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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Hertfordshire => Topic started by: Mazm on Thursday 19 October 06 22:58 BST (UK)
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Could anyone tell me if there was an orphanage in London Colney?
It is believe that 4 children of the same family were sent to an orphanage in London Colney and 2 to an orphanage in Lancashire. They were placed in the orphanage sometime after 1927, unfortunately none of the 4 are still alive.
If it did exist or in fact still does, is it possible to get information about the orphanage and also these 4 particular children that were placed there.
Many thanks for any help
Regards
Maz
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The only place I can think of which might fit the bill is the All Saints Pastoral Centre in London Colney, which used to be a convent. May be the nuns took in orphans ??? ???
http://www.allsaintspc.org.uk/
There is a 'London Colney Local History Society' who may be able to help you. The link below gives details of contact numbers
http://www.hertsdirect.org/comdirectory/comvol/herit2y/hthist3y/11703104
I'll see if I can find out any more - I know the St Albans library has books on the history of London Colney. So I'll see what they say.
Julie
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I popped into London Colneys library on the way back from shopping (only live about 2 miles away) to see if I could find out any more info on orphanages in the surrounding area. It is only a small library and not many records however I did find a folder with various info on the All saints pastoral centre that was mentioned before. In 1901 the convent moved down from London to All Saints. It was definitely a orphanage and in 1908 a separate building was built (St Gabriels) for 30 children. It states that no refusal was made on religious grounds. In 1924 an additional wing St Raphaels was built and further wings added in 1927 ( St Annes). The children were sent to local schools. In 1973 the sisters moved to Birmingham and the property was purchased by the Archbishop of Westminster for use as a pastoral centre. I have written a note that says the orphanage of St Gabriels is now occupied by the Volunteer Missionary movement but I may of written this wrong or it could be out of date info. There are no records of the children names etc but St Albans family records office may have some more info. They may not be able to divulge this due to 100 year act though ??? Taking into account the size of London Colney I think there is a very good chance that this where these children were likely to have stayed. How you find out could be challenging! Hope this is of some help......
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Well done 'lifes too short' - interesting info. I thought nuns and orphans would be a likely match ;D
We must live quite close to each other!
Perhaps if we had some names and estimated birth dates Maz we could follow this up in local directories and electoral registers. The main library in St Albans also has the parish registers for London Colney on microfilm.
Julie
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Hi Julie
I live in Park Street just outside of St Albans so London Colney is pretty close. Been having a think and looking on the web but not much springs to mind. St Albans library probably has more info but would there be registers for the 1920's ? I did look at the National archives records and they have some info but not for the same period or any lists of childrens names. It did show a closure period of 30 years though so if the info is to be found then maybe it can be seen if you know what I mean :o Were electoral rolls only for adults ?? if so then the children won't be shown. If we could have some more info then we could have a look further.
BFN Clare
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Good point - I'm not sure the parish registers are as recent as 1920's.
The electoral roles and directories are indeed just adults, but I was thinking of seeing if they stayed in the local area once they left the orphanage. There is also archives of the local paper that would cover the period, but you need a good idea of the date you're looking for as there are a lot to trawl through - believe me I've done it!! If they did stay in ther area we may be able to find marriages or deaths there. The churchyard at London Colney has an index of all its graves up to around 1980, so that's another possible source.
I suspect any information on the children at the actual orphanage would be held at HALs
http://www.hertsdirect.org/libsleisure/heritage1/HALS/
It may be worth a phone call. I have always found them extremely helpful.
Julie
PS I live in St Albans - I was in Park Street yesterday at How Wood school!!
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What can I say, except a very big thank you to Julie and Clare. I am rather taken aback by the quick response.
I am researching this for a friend of mine and she will be so thrilled with it all. I am going to pass it all on to her and let her off the leash to take it further! ;D
Many many thanks, will let you know how she gets on if you like?
Regards to both
Maz
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I must say I actually drove in to the Pastoral Centre in the summer as I could see its magnifigance from the road... it really is a wow factor place. I followed the link that was left for you and it really doesn't show it to its best.
I live in South Mimms, not far from London Colney, if you want any pictures just give me a shout, as I'd love an excuse to go back and take some pictures. We didn't even get out of the car but we could feel the awe and wow factor, it's a beautiful place.
Being a young child and sent there to live, I can just imagine those childrens eyes popping out of their heads in wonder!
Jan
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Hi Jan
Many many thanks for your offer and comments. I have this morning emailed my friend - you will never guess where she is going today? - yes correct. How amazing is that.
She thanks you very much for the offer but can now take pictures herself. She is also going to ask a few question if she can.
Regards to everyone for their help
Maz
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HI,
I can only add, I had a friend at school who came from the orphanage, and the children were sent to London Colney Secondary school (now closed down)
I was at the school from 1967 to 1973. she was taking in and fostered by a local family in 1973 when the orphanage closed.
regards
Kim
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hi maz re your question about the orphanage in london colney it was st gabrials/st raphals at all saints convent run by sisters of the poor,I know this because my brother sister and myself lived there from 1952 untill1960 when I was moved to another home called the hollies in sidcup i can tell you as much information and names of some of the children who were there during my time and was there yesterday visiting for the first time in 50yrs and was saddened by what is happening to it now,as i have many very happy memories of it during my time,i hope this info is of use to you but please get in touch if you need any more info
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All Saints was definitely run as an orphanage in the 1920's. My mother and aunts were all there. One of them is still alive. She says that the nuns were strict but kind. The children all went to local schools and left to go to work places wherever they could be found. My mother went to a large house as a trainee nanny. Some went to relatives, who took them in whilst they found work.
The 3 children were not actually orphans, but the family was very poor.
You probably are aware of all of this by now, as the post is old, but I have only just joined and seen it.
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hi maz re your question about the orphanage in london colney it was st gabrials/st raphals at all saints convent run by sisters of the poor,I know this because my brother sister and myself lived there from 1952 untill1960 when I was moved to another home called the hollies in sidcup i can tell you as much information and names of some of the children who were there during my time and was there yesterday visiting for the first time in 50yrs and was saddened by what is happening to it now,as i have many very happy memories of it during my time,i hope this info is of use to you but please get in touch if you need any more info
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I'm really sorry that your email is not working. I hope that you may read this, I have searched for any details regarding my time spent in an Anglican convent in St Albans area c 1950-3 if possible I would like to hear from you to try & work out the reasons I went there. Thank you
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All saints was a girls home to my knowledge in 1937 girls went to Shenley school until about 1939 when schools were split & moved to London colney, the orphanage part was moved into the convent when a hospital school was evacuated to All saints in the war, the girls were then housed in the convent. St. Annes was a part of the convent for elderly Nuns, & a .part was also a training place for girls. the grounds were extensive. In wartime the basement was used as an air raid shelter for the girls .
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:) Thank you so much for replying to my query-any snippet helps & I shall try down that root.
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:)
:) Thank you so much for replying to my query-any snippet helps & I shall try down that root.
hope you have some luck finding information you need .I was at All Saints from 1937 until 1941 ,& have many memories
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Thank you again-the years that I was there c49-52 don't warrant a mention other than those that are not relevant. I was only told that I was in a convent in St Albans-I may be barking up the wrong tree! but because I was Bap. C of E- that is why I thought it would be All Saints. Will keep you posted if any developments.
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:) Thank you so much for replying to my query-any snippet helps & I shall try down that root.
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Hi, I hope you pick up this message. My mother and Aunt were also at the orphanage in London Colney around about 1927/28. Sadly they have both passed away. They really didn't speak about the orphanage so I know very little about it. It's a comfort to know that the nuns were kind. I wonder if your aunt would remember them? This year they would have been 90 and 89. Again, they weren't really orphans but my grandmother was widowed and could not afford to look after her 5 children.
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:) I was just going to shut down when your message came through-thank you. I am still no further forward for info. on the year(s) I was there but live in hope! I will let the site know if & when I manage to knock this 'brick' wall down!
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Hi Rose, My mother and aunt were at the orphanage between 1927 and 1939/40. They never really spoke about their time there. Are you able to say which schools they might have attended? Was it a happy place? this is really a long shot, but do you have any group photos from that time?
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framus, in answer to your question,your mother & aunt may have been educated at first in the convent , in the late 1930's this was changed & they were sent to Shenley the younger ones being taken by bus & older ones walking. from around 10 years of age girls had a job to do before breakfast ,so had to get up very early. bedtime was at 7p.m . after bathing we were allowed to read or knit in bed,also darn our stockings if needed. NO TALKING in bed , sleeping was in dormitories. The nuns were very strict. Sorry I do not have any group photos ,we did occasionally have photos taken. There was a very strict routine & not much free time, if you had family you were allowed to go home for a holiday after the first year in the summer. anyone left behind had an easier time & were taken out to places & picnics. It was mostly a happy place as we were all in the same boat & looked out for one another, we also had more friends at the village school. Hope this answers some of your questions.
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rose: Thank you so much for your prompt reply. It really is comforting to know that it was mostly a happy place. I can remember my aunt saying that when she was naughty, she was put in the attic? and that the children had to sit in church for three hours on Sundays but that was the only information.
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hi rose, just found this site after finding out my nan was at the Orphanage, she was confirmed at
st saviours church and had her 1st communion at all saints convent chapel in 1925. I was told
that she worked at a seaman's mission before she came home, could you tell me if this was
something the nuns had the older children working at
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reply to rubber123. 1925 was before I was born I wet to All Saints in 1937 when I was 9 . most girls on leaving while I was there went home as they had a living parent or relative or went as mothers helps, as it was wartime very few girls were still there when I left at 13 to live with an uncle & aunt & their family. Sorry I can't give you any more information......
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Thank you rose for your reply, do you know if there is any records for the period i'm looking for
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sorry rubber I don't know if there are any records , maybe library or council offices in London Colney could help as All Saints was sold, I believe at that time you are looking for the girls were educated by the nuns in the convent, it wasn't until the 30's girls went to Shenley school,.
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Just to add a little more . . . . .
http://www.childrenshomes.org.uk/LondonColney/