around 1943 when he was four or five after they had been placed in care when his mother and father seperated. Dad is now 71 and has only just started talking about his past at ashford in the last few years. To say it was grim for him at least is an understatement. Not only was he seperated from his parents as a four or five year old, he was also segregated from his sisters within the home and he very rarely saw them. He only recently, in the last six years re untied with his sisters Doreen and Elsie after some 50 years, who my sister managed to track down via the Internet and who had been trying to locate dad for a number of years. They travelled to NZ to meet all of us and it is interesting to put some of the "missing pieces" together. Dad is not to well nowadays, suffering from Parkinsons, but I think he may find some of these posts interesting. As a side note he obtained a heap of records from the London Metropolitan Archives relating to his care, not so much at Ashford in particular, but from the Council, who were effectively guardians for him and his Sisters.
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I'm not sure I qualify as a member here as i never actually attended the residential school.
However my father took the family down from Shetland to Ashford in 1956 as he had joined the prison service. There was little in the islands in those days workwise.
I was just 8 years old and it seemed like an exciting place as I was explring all the old victorian buildings. We lived in a house in the grounds initially and my father was involved in the reconstruction of the buildings. He was a carpenter by trade.
I remember the tunnel which ran under the railway line out to the woods and ponds beyond. I also remember scrumping in the orchard at the back whilst looking out for the caretaker.
I realise that my experiences there can have little comparison to the painful experiences of the kids who used to live in there, but I have many memories of the place and would like to find out more about it.
I was down there just a few years ago and was quite devastated to find a new prison there and all traces of the old buildings gone. It just seemed wrong somehow.
I would be delighted to correspond with anyone who can tell me anything about the place.
Kind regards,
John
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hello john
the new prison is Bronsefield built on the grounds of ashford remand centre it is a high security womans prison & has been home to the likes of beverly allet, rose west,to name a few.
jeannette
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Thankyou for that Jeannette, were you resident in there at some point?
And I mean the old school not the new building... ;)
cheers
John
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hello john
my mother went to the school just down the road,she came from the next village (stanwell) i have also lived in the area from around 1963 to 1979 then 1983 to present,i remember making friends with a girl called susan her father was a warden around 1972 & she lived in the road at the side of the remand all for staff. also visited the remand around 1974/75 it was falling apart then so only a matter of time before it was knocked down feltham also about that time had a delapatated remand center if memory serves right.a new remand was built at feltham just a few miles away & all male inmates transfered to it. this remand has often been in the news as they seem to have a high suicide rate amongst the younger lads. the old ashford one was knocked down & remained open land for quite a few years,then came the news that a high security prison was to be built,despite huge protests from local residents it went ahead .as a matter of intrest did you see the news last mon about a man holding staff & customers hostage at barclays in ashford church road? ashford libary have a few books on the home & remand centre but its not open on a mon.
regards
jeannette
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hi when i went to look at ashford for dad i thought it was in a road starting with w and i was near woking .. am i entirely in wrong place because it was residential opposite a big park on a crescent type road and tho there was salvation army building it was the least like a prison i have seen . i thought something like woodthorpe road /
maybe that is why i could nt find it ???
thanks
Jan
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Hello again Jeanette,
Which school did your mother go to? I went to Woodthorpe road primary and then to Ashford grammar. My sister went to a secondary school just up the road.
We were in Ashford from 1956 till about 1961.
Has the common changed much? there used to be ponds at the back of the railway line where I went fishing and more ponds further out on the common.
Maybe I met your mother all those years ago.
Nice to speak,
John
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hi when i went to look at ashford for dad i thought it was in a road starting with w and i was near woking .. am i entirely in wrong place because it was residential opposite a big park on a crescent type road and tho there was salvation army building it was the least like a prison i have seen . i thought something like woodthorpe road /
maybe that is why i could nt find it ???
thanks
Jan
hello woodthorpe road ashford middlesex is correct.although when ashford residential school was first built it was not called so. the salvation army is now on the grounds where the primary school stood when they demolished the primary school the large clock was removed & as far as i know still stands in clockhouse lane park. if you pass the salvation army hall on your left heading out of ashford you soon come to a sharp bend on your left is londis the grounds for the new prison are on your right regards jeAnnette
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Hello again Jeanette,
Which school did your mother go to? I went to Woodthorpe road primary and then to Ashford grammar. My sister went to a secondary school just up the road.
We were in Ashford from 1956 till about 1961.
Has the common changed much? there used to be ponds at the back of the railway line where I went fishing and more ponds further out on the common.
Maybe I met your mother all those years ago.
Nice to speak,
John
mum went to the same school s &the local secondary was then called abbotsford seperat for boys &girls its now mixed & called ashford high mum would have left long before you as i was born in 1958 the common at the back still remains known as shortwood common but it is in the staines boundry not ashford
regards
jeannette
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fredricckay
if you stand across the road looking at the park the only large building on your right is the prison,the remand centre was on the same land but the main building was further back & more to the right. on the right is a footpath/alley way this leads down to the footbridge & across to the common. i remember standing on the bridge with a friend & calling out conversations with her brother from his cell window he could see & hear us. when the wardens realised this they moved him to stop this.
jeannette
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hello all
will take a trip down to ashford tomorrow & take a few photos (if you dont hear from me again you will know security have locked me up) not such a bad idear as they live the life of riley in there the local paper has reported many an extravigance in there i e special theme night party every week with the food , dressing up & music to match the theme
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hi i was at ashford residental school about 1946 till 1954 mr sims and a mr gibbs were incharge .mr gibb went to bansted same as me in 1954 i left in1958.any one who remembers me get in touch
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Well Jeannette, you came into the world when I was 10 years old and still at Woodthorpe road primary, and the same year that my sister started at Abbotsford secondary.
Did you live in Ashford at that time and if so was it near the old school, (remand centre). Maybe I heard you yelling from your pram in Woolworths, now sadly gone.
Nice to speak,
John
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my name is donald buist came from elsfield house elsfield london
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hello john
i lived in the next village about a mile from the remand centre
jeannette
pswent to ashford & took some photos of the new prison then discovered that this posting is on e that you cant attatch photos to sorry all but i did try
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i like some pics of ashford residental home.i was there from 1946 till 1954,then went to beecholme in banstead ,where a lot off children went to banstead from ashford.donald
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Hi Donald
Welcome to Rootschat ;D
If you go to the 1st page of this topic and look at reply #1, the first link has some pictures.
Hope this helps.
Dawn
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I was in Ashford Residential Home for approximately 2 years around 1950 - 1953. It was a huge building, and housed children from babies to 15 year olds. i came late 1946 till 1953 then went to bansted
It was very 'dickensian' and doesn't bring back very happy memories to me, but I would be interested in hearing from anybody else who may have been there during that time.
A few things I recall - There were boys one end and girls the other end of the building, with a huge corridor in between. (I recall this particularly, because one of my punishments for running away, yet again, was to get on my hands and knees and scrub the whole corridor - can you imagine an 11 year old doing that now?)
I also recall, that there were long dormitories (which we had to clean daily with a huge ronuk(?) polisher, and we had special name for the mice! I was beaten up on my first day. We used to go scrumping fruit in the orchards at the back of the building. We were always hungry. I got 1shilling and threepence for pocketmoney, and periodically got beaten up in the air-raid shelters and relieved of said money! If not, I, and others got over the wall into the village to buy some cigarettes! Oh, and I recall the 'blacking room' where all shoe polishing was carried out, and I still recoil in horror at the hundreds of cockroachers that scattered on turning the light on!
Apologies for going on a bit, but it's quite theraputic for me I suppose.
When I left there, I was sent to another 'Home' in Banstead till I was 15.
This was all because of my parents splitting up - it was certainly all different in those days................
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i like some pics of ashford residental home.i was there from 1946 till 1954,then went to beecholme in banstead ,where a lot off children went to banstead from ashford.donald
I was going to visit the Ashford location two weeks ago with my mom and aunt while in London. However, a relative who has been doing genealogy research thought it might be better to visit the London Metropolitan Archives (LMA) since the original Ashford buildings have been torn down and the LMA has photos and historical records from Ashford.
First, I visited the LMA website to get as much information as possible then emailed LMA staff for advice on what to look for and suggestions on where I might start. I must say that the British government has put a lot of work in to preserving historical records and helping ordinary people find and access those records! The staff are extremely helpful although very busy!
Records after 1930 are not easily accessible in order to protect the identity of those who may still be alive. However, anyone who attended Ashford and has sufficient ID, can request the records be searched for them by staff.
Based on the suggestions from the email, I was able to look up the Ashford Residential School admission and discharge registers for 1907-32 available on microfilm X100/093. I was able to see notes about my mom and two other siblings on that record.
I was also able to view photos from Ashford dating from the late 1800's to 1936. Unfortunately, neither my mom nor my aunt saw any photos of people or buildings that they recognized ... not even the playground photos. Also, there were not very many photos of Ashford in the collection box as compared to other schools. Still, it's well worth looking through as you never know what you might find.
For a cost, you can make copies of records and photographs. You'll need to apply for a history card first. That can be done online or in person.
For more information about the London Metropolitan Archives and other resources, visit: http://www.lma.gov.uk
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hello
thats great that you got so much info if you can get the book looking back at ashford middlesex a photograph album by p j ramsden 1995 i s b n number 0 9510833 3 3 it has a picture of the school also old photos of ashford area. he also has a book a history of ashford (middx) i s b n number 0 95110833 2 5 that shows a map & picture of the front gates these books you may be able to order by post from ashford lib phone 01784 253651
jeannette
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hello
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hello
sorry was attempting to post a copy of an artical in my local paper but again it not allowing attatchments for some reason
its about the demolition of ashford remand & the removal of the tower on one of the old buildings
Quote the year 1990
This was the bizarre scene as the tower of the old school building @ Ashford remand centre was removed to safety, before the buildings demolition. A crane helped remove the large rocket like structure inch-by-inch from its home of the past 120 years
The tower dated back to when the building belonged to the West London District Schools complex & was incorperated into the category B ashford prison being built on the site.
Brickwork & tiles that could be re used where taken away.but the process of bringing the massive tower to the ground took several weeks. Items rescued from the building included a plaque showing the names of former pupils killed in the Boar War& the foundation stone where later housed in the prison service Museum in London. the tower was kept @ the edge of the building site as the replacment building was created
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Dear All,
I am trying to find anyone who may remember Rev Ronald Glazebrook during his time at Ashford Residential School. He was there between 1948 - 52. He has now died. kind regards
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Hi,! I was at Asford from 1934 to 1945. evacuated to Maidenhead, Berks. Have pleasant memories of Ashford seeing it was the only place that I knew of. Must have been 2 years old when I went there. Discipline by today's standard was pretty strict but for us it was the norm. Education was the basic 3 Rs but pretty thorough. I was just under 8 years old when WW.2 started and could read and follow a lot of it . From the Newspapers. Being an avid stamp collector at that time . I found the war maps easy to follow . Maidehead was a very nice place for me . With nice views along the river . Used to hang about Boulters Lock to help open & close the Locks. School was a mismatch affair. in various places such as Church Halls, Scout Hut etc. We went to Dymchurch for summer. I think it had a miniture railway . Which was taken over by the Military. I had 4 elder sibblings at Ashford and none of them complained about conditions there , at lease to me. t the age of 14 yrs we were put into Apprentice programes for boys or Boy service in the Armed Forces . My eldest sisterwas put into domestic service for a Dr's family home. and had to sign some sort of contract. She told me many years later that it was terrible working there and eventually ran away. The start of War helped in avoiding the authourities and work was plentiful
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Hi All
In regards to gnashers comments about the school I was one of the 6 chosen for the scholarship to go to wandsworth grammar school at southfields . Some of the other names were Victor Camp. Len Johnson and me Bill Taylor. We caught the 8am train at ashford railway station every school morning. If you read this gnasher I would like to contact you and go over old times. Heres hoping.
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Hi there Gnasher, this is Bill Taylor again, it would be iteresting to know your real name. I was there from Jan. 1944 to 1950 when I went to a foster family.Other names that come to mind are Bobby Aldis, Micheal Toogood, Donald Southard, the Gardener brothers, Clifford Stevens, George Stiliano(he was of greek parentage),Piggy Gentry to name a few.I remember one year some of us went up to Scotland for a holiday? we had to write an essay about it when we came back, it was a long train journey there and back.Another memory is having dancing lessons with Mr Antshead, a dapper little man with shiny shoes, this was one of our few chances to make contact with the girls, the lessons were held in the dining hall. I suppse this was neutral territory, and at Christmas we were allowed to have proper dance. Looking forward to hearing from you again. P. S Iwent to the grammar school.
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Hi Frederickay, I've got two school magazines, from Christmas 1935 and 1937, which are aimed at alumni but have contributions by the children. I bought them years ago as part of a job lot of old newspapers and magazines and came across them the other day as I'm having a clear-out. I thought if the school was still going it'd be nice to pass them back to the school as part of their history, but obviously it isn't going now. When I googled it, though, I came across this site and your entry. It looks like your father would certainly have been there during this time.
If you'd like the magazines I'd be really happy to pass them on to you, even if there's nothing in there that your father wrote it would hopefully give you an insight into school life there.
Obviously there are rules about sharing personal info / contact info, so if you are interested to have them, perhaps we could arrange for me to get them to the moderators of the site and them to send them on to you? Do let me know. Kind regards, Christine
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Hi Christine
Welcome to Rootschat ;D
Now you have enough posts you can send a personal message to other members on here and they can send messages to you.
Ashford is now in the Borough of Spelthorne and their library service is run by Surrey County Council. Have you also considered contacting the Surrey History Centre about make a deposit/donation of these documents?
Dawn
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Hi thank you so much for those mags ..Ashford Resendtial school mag 1935 and 1937 . i found my father James David Wharton confirmation , armistice day 1937 .. photo of his sister Winifred r in pirates of penzance and a funny quote from his sister Mabel.
I am very happy to scan pages and or look up names if any one wishes . it was very eerie and lovely to see my dad there. he obviously wasn't a scholar and had told my sister he had got into trouble for letting ""wind "" during confirmation ...
he4 didn't have any problems with the place but was there from 2 years old so knew no different. i would love to find his family records one day but don't see going to England in foreseeable future . bye Jan
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Florentine
My brother and myself where in Ashford from1945-48, I was only seven at the time but
I remember it well, The stricked routine.the bullying.
In 48 i was adopted and went to live in Tunbridgr Wells
Gordon an John Williams
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Hi there every body particularly 'swampsiesue'
The book that I threatened to write should be available next month. It is my own view of life growing up during the blitz, evacuations, in childrens homes (4 of them). The last home being Ashford.
Half the book is devoted to my time at Ashford which is beautifully enhanced by the late Frank Gorman who's widow, Ann, has given me permission to publish his potted history of Ashford and a very entertaining description of the people that worked and lived there.
The Epilogue includes references made by swampiesue's mother Sylvia and Maggi both posters on this site. If any one is interested in buying a copy it is a hardback of 140 pages and a few old photo's . Please contact me by personal message.
To the 'moderators' Through this Subject I have managed to meet up with Bill Taylor who had copies of Frank Gormans work. All three of us were there at the same time in the forties. Thanks
gnashers
Moderator comment: email address removed in accordance with Rootschat policies
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Hi there, that's brilliant congratulations .....Mum and I would both like a copy I will contact you re the e-mail... I can't wait to read it and I am sure Mum can't wait to look back on some memories both Happy and Sad.
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I mentioned in my initial posting that I with a few others won a scholarship to a School in London and had to travel there every day, taking several trains. This was in 1948/49
There was just one girl who travelled with us most days. She attended a Grammar School in the same part of London
A very bright young lady who had to suffer our boyish pranks. I remember one of us threw her school hat out of the train window. Such fun then but I still have feelings of guilt today! You may remember her as she was the only girl in those years on a scholarship.
Gnashers
Lets hope I have done this right, Gnashers, that girl you teased on the train may well have been my Auntie May, just one of my Mum's sisters who attended the residential Home. She was one of the few girls who won a scholarship.
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Hi gnashers
It's said there's a book inside all of us just waiting to be written and published, congratulations on penning yours.
Just to re-assure you, we don't delete 'old' or 'completed' topics, so this will stay online here for as long as there is a Rootschat. Who knows who will discover this thread in the future by using a search engine such as google.
You will all continue to receive notifications that other's have posted as long as you change your profile if your email addresses change.
If you don't want to receive notifications, click on the notify button at the top of this screen and select 'disable'.
Dawn
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Hi,
My friend that attended Ashford Residential home in the 1930's would really like a copy of your book.
Do you know how I might be able to obtain one for her?
Thank you
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Hi i have got it on file . im may have to wait for my daughter to come home from europe next week to send it to you . i only have dial up so it takes a long time . send me an email and i will attempt it . also if you give me a name i will look it up in meantim e. i think it is 1935 and 7 by memory .
My dad was there 1924-1938 . Jimmy Wharton with Mabel and winifred .
bye fred
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Sorry i thought it was addrssed to me and I have two yearly annuals with names and stories in . i realise it applies to the book below . Anyway my answer still applies to anyone who wishes a look up.
jan
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To anyone interested in my Book 'Blitz Kids' which contains 6 chapters devoted to Ashford. I would be pleased to here from you with an e-mail address or Tel Number.
Please send me a personal message.
Gnashers
Moderator comment: email address removed in accordance with Rootschat policies. Please use the personal message system to exchange this information
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I am trying to figure out how to leave you a personal message so I might get a copy of your book for my friend.
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click the scrolly looking thing to the left of the person's message under their name
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Have sent off for mine :) :) :)
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I would love to have a copy of gnashers book, can someone please tell me how I contact him, sorry but new to this. Thanks
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[
The book that I threatened to write should be available next month. It is my own view of life growing up during the blitz, evacuations, in childrens homes (4 of them). The last home being Ashford.
Please can you tell me how to get in touch as I would love to get a copy of your book for my mum, thanks
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Hi and welcome to Rootschat ;D
There are a couple of ways of sending gnashers a message.
Either click on the green scroll under his avatar or
click on this link
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?action=pm;sa=send;u=85364
Type up a message in the large box and click on send
As you have posted here on the topic, he should receive notifications that there are new posts and hopefully come back soon.
Dawn
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Hi who would have thought when i started this post how many peeps would read it . i have on file now the two year books . I am happy to send on to anyone who was there in the two years . lots of names and stories. i to would love a copy of gnashers book . bye Jan / frederickay
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cher frederikay/Jan?
Sorry have been out of touch. If you wouls till like the book Biltz Kids' please n
contact me on '*'
Meantime best wishes with your own porogress.
Gnashers
(*) Moderator Comment: e-mail removed in accordance with RootsChat policy, to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.
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Hi everyone,
Just found this site and am blown away with all the information on it! My dad and his 3 brothers went to Ashford school, although I am lead to believe his older brothers previously went to Shirley Residential School.
Gnasher, I'd love to get copies of your book for me, my dad and his brother - but as I'm new I can't seem to message you. I would also love to get copies of the school magazine too.
Admin - please can you help?
My dad has hardly ever spoken about this time in his life, apart from how he used to practice throwing a cricket ball against a wall, watching the planes flying overhead and the holidays to Walton on the Naze, so reading all your comments has helped me understand why he is the way he is :( .
Thanks again everyone, and I hope to be able to get your book and copies of the magazine.
Fenlady
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Sorry, but now know I need 3 posts before I can private message anyone...to get book/year book information.
Will make another post, so please bear with me.
Fenlady
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:) I'm hoping that I can now PM both Gnashers and FrederickKay
Thanks for your patience.
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Hi,
I was at A.R.S from around 42 till 1955 with my younger brother Dougie. If anyone out out there would like to get in touch I have plenty of memories and good, bad and ugly. Looking forward to hearing from you all. By the way I am now known as Bobby Bunton.
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Hi Bobby
Welcome to Rootschat ;D
I've merged your topic with another topic about Ashford.
Dawn
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Hi Bobby
Welcome to Rootschat ;D
I've merged your topic with another topic about Ashford.
Dawn
Hi Dawn thanks for getting in touch. I found this site by chance.
Once I get used to the site I will let people know about the information I have.
Thanks again and take care.Bob
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Mention was made by Argyle I think concerning a head master that he remembered as Mr Tregonning he was in fact Hugh Hambley TREGONING known by all and sundry in the school as Triggy but was not so far as I am aware ever head master. He retired around 1934 I think and I have a copy of the school magazine in which his retirement is mentioned. His daughter also spent some time at the school looking after the infants during the war I think but not certain about the details as she was well advanced in years with failing memory when she told me. He passed on around 1950.
I have some photos of pupils and also staff I think but all are buried deep waiting for a move from Alderney to Cornwall but I have promised on contributor that I will scan and once that is done will notify here. I expect that I will donate what I have got to the Archive which as been mentioned previously.
Of interest I lived in Woodthorpe Rd as a baby and my grandparents in Station Crescent, Asford, my greatgrandmother lived in Stanwell Road and she my Grandfather and a Great Aunt are buried in the Asford cemetery.
Martin Tregoning
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Gnashers all my family have read the book and loved it, I have only just got my copy back to read and have just reached the Ashford part, lost this site on old laptop and have been trying to find you all again.
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Hi there again Swampsiesue. Thank you for getting back to me. It's always good to get feedback, particularly of the positive kind.
Did your mother 'Sylvie' remember much of the Ashford events and was it her sister 'May' who's schoolhat we threw out of the train window?
Enjoy the rest of the book. Best wishes
Gnashers
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Mum remembers certain things esp the dead body on the beach, in fact she was so shocked and felt sorry for them that she stroked their cheek. May also remembers one of the girls in the book, not sure who yet ( I need to read more) and have not spoken to my Aunt, but one of the girls in the book my Aunt took my Mum to her house. She does not remember the hat episode though. Can't wait for the sun to come out so I can relax in the garden and finish it lol.
Mum also remembers lots of things about the home itself and how it looked.
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I would like to also obtain a copy of Gnashers book as my father in law was at Ashford Residential Home c 1935-46 - his name is William Eric Law (b1930) and he was one of the 'scholarship boys' if anyone remembers him?
Gnashers - I don't think I can use the message system at the moment so not sure how to contact you?
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Hi Bindy68
Welcome to Rootschat ;D
Gnashers should receive email notifications that we have posted here and hopefully come back soon.
If you acknowledge this reply, you should then be able to access the personal message system.
Dawn
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Thanks Dawn!
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Hi there Bindy68.
I don't think I arrived in Ashford until early 47, so may not have met your Dad§ However the times would have been the same and I would be pleased to send on The Book Blitz Kids if you both understand that the book covers my experiences through the war, then at several other homes to finally being dumped at Ashford. Hoever,there is also a fairly substantial contribution by the late Frank Gorman who was there for many years preceeding and during my stay.
Hoping tohear again.
Gnashers
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Hi, my mother Maureen (Moreen)was at Ashford from 1940-1952 approx.She was a foundling and doesnt say much.a girl from greece called sandra and holidays in Walton on the Naze and cycling from the home into London. She left age 15nd went to St Johns Wood to a halfway house until age 18. If anyone remembers her it would be great!
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Hi gnashers ,i would like to obtain a copy of the book mentioned as well. my email no.(*) many thanks.
(*) Moderator Comment: e-mail removed in accordance with RootsChat policy,
to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.
New members must make at least three postings before being allowed to use the PM facility.
See Help-Page: http://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php
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Hi what is the name of the book and where can i buy a copy from?
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hi all. after a direcdt flight from nz. i am in london with a few days spare. WHERE DO I FIND THE RECORDS FOR THE ashford residential school. my mind is a blank. dad was there 1927 until 1944 hope i hera from someone asap. . happy to look for others while i am there.. fred
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Hi fredrickay,
My dad was also in this home and i did my research a couple of years ago. The records I found were at the London Archives 40 Northampton Road Clerkenwell. (Nearest underground Farringdon). They had information on microfilm rolls and also had some of the original ledgers there (punishment book, sickness book etc - about 5 in total I believe). If I remember I doesn't cost anything but you have to sort of register when you get there. Take yourself some food and drink if you intend staying a while as although they have an 'eating area' there is not much available other than drink machines (was when I went). Hope this helps, good luck.
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Hi
You can search their catalogue here
http://search.lma.gov.uk/scripts/mwimain.dll/144/LMA?LOGONFORM
use the search term "Ashford residential", there are lots of results, some are original documents which you will need to order once you have your readers ticket sorted.
Hope this helps.
Dawn
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Hi there!
I'm not sure if this is of any interest to anyone but my mother was at Ashford Residential School until she was adopted in 1937, aged 3 yrs. Her name was Valerie. I have recently obtained a copy of her adoption records via the London Metropolitan Archives (in accordance with Adoption Act legislation). I was told the file contained the names of all the pupils who were at the school at the time but their details have been removed for confidential reasons. If anyone has any information or photos they can share with me from around that time I would be most grateful. Regards. Graham
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Sorry have tried to post a photo of Ashford War Memorial as one side is dedicated to
Old scholards of the West London District( over 50 names.)
It appears this post will not allow attatched photos if you want to ask if a name is on the monument please ask
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Who would know when I started this post that we would get 19,000 hits ?
. I have two booklets here 1937 /39 . School annuals if anyone wants me to do a look up for family names etc .
i went to the London metropolitan Archives and I found a huge amount of information on my family . My father James David Wharton and his 3 siblings Dorothy , Winifred and Mabel were there from 1928 until 38 . They were taken by the state and i read where the state had declared there was to be no further contact with the family .BUT it then gave a contact address which was the brother Ernest Wharton and the father Alfred Henry Wharton . Dawn has given a link in a post below .. a few numbers i looked up are .
LCC/CH /E/ ASH/1/2
1/3
1/9
same 1/5
and there was many more .
There didn't seem to be any censorship . I would like to hear from anyone who had family there in those years. My father didn't have anything bad to say of the place but he knew nothing different so everyone has a different perspective ,
Bye Fred
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The War memorial in Ashford Church St has a whole side dedicated to
Old Scholars of the West London District School
55 names are on this list.
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Hi All,
For those of you looking for more information about the school, and in particular information about parents/relative etc you can ask LMA for a copy of their in care file. Did this several years ago for my father in law who is still going strong at 86. Learnt a lot from this about why he went in there, illnesses, treatment and his work placements after leaving there. He says he had a lovely time and has several stories, one being they made some components for Spitfires in the workshops during the war before he was evacuated to Maidenhead. He was the last one to be picked as he was the tallest
There is a 65 year closure period on the personal files which takes you back to 1949 so you may have a good chance of getting more information, some of which may be available to the public now. Certainly worth asking the question.
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Hi,
I was at A.R.S from around 42 till 1955 with my younger brother Dougie. If anyone out out there would like to get in touch I have plenty of memories and good, bad and ugly. Looking forward to hearing from you all. By the way I am now known as Bobby Bunton.
I was sent to Ashford Residential School when in 1952 when I was five years old, in 1952, when it was a childrens home. Being a girl, I was housed in the little girl's area, and separated from my brothers, who were all separated from each other and housed in areas relevant to their different ages, ie. 3, 7, and 9 respectively - for the next three years until we were moved on to a smaller childrens home together. I was wondering if there is anybody out there who was there at the same time to share any information or memories with of their time there.
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hi i was at ashford residental school about 1946 till 1954 mr sims and a mr gibbs were incharge .mr gibb went to bansted same as me in 1954 i left in1958.any one who remembers me get in touch
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Hi everyone I attended Ashford residential home early 40's and in Particular to Swampie sue asking about the school production of Toad of Toad Hall. I had the leading role of the Toad. The production was done by Mr Glazebrook.
I also remember Quigley Dennis Quigley if I remember rightly.
I remember the school trips every year to Walton-On-The- Naze Mr Bailey the Headmaster always went. I remember the body on the beach. I can recall the body being pulled out of the sea with a rope around the neck. We all had our numbers on our toothbrushes and hair brushes.
I passed my 11 plus there Mr Iredale. I went on to Wandsworth Technical College.
If anyone can remember me Rita Cook I would love to hear from you.
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Hi Gnashers
how do I obtain a copy of the book mentioned?
many Thanks Rita
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Hi Rita
gnashers hasn't been online here since 2012 but I have sent him a personal message and hope he comes back soon.
Dawn
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Hi there RazzleRita
Thanks for your enquiry, drawn to my attention by 'Dawnsh's' e-mail. As I explained in all my earlier messages and in my book, I had no contact with girls at 'Ashford'. Perhaps I was ugly? I was certainly very shy. Just one young lady who would now be about 80 who attended Wimbledon Grammar and a few of us lads shared a carriage on the way up to Southfields!
As to 'Blitz Kids' it is essentially an Autobiograhy of life during the war and later at various childrens homes. about 8 of the 16 chapters refer to 'Ashford' 2 of them supplied by the late Frank Gorman, courtesey of his widow Ann.
If you are happy with that and still would like a copy, please send me an e-mail (following guidance notes on this site).
Whatever you decide thanks again (I have made quite a few friends since following this site, none of whom I recall from my days there 1947/49.)
Wishes-Gnashers
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razzleRita.
Just re-read your account above and noted that you played The Toad in Toad of Toad Hall. Frank Gorman (my co-author) actually listed the participants ,which I reproduced in the book. I quote
"among the stars were....................Rita Cook,Peter Neave, James Ward, Edith Lewis etc etc etc"
He went on to say that Toad was given an extra two years for being green!
Regards
Gnashers
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Hi gnashera
That's fantastic news. Will be buying the book
Thank you so much.
Regards
Rita
Would love to know if any other cast members remember me
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Hi i am Frederickay and i intated this post. can you believe three years ago my sister and son went to lma and got all theright file number
st etc for me to go back and today i went armed with paper.glasses. pencil
s and when i sat down at computer i was told all FILES RELATING TO ASHFORD RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL WERE CLOSED TO PUBLIC SCURNITY FOR 1oo years !!!. i will be 87 before i can return to london from nz to see the files. language that can not be repeated was exclaimed. hope others maybe luckier.
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Hi Frederickay
That's a great shame but all files in their vast collections that contain information on potentially living people will be closed for 100 years after the last entry in the document so for example, you may be looking at a hospital register for 1915 but if the last entry was 1925 you've still got 9 years to wait.
You could possibly pursue having a supervised visit or enquire if information can be made available via their research service.
https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/london-metropolitan-archives/visitor-information/Pages/enquiry-service.aspx
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Hi everyone, I have recently found out my maternal grandmother attended Ashford b/w years of 1914-1926. In 1926 she was listed on the passenger ship coming to Australia at age 12! Does anyone have any recollections of this happening to others. It appears she was the only one from 'Girls Home, Staines Poor Law Institution, Ashford, Middlesex" listed on the passenger ship that day, although there were a lot of Barnado Boys on the same ship.
I was thinking it might have been part of the child migrate program at the time, but am not sure.
Any information about the time or where to find information about her being there would be appreciated.
ON her birth certificate, she was born at 'The Hall, London Road, Stanwell" 1914 - but her mother died at her own home when she was 4. As there are no censuses doing this timeframe 1914-1918, I can't tell where my grandmother lived, or whether she was at Ashford from birth until age 12.
Any pointers?
Thanks everyone - so happy to have found this thread as there isn't much personal/real stories info about this school or Staines workhouse anywhere I have been able to find elsewhere...
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Hi everyone, I have recently found out my maternal grandmother attended Ashford b/w years of 1914-1926. In 1926 she was listed on the passenger ship coming to Australia at age 12! Does anyone have any recollections of this happening to others. It appears she was the only one from 'Girls Home, Staines Poor Law Institution, Ashford, Middlesex" listed on the passenger ship that day, although there were a lot of Barnado Boys on the same ship.
I was thinking it might have been part of the child migrate program at the time, but am not sure.
Any information about the time or where to find information about her being there would be appreciated.
ON her birth certificate, she was born at 'The Hall, London Road, Stanwell" 1914 - but her mother died at her own home when she was 4. As there are no censuses doing this timeframe 1914-1918, I can't tell where my grandmother lived, or whether she was at Ashford from birth until age 12.
Any pointers?
Thanks everyone - so happy to have found this thread as there isn't much personal/real stories info about this school or Staines workhouse anywhere I have been able to find elsewhere...
The Hall Stanwell, would be the Ashford Workhouse, Which became Ashford Hospital
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The area at the front near to the road where this school stood has several times over the last year been used as a stopping point by travelers . yesterday I noticed that the local council have dug a trench around the side in an attempt to stop them entering the land . this might look like a hand full of broken crockery but I think some who have contributed to this thread might recognise the broken bits
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The area at the front near to the road where this school stood has several times over the last year been used as a stopping point by travelers . yesterday I noticed that the local council have dug a trench around the side in an attempt to stop them entering the land . this might look like a hand full of broken crockery but I think some who have contributed to this thread might recognise the broken bits
so sorry it wont allow me to add a photo so the crockery is plain & thick white with the circle motif of the school with west London district school around the outside in blue print by the shaping of the pieces I collected there appears to have been some pots (storage type) plates ,cups & dishes all pieces are small it looks as if poss they where smashed before being buried .the weird thing is they where less than 50 yards from the main road & the school was set back from the road .the new bronzefeild prison has been built on the grounds of the old Ashford remand that was build on the old school grounds so the chance of finding anything on the original grounds is very small
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Hi Jane
The topic currently lives on a 'completed' board where images are hidden if posted on the original topic or prevented from being posted.
I can move the topic back to the London & Middlesex General board so you can add a photo if you think that would help.
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Hi Jane
The topic currently lives on a 'completed' board where images are hidden if posted on the original topic or prevented from being posted.
I can move the topic back to the London & Middlesex General board so you can add a photo if you think that would help.
Thank you Dawnsh I think some would be interested to see a picture of the broken crockery . I know the local library still occasionally has people phoning looking for info on this School.
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The topic has been relocated so you can add a photo.
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The topic has been relocated so you can add a photo.
Thank you
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The topic has been relocated so you can add a photo.
Thank you
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The topic has been relocated so you can add a photo.
Thank you
The topic has been relocated so you can add a photo.
Thank you
Hi Jane
The topic currently lives on a 'completed' board where images are hidden if posted on the original topic or prevented from being posted.
I can move the topic back to the London & Middlesex General board so you can add a photo if you think that would help.
Thank you Dawnsh I think some would be interested to see a picture of the broken crockery . I know the local library still occasionally has people phoning looking for info on this School.
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The topic has been relocated so you can add a photo.
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Have you contacted the London Metropolitan Archives about the pottery?
They might be interested.
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Have you contacted the London Metropolitan Archives about the pottery?
They might be interested.
[/quote ]I collected the broken pieces the whole jar was collected by another person who has my details & has contacted our local Museum to ask if they are interested in the pottery we both have.
If they show no interest then I will contact the L.M.A. or Kew who also have some info on the School.
I will also keep an eye on e /bay & local boot sale as another person collected some with the sole intent of selling them.
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My paternal Grandfather from Fulham died in 1912 at the age of 35 leaving about 9 children whose ages ranged from 1 to 13. I think it was because of this that my Grandmother had no choice but to put several of the children into ‘care’. At the age of 7, at least two of them, my dad and his twin brother were put into the West London District School and stayed there for 8 years (Sept 1914 till Sept 1922). From the entry records held at LMA they were there for ‘a holiday’. Clearly it was a pretty long holiday. Sadly apart from a Prayer/Hymn book that was presented to him when he left the school I have no mementoes of my dad’s stay there. It was therefore exciting for me to read about the find of these pieces of crockery. Although not born there, I now live in Ashford, about a mile or so from the former site of the school, so today, armed with a small fork and my wellies I was able to go there and retrieve a small number of these pieces of crockery. It is clear from the pieces I unearthed that they included jugs, mugs and plates, all marked with the school ‘emblem’. So, thanks to Jayne’s vigilance I now have some further items relating to my dad’s history. Thank You.
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My paternal Grandfather from Fulham died in 1912 at the age of 35 leaving about 9 children whose ages ranged from 1 to 13. I think it was because of this that my Grandmother had no choice but to put several of the children into ‘care’. At the age of 7, at least two of them, my dad and his twin brother were put into the West London District School and stayed there for 8 years (Sept 1914 till Sept 1922). From the entry records held at LMA they were there for ‘a holiday’. Clearly it was a pretty long holiday. Sadly apart from a Prayer/Hymn book that was presented to him when he left the school I have no mementoes of my dad’s stay there. It was therefore exciting for me to read about the find of these pieces of crockery. Although not born there, I now live in Ashford, about a mile or so from the former site of the school, so today, armed with a small fork and my wellies I was able to go there and retrieve a small number of these pieces of crockery. It is clear from the pieces I unearthed that they included jugs, mugs and plates, all marked with the school ‘emblem’. So, thanks to Jayne’s vigilance I now have some further items relating to my dad’s history. Thank You.
I am so pleased you where able to find some more pieces of crockery how they got up by the road will remain a mystery but glad they did as so much building work over the years has gone on where the building stood I doubt if anything remains there , also did you know the War Memorial in Church Rd has a whole side dedicated to the many boys who left& went from the school straight to War . The Library also has a few local history books with some info & photos of the school that you might like to add to your memories .
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Yes, how the crockery got to be where it is now is going to remain a mystery I think. I am aware of the names on the war memorial and over the years have obtained copies of the photos held in the library and elsewhere on the internet, but thanks for your suggestion regarding those. I also obtained copies of WLDS photos from the 'Blitz Kids' book written by David DeBurgh who also went to the school and which I would strongly recommend if you have not already read it.
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hi As the original submitter on this page i must say i am extremely proud of the numbers who have read and posted. I am not sure if i have mentioned i went to the LMA in 2016 to read all the notes my sister had the numbers for about our father 1927 -1941 , To be told there had been a change in policy and now we had to wait 100 years !!!! I will be a minuim of 84 before i ever see my fathers notes. what i was interested in below was the memorial mentioned where it says it has the names of boys who went straight to war from the home . My father was in the amphibian corps and must have been very young . could sks please note one day if JAMES DAVID WHARTON was on the memorial. he was a long term stay as he went there when he was 2 years. he was there with Winnie , Dot ,Arthur and himself . I have two year books i am happy to photograph and send to anyone interested. all the best . Fred .
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hi As the original submitter on this page i must say i am extremely proud of the numbers who have read and posted. I am not sure if i have mentioned i went to the LMA in 2016 to read all the notes my sister had the numbers for about our father 1927 -1941 , To be told there had been a change in policy and now we had to wait 100 years !!!! I will be a minuim of 84 before i ever see my fathers notes. what i was interested in below was the memorial mentioned where it says it has the names of boys who went straight to war from the home . My father was in the amphibian corps and must have been very young . could sks please note one day if JAMES DAVID WHARTON was on the memorial. he was a long term stay as he went there when he was 2 years. he was there with Winnie , Dot ,Arthur and himself . I have two year books i am happy to photograph and send to anyone interested. all the best . Fred .
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hi As the original submitter on this page i must say i am extremely proud of the numbers who have read and posted. I am not sure if i have mentioned i went to the LMA in 2016 to read all the notes my sister had the numbers for about our father 1927 -1941 , To be told there had been a change in policy and now we had to wait 100 years !!!! I will be a minuim of 84 before i ever see my fathers notes. what i was interested in below was the memorial mentioned where it says it has the names of boys who went straight to war from the home . My father was in the amphibian corps and must have been very young . could sks please note one day if JAMES DAVID WHARTON was on the memorial. he was a long term stay as he went there when he was 2 years. he was there with Winnie , Dot ,Arthur and himself . I have two year books i am happy to photograph and send to anyone interested. all the best . Fred .
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Hi Fred & jane
Where is the war memorial?
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I guess it is a war memorial for those who died not those who served ? I will try to enlarge photo .ty.Fred
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hi As the original submitter on this page i must say i am extremely proud of the numbers who have read and posted. I am not sure if i have mentioned i went to the LMA in 2016 to read all the notes my sister had the numbers for about our father 1927 -1941 , To be told there had been a change in policy and now we had to wait 100 years !!!! I will be a minuim of 84 before i ever see my fathers notes. what i was interested in below was the memorial mentioned where it says it has the names of boys who went straight to war from the home . My father was in the amphibian corps and must have been very young . could sks please note one day if JAMES DAVID WHARTON was on the memorial. he was a long term stay as he went there when he was 2 years. he was there with Winnie , Dot ,Arthur and himself . I have two year books i am happy to photograph and send to anyone interested. all the best . Fred .
sorry have had to downsize photo so much to be able to post that it has become distorted. This is the memorial in Church Rd Ashford the rear had the whole side dedicated to the known boys that died these are i believe are only the boys that went to war directly from the home i understand lots where given no option when reaching the age as most where orphans unwanted ect it sounds horrible but it was an eazy way for them of removing the boys from taking up space at the home (ship them off to the forces so don't have to rehome or find jobs ect ) James David Wharton does not appear on this but i know there was a plaque in the home dedecated to the war dead where it is now or if it survived the demolition of the building i don't know . Spelthorne Museum in nearby Staines has a lot of info phone 01784461804 they are closed till 3rd Feb for re vamp but there where still some staff there when i passed by last week
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Hi Fred & jane
Where is the war memorial?
Church Road Ashford (the main high St .Ashford has no roads ending with street so it is called Church Road) it is a rough 10 mins walk from the grounds of the old school was on
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My admitting to Ashford Residential School was in 1947 staying until 1950.The day masters in charge were Mr Walton and Mr Hammond. Walton was a strict disciplinarian, old sea dog, and looked it. Hammond was firm and kind with it, his wife was an angel. Mr Gibbs, along with two ladies, were the nighttime carers who tucked us up at night. They had rooms close to ours, we all knew that Mr Gibbs was courting one of the ladies, because when needed, he was always to be found in her room, and she blushed uncontrollably. They were all very kind caring people.
My day school education teacher was a Mr Buckle, he was an old ex pugilist fighter, and it showed all over his face and cauliflower ears.He had a long hook pole used to open the top ventilation windows, which he could wield with one hand, to bring down on you, without rising from his seat, if he noticed your attention had strayed. A good man we all liked. Our Metalwork teacher was Mr Lloydd, who took to repeating, "Always leave a little bit to play with". Welsh, and lovely with it, he emigrated to New Zealand, choosing to travel overland, all the way on his motorbike and side car. he made it safely after many detours and adventures, breakdowns and hikes, all recorded briefly on his many postcards.
The school paid me two shillings and sixpence weekly pocket money, and a return train ticket home any and every weekend I wished to go home. I sang in our church choir, and we performed in the schools competitions at Festival Hall, London.
Looking back they were among the best days of my life, my age is now ninety, a long way from the slums of London where I was born. My thanks and prayers to all those who contributed to my well being during those early years, especially for the Magistrate who booked me in to Ashford Residential School.
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Hello Frederickay,
I don't know if you still visit this site, I hope that you do.
My mother and her 2 elder sisters were at Ashford from about 1923 - 1935.
They were from Fulham and names were Hilda, Gladys and Winnie.
Just like others on here, my Mum always spoke fondly of her time there despite the strict regime. She felt that they were lucky to have good food, education, hospital etc.
She used to always talk about the wonderful times she had on holidays in Dymchurch and as a child we had to go and visit there a couple times!
Her lifelong love of listening to Gilbert and Sullivan came from the performances that the school put on, though she never got to watch a performance as an adult - except on the TV.
It obviously must have been tough too. No visits from home as no-one could afford it although I do remember her saying she did have a few visits from her Aunty May.
Maybe she did look at it through rose coloured specs, but I don't think so. She was smart and understood how fortunate they probably were. In fact, my Mum always called it her Boarding School and when much later it became a Borstal she was really upset!
My sister has a postcard wishing her a happy birthday from the school. It also has with a photo of her in what seems to be a girls sports team - well they are in shorts!
I would love to hear from anyone who remembers any of them. Or indeed just about the school in general.
Thank you for reading my ramblings. :)