Beechholme School, Banstead, Surrey

[Vilma]

Does anyone have any relative that were at Beechholme School in Banstead, Surrey in the early 1900s?  My Dad and uncle were there at this time and I would be happy to get anymore info.
Vilma

[Valda]

Hi Vilma


You have posted on the Surrey Resources board. I'll move your post to the main Surrey board where it will be seen by Rootschatters who may be able to help you.


Regards

Valda
co-moderator Surrey board

[Vilma]

Thank you, Valda

[Valda]

Hi

Banstead Cottage Homes were renamed Beechholme in 1951 and was run by Kensington & Chelsea School District.

If you go to the Workhouse website and put Beechholme in the search engine in the top left hand corner, you will find plenty of information and photographs.

The London Metropolitan Archives hold the actual records (details on the website).


The Workhouse website also links to this website exclusively on Beechholme

http://users.tpg.com.au/peliot/beech.html


You can also obtain a book 'Beechholme A Children's Village' from the Banstead History Research Group

http://www.bansteadhistory.com/


Regards

Valda

[Jamil Hatib]

HI, MY NAME IS J.D. NICHOLAS AND I ATTENDED BEECHHOLME BETWEEN 1958 TO AROUND 1965. WHILE THERE I WENT BY THE NAME OF JAMIL HATIB. ALSO WHILE THERE MY PASSION WAS ALWAYS MUSIC BUT I REALLY DIDN'T HAVE AN OUTLET FOR IT THERE OR MUCH ENCOURAGEMENT FROM ANYONE, BUT MANY YEARS LATER WHEN I MOVED TO THE U.S. I BECAME A MEMBER OF THE COMMODORES AND HAVE BEEN THE CO-LEAD VOCALIST FOR THE PAST 26 YEARS AND WE CONTINUE TO RECORD AND TOUR THE WORLD. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN THERE DURING THE SAME TIME AS ME AND WHO MAY REMEMBER ME, I STAYED AT BEECH HOUSE FOR A WHILE AND THEN WAS MOVED TO HAZEL HOUSE.

[Jamil Hatib]

I ordered "Beechholme A Children's Village" sent to me over here in Las Vegas, Nevada USA and I loved it!!!, It brought back many bittersweet memories and the photos also made me smile, (well some of them anyway!..lol) I recognized many of the people in them. Thank you. J.D. The Commodores.

[Roger Armstrong]

 Hi, my name is Roger Armstrong. I was a resident in Beechholme childrens home between February 1956 and August 1962. i was a contributor to the book Beechholme a Childrens Village. The home was indeed almost a self-contained and self-sufficient village with its own primary school, church, laundry, gymnasium, swimming pool, tailor and boot menders, library, hospital, offices, playing fields, and farmland for growing produce. Although treatment of the children was sometimes harsh and cruel, generally one learned to keep out of trouble and there was a good deal of freedom to explore the surrounding countryside. Children attended outside secondary schools when they reached age 11 and could also visit surrounding towns like Sutton, Cheam, Epsom and Carshalton where we went to the pictures. We would also hitch lifts or walk to such places as Burgh Heath Ponds or Colley Hill for recreation.

[Chris773]

You might be interested to know that some shocking allegations of abuse are currently being looked into by the authorities in the UK - check out https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5286994/beecholme-childrens-home-banstead-surrey-abuse-torture-staff/

[sarah]

Thanks, I am well aware although I only suffered physical abuse and cruelty, and then only initially. Generally the home was well run and a wonderful place to grow up, but as with any large institution there were a few rotten apples whose predatory behaviour spoilt its reputation.

Posted on behalf of Roger who sent me the message in error.