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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Gloucestershire => Topic started by: poppy52 on Monday 28 May 12 22:41 BST (UK)
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I am not very familiar with the site but I am wondering if there are any links to Gyde House. My dad was there in the 1940's. Thank you
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Welcome to RootsChat! ;D
A Google search turns up a few articles! ;D
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/newhomes/3296134/Ghostly-echoes-of-a-troubled-past.html
http://growingupinthench.lefora.com/2011/04/28/gyde-home-painswick-stroud-gloucestershire/
http://www.hamptons.co.uk/en-gb/property-details/?propertyref=PAI100121
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We have an adopted son, our other children being our birth children and he had a schoolfriend who lived at Gyde House, this was from 1976 to about 1982. He used to go up there frequently and often said he wished we hadn't adopted him and then he would have been able to live in such a lovely place. ;D ;D We used to tell him that all children's homes weren't in such lovely houses and surroundings.
My husband belonged to Round Table at the time and they and their wives (Ladies Circle) used to hold fetes up at the home to raise money, with stalls selling cakes and other things.
There was never any suggestion of the children in the home being unhappy or abused in the 1970s at least.
There was another local home in Ebley also owned by National Children's Homes where the Round Table used to have a firework display on/near 5 November each year. I don't know much about that home, it was smaller than Gyde House from memory, and situated on a main road.
Lizzie
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Hello, Thank you for your reply!
My dad was there in 1944 he too didn't have an unhappy moment, he was very lucky, from there he moved to Bramhope for a while then back to London. He remembers a few names and managed to get hold of his 'notes' which made him happy. He has fond memories also of the Sisters that looked after him, also walking to School and helping in the Church, I am hoping to find someone who may know of the staff. We went back a few years ago and the grounds were as he remembered, alas the lovely building is now luxury apartments. I think I will leave this 'story' here if anyone would like to add to it. My dads name is Arthur Rogers and he will be 80 this year.
Thank you again for sharing your story too!
Regards
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Thank you KGarrard for the link to Gyde House NCH. I have had a look and joined the site, so thank you :)
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We have an adopted son, our other children being our birth children and he had a schoolfriend who lived at Gyde House, this was from 1976 to about 1982. He used to go up there frequently and often said he wished we hadn't adopted him and then he would have been able to live in such a lovely place. ;D ;D We used to tell him that all children's homes weren't in such lovely houses and surroundings.
My husband belonged to Round Table at the time and they and their wives (Ladies Circle) used to hold fetes up at the home to raise money, with stalls selling cakes and other things.
There was never any suggestion of the children in the home being unhappy or abused in the 1970s at least.
There was another local home in Ebley also owned by National Children's Homes where the Round Table used to have a firework display on/near 5 November each year. I don't know much about that home, it was smaller than Gyde House from memory, and situated on a main road.
Lizzie
my father was there mid to late 50s it would have been my father was sexualy abused and went on to abuse me my sister and two brothers when we all fell apart as a family my eldest brother wanted an answer from my dad as to why he abused us as kids he said he was regulary abused whilst in gyde and mostley in the shower block by both women and men he died 2 years ago and i just want closure do you know if anyone else had that happen to them it would have been between 1954 - 1959
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Hello bulldogsean - and welcome to Rootschat. I don't know anything about Gyde House, apart from what I'd already said. Certainly my son thought it was a good place and his friends there seemed to be very happy but that was in the mid to late 1970s.
I'm sorry to hear about the abuse your dad suffered, and even more sorry that he decided that because of his abuse he should then go on to abuse his own children.
Lizzie
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I was a child in the village and there was talk of abuse at Gyde Home. It was Gyde Home back then not Gyde House. There were the usual levels of paedophiles in the village. It's great that some children got through their childhood in Painswick safely but it wasn't like that for everyone.
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Hi Poppy 52, I was an NCH boy at Gyde House in the 50's, I was also an NCH boy at Bramhope in the 40's up and until 1955!! It's a curious coincidence that your Dad and I practically crossed paths all those years ago!! My story is available to you if you are interested, but more importantly its available to any of my contempories if you are able and would like to pass this note on?
Regards
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I posted the note "dear Poppy 52", we do have something in common, in the hope of getting some kind or response to my message about Gyde House? I am now 71 years of age and have been attempting via this forum, and many others to obtain some kind of response to my pleas for information? Some background on my profile, I was abandoned aged 6 weeks in 1945 by my mother, who was pressured by her parents into placing me in care with the NCH (National Children's Home). I never knew my father (or any other relative fr that matter) though I understand he was a US GI? With my scant knowledge of WWII history, it is likely that he most probably perished on Omaha beach in 1944 along with the other doomed American GI's? My first port of call as a 6 week old infant, was the NCH at Frodsham in Cheshire where I resided for the first 5 years of my life. Following this I was transferred to the NCH at Bramhope in Yorkshire, and lived there up to age 10. The home at Bramhope was then specially adapted and designated for disabled children, and all of the able-bodied children were moved on to other homes. The choice made for me was Gyde House Painswick Glos, where I spend the next and final 5 years up and until age 15 where I left the NCH to start an apprenticeship. I will be the first to tell you that I was a problem child with huge psychological difficulties, and there followed some 15 years of dysfunction until I found my feet, and could reasonably cope independantly (some would argue that I still have these problems, and I would not argue with them?). Over the ensuing years after 2 marriages and 3 children I managed to live a relatively normal life, working, paying my way and contributing to society the way most of us manage to do, and even managing go up to university and to win a Masters in Humanities at the ripe old age of 55. What I really lack, for a variety of differing reasons, is a connection with my past, and I yearn to share my experiences and to socialise with my contempories from either Bramhope or Gyde House, and in particular with David L, Ian Clark, Ann & Frank Green, David H, Brian & Peter Hedges, Jackie Spencer and any others whose names elude me just now. I have a huge store of memories to share, so thanks for your patience and hopefully for your interest. Barry Stevens
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Hi Barry,
Poppy52 has been notified or your reply, the replies automatically generate and email to let posters know of your new reply.
You have had tough life but what an amazing achievement to go to University and win a Masters that is very impressive.
Hope you get a reply soon.
Regards
Sarah
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Hi Sarah, thanks for reply, are you a former Bramhope/Gyde house inmate? Without wishing to appear immodest about my MA Hons, it was the easiest and enjoyable thing I have ever done, far easier than 47 years on and off on the engineering workshop floor? Hopefully someone will read my note who is a contempory of mine and who will find the time to put finger to keyboard? I only mention this, because it is hard to find anubody who shares my background, someone who has never known a blood relative? I have kids of course, and they also find it difficult to talk about my past, so the subject is hardly ever raised. Usually most days in fact, one is reminded of one's background in the most casual of ways. In the pub for example you will hear somebody in your company talk about their parents, brothers and sisters or their uncles and aunts, or you will watch the news and learn that sombody has just lost their parents, and you will be reminded of the fact that you will never have that experience? If that sounds a tad maudlin, just think for a moment and ask yourself the question, do you know who you are, and what your background is? Genetically are you thrombotic, and did your parents experience cancer, or heart disease? All questions most folk can answer. On that cheery note, I'll close thanking you once more for your interest and kind thoughts, Rgards Barry
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Hi Barry,
I have no connection with the orphanage or home, I am one of the moderators here on RootsChat. I was simply letting you know that the message has gone out to the other members, there is no need for you to post anymore duplicate messages.
Regards
Sarah
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I was briefly resident at Gyde house in 1953 for approximately one month. My mother was unwell and my father was unable to look after my brother and myself due to work commitments. Despite being only three years old I have some vivid memories of this time. We were put into a large dormitory with cots and small beds, a boy started to cry and a nursemaid roughly lifted him from his cot and slapped him round the legs. This terrified me. Corporal punishment seemed the norm for under fives, although we were never hit whilst there. Probably due to the fact that our parents would be coming to get us, we had someone looking out for us.
We were outside playing when my mother and father came, it was very cold and she said we were S inadequately dressed, had some sort of skin infection which had been treated with 'blue
gentian'. She was very angry and let the matron know. As a woman of her generation she believed orphanages to be cruel hard places where children were mistreated, what she briefly saw confirmed her views.
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My father was at Gyde from 1947-1952, aged 9-14. He recently died. I have been finding out more about life at Gyde. He spoke positively about it but also recognised there were some very hard times. He had Gyde reunions with people as recently as 2018.
I have also found a testimony on the internet since my father died that speaks of child sexual abuse at Gyde. It is very difficult reading. My father never spoke of it but he did speak of the man involved as fantastic storyteller.
https://www.iicsa.org.uk/key-documents/1111/view/public-hearing-transcript-7th-march-2017.pdf
I am pleased to say that what ever my father experienced he survived and led a happy, successful life and was a much loved brother, husband, father and grandfather.