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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Gloucestershire => Topic started by: IAFC on Saturday 30 June 07 23:22 BST (UK)
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Hi
My wife is one of 5 possibly 6 children who were all adopted, she is now in contact with 3 of her siblings, having just found another sister. This sister was born in 1959, in Southmead Hospital. The mothers address on the birth certificate was St. Raphaels, Hill End, Henbury, it seems that this was a mother and baby home, probably Catholic. We know it closed circa 1976, does anyone have any info on the home or know where the records are kept?
Thanks in advance.
Regards
Ian Chambers
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Hmmm, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk catalogue shows in BN 62/3236 (BN62 being "Approved Schools and Remand and Voluntary Homes") - under subseries 'Convent of the Good Shepherd': Marian House, Hill End, Henbury, Bristol. Dates are 1954-1963.
http://www.cliftoncathedral.org.uk/questions/answers/arnos.html - this makes it sound like they had two properties at Henbury, the second being at Severn House which became St. Raphael's - I wonder if 'Marian House' refers to the first?
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I have undertaken considerable research in trying to locate my cousin,her birth certificate reveals that my Aunt ( her mother) resided at St Raphaels mother and baby home.
I have tried to locate records for St Raphaels including writing to the Archives of the Good Shepherd Convent in Blackley Manchester. I have been informed they do not hold the records for St Raphaels.
I would be extremly grateful for any help.
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Ian - My mother was a resident of St Raphael's and I was born at Southmead in 1952. How did your wife find her siblings please? Any information (no matter how small) would be much appreciated.
Regards
Mo
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I was at St Raphael' Mother and Baby Home in Bristol in 1967/68. I am happy to talk to anyone that I could give any useful information to.
Rosemary
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I was at St Raphael' Mother and Baby Home in Bristol in 1967/68. I am happy to talk to anyone that I could give any useful information to.
Rosemary
Hi Rosemary,
I have been posting on a Facebook page called "Bristol Then & Now", spending many nights trawling the web for fascinating pictures of old Bristol, then stumbled on a webpage called "after adoption" and a thread called "The Baby Laundry" and a reference to St Raphaels mother & baby home in Bristol run by the Good Shepherd Sisters, which led me here. I was born in 1967 so that would put you there when my mother was there a Miss Joan Krishna, she later married a Sidney Webb a local Henbury lad and moved to Severn Beach. I have only one contact from the home being Pauline Munden do you know her?
when you get to read this please reply as there are many questions that can help me,
thanks you
Kev
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Hi - I am trying to find records relating to a Mary BOYLE (possibly from Ireland) who was at St Raphaels, Hill End, Henbury, Bristol in 1962 when she had a child out of wedlock. I suspect I may hit a brick wall here. Any help gratefully received.
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Hi - I am trying to find records relating to a Mary BOYLE (possibly from Ireland) who was at St Raphaels, Hill End, Henbury, Bristol in 1962 when she had a child out of wedlock. I suspect I may hit a brick wall here. Any help gratefully received.
I not too sure if it helps but after Henbury they moved to Newcastle I know this as fact because we paid a visit to the nuns back in 1980, Good Luck
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Hi
Have just applied for access to the National Archive records under the Freedom of Information Act. Not sure why a mother & baby home should be listed as a remand/approved school (assuming Marian House is the same as St Raphaels).
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Hi
Have just applied for access to the National Archive records under the Freedom of Information Act. Not sure why a mother & baby home should be listed as a remand/approved school (assuming Marian House is the same as St Raphaels).
What sort of information is held on record in respect of St Raphaels at the National Archives?
Thanks
Kev
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Hi
The record is http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C11132741 and says it has been closed for 79 years (until 2043) because it 'Contains sensitive personal information which would substantially distress or endanger a living person or his or her descendants'.
Not sure if Marian House is the same as St Raphaels which was at Severn House, both at Hill End, according to the little info I've found online. But at least I'll get a response. I did mention that my bm had died so the only 'distress' would be to me.
Might be worth you requesting the info also.
P.
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Hi
The record is http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C11132741 and says it has been closed for 79 years (until 2043) because it 'Contains sensitive personal information which would substantially distress or endanger a living person or his or her descendants'.
Not sure if Marian House is the same as St Raphaels which was at Severn House, both at Hill End, according to the little info I've found online. But at least I'll get a response. I did mention that my bm had died so the only 'distress' would be to me.
Might be worth you requesting the info also.
P.
Will do thank you
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Hi - I have just been to The National Archives to read file "BN 62/3236 Marian House, Hill End, Henbury, Bristol : Registration". Unfortunately the "registration" being referred to is not the registration of the girls arriving at Henbury, but is rather a technical discussion about whether Marian House needed to be re-classified as a "Voluntary Home". The file does provide interesting background on what buildings the Convent of the Good Shepherd had at Henbury in the 1950s / 1960s and what each was for. Also there are some Chief Inspector's Reports on the Institution as a whole.
In the late 1950s / early 1960s The Convent of the Good Shepherd at Henbury Bristol seemed to consist of : (1) The Convent House (2) Severn House - Mother and Baby Home (which at a point in time was renamed "St.Raphael's Home for Mothers and Babies" (3) Hostel accomodation for girls that wanted to keep their babies with them - the girls would be employed locally (4) Marian House (old building) which housed ladies over the age of 18 years of age on a long term basis (many were over 50 years of age). These includes ladies from the Good Shepherd Convent who have lived most of their lives in semi seclusion and those of "dull intelligence". Marian House was also used occasionally for girls awaiting placement within St.Raphael's and also occasionally for girls who were Approved School cases transferred to St.Raphael's from St.Joseph's Ashwick Hall.
Hope this is helpful - please contact me for further information.
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Good piece of work Jonofwilts, but I was also told but cannot confirm its authenticity is that the convent was first located at Arnos Court Brislington Bristol, so guessing if true then this can gain more info pre 1950's. I wish I could talk to my mother but she is messed up from years of drug and alcohol abuse so trying to extract any from her will either confuse her or turn her aggressive.
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Hi Chubby56 - There is quite a bit on the Internet about when the Convent of the Good Shepherd was at Arnos Court / Vale / Grove (all 3 variant names are common) in Bristol. Three good links are :
http://brisray.com/bristol/bbris.htm
www.flickr.com/photos/brizzlebornandbred/4298446862
www.flickr.com/photos/brizzlebornandbred/8499967235
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Hi Chubby56 - There is quite a bit on the Internet about when the Convent of the Good Shepherd was at Arnos Court / Vale / Grove (all 3 variant names are common) in Bristol. Three good links are :
http://brisray.com/bristol/bbris.htm
www.flickr.com/photos/brizzlebornandbred/4298446862
www.flickr.com/photos/brizzlebornandbred/8499967235
THank you Jonofwilts that certainly was a big piece of the puzzle to find and a fascinating read, but I have been talking to my Aunt who also said there is a house in London that is linked to Good Shepherds and this is how we ended up in Bristol.
Great Stuff Cheers Mate
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Hi Kev
Please get in touch, I would be happy to help. I'm on FB and Bristol Now and Then.
Rosemary
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Hi Kev
Please get in touch, I would be happy to help. I'm on FB and Bristol Now and Then.
Rosemary
Hi Rose, I have posted a quick message on FB many thanks Kev
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Hello everyone. I would like to add that I too was under the care of the Sisters of Sacred Heart who had a convent and mother/child home (St. Raphaels) in Henbury (Henleaz). Letters in 1954 between the Mother Superior Sister Mary and Father Leahy, administrator for the Clifton Catholic Children Rescue Society show they were addressed to the sister at St. Raphael Convent in Henbury. However, my research has found that Sacred Heart Sisters may have taken over a property now called the Severn House (see photo below from 2018) from another sister order (probably the Sisters of Good Shepard).
So as noted elsewhere in this thread, they may have had two homes for mothers and children. I think JonOfWilts post about the sisters having multiple properties is right on. Coupled with with my research the convent, the maternity home and a school were located in Henbury at the corner of Brecon Road and Cardigan Road.The complex can be found at and is located near the Sacred Heart Church and St. Agatha School. You can Google the address and take a good look from Google's Street View. Check this link:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/St+Ursula's+School/@51.4868565,-2.6156989,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m16!1m10!4m9!1m0!1m6!1m2!1s0x4871920831508809:0x873ee4cbf90b58b3!2sSt+Ursula's+School!2m2!1d-2.6135102!2d51.4868565!3e0!3m4!1s0x4871920831508809:0x873ee4cbf90b58b3!8m2!3d51.4868565!4d-2.6135102 (https://www.google.com/maps/place/St+Ursula's+School/@51.4868565,-2.6156989,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m16!1m10!4m9!1m0!1m6!1m2!1s0x4871920831508809:0x873ee4cbf90b58b3!2sSt+Ursula's+School!2m2!1d-2.6135102!2d51.4868565!3e0!3m4!1s0x4871920831508809:0x873ee4cbf90b58b3!8m2!3d51.4868565!4d-2.6135102)
The other property was at Severn House, Ison Hill Rd, Henbury, Bristol BS10 7XA, UK. It is now a multi-rental property. You can Google the address and take a good look from Google's Street View.
Here's a link:
https://www.google.com/maps/search/severn+house+bristol/@51.5095335,-2.6648315,12z/data=!3m1!4b1 (https://www.google.com/maps/search/severn+house+bristol/@51.5095335,-2.6648315,12z/data=!3m1!4b1)
The sister organizations would have operated independently but with permission and oversight from the Clifton Diocese and the regional government. Those are my next doors to knock for archival documents and possibly photos.