Coney Hall, West Wickham, Kent built 1880

[maddys52]

Another photo - Coney Hill Home for Crippled Children in The Nursing Times, Saturday,  Aug. 13, 1938. Looks like the same building as the one for sale. 

[maddys52]

Another view from the same article in 1938.

[maddys52]

Strange that I cannot find any articles about a fire at the Coney Hill Home. There was a fire at the "Coney Hill Mental Hospital", Gloucester in 1958. I wonder if this was it instead? 

[jayaygee]

This local website confirms it was destroyed by fire but without any details:

https://westwickhamresidents.com/about-us/local-history/

[K8T]

Thank you maddys52 that's amazing and very helpful.  I'm surprised it isn't on the local West Wickham History site.  I really appreciate you sending these through.

[K8T]

Thanks Kay99 and jayaygee.  I saw the painting of the farm but wasn't sure they were one and the same.  I can see now they were not.  I've also seen the Local History site but there doesn't seem to be a lot of information on the fire.  I do know it was bombed in 1940 and there were two casualties, both members of staff.  I have also found out who they were. a cook - Ellen Edward aged 40 and a maid - Dorothy Vera Darrell aged 15.

[maddys52]

I don't have a subscription to findmypast (or British Newspaper Archive) however I see that there are many articles about the Coney Hill Home for Crippled Children in there as well. One that I can see on the free search (only gives snippets of the article) mentions the Home was donated to the Shaftesbury Society by Mr and Mrs Basil JONES. (21 October 1938 - Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser).

Also mentions of the "direct hit" in 1940 in various newspapers including 19 February 1941 - Falkirk Herald - Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland  - the snippet - " The Shaftesburv Society is still in London, and carrying on as normally as possible in difficult circumstances. The Coney Hill Home near London had a direct hit in October, but fortunate’- none of the crippled children there was injured. "

There is this report of a fire at Coney Hill Home for Crippled Boys at Slottendane Rd, Margate (a long way from West Wickham):
"Curtains and linoleum were slightly burned Boys' home to be used for old people? Th: premises onc: oc:upi:d by' Coney Hill Home for Cr:ppkd Boys. at Slottendane Road. Margate. which was closed by the Shaftesbury Society last July." 24 March 1959 - Thanet Times - Margate, Kent, England

[maddys52]

An informative article about the direct hit on the Home here I think, though I can't see the whole item.
1 November 1940 - Bromley & West Kent Mercury

"... asleep in their dormitories when the bombs fell, bringing the ceiling down on them. All were got out safely, some suffering from minor injuries. The matron, superintendent and a nurse, who were sleeping in the hall, escaped unhurt, but a cook and maid occupying a sittingroom in the part of the house which received the full force of the explosion, were both killed. The news of their loss was kept from the children ..."

[maddys52]

I have been trying to find out a bit more about the entrance lodge to Coney Hall, on Croydon Rd for you K8T.

The family of Frederick Pelham TREVOR was living at "Coney Hall" according to various family notices in the papers, and they appear on the 1911 census with 3 servants. Although he writes the postal address as "Coney Hall, West Wickham, Kent", the enumerator has called it "Coney Hill Farm, West Wickham, Kent".
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWD4-XZY

The next house in the census is "Coney Hill Lodge, Hayes, Kent" occupied by Edwin TIDBURY (chauffeur) and his family. Is this the entrance lodge - possibly. 
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWD4-X8Q

Next is "The Stables, Warren Wood, Hayes" then "Warren Wood, Hayes, Kent - occupied by Frederick TREVOR's step father John SMAIL and his family and servants. Then,  "The Lodge, Warren Wood".
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWD4-X86

The house previous to "Coney Hill Farm" is "Coney Hall Cottage, West Wickham, Kent" (occupied by John WOOD, farm labourer, and family)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWD4-XZP
and prior to that is the "Hartfield House stables" then "Hartfield House".

So looking at the 1909 map in reply #1
https://maps.nls.uk/view/103676678
you can more of less follow the enumerator's route on the census in 1911. I think then that Frederick TREVOR was probably living at Coney Hall Farm, but the Lodge where Edwin TIDBURY was is most likely the one still standing on Croydon Rd. (I could well be wrong!) But, where is the house that became the Shaftesbury Society Home? If it was empty it should still be noted I would think?

In 1901 the enumerator's route is similar. The houses in order are:
"The Priory"  - John Craigie ROBERTSON and family
"Coney Hall Cottage"  - George FRY and family
"Coney Hall Cottage" - John WOOD and family
"Coney Hall Farm"  - William STOKES and family
"Coney Hall Stables" - Albert and Ethel THOMAS
"Coney Hall"  - 5 servants  (Most likely the building that became the Shaftesbury Society Home?)
"Warren House Lodge" - William ENRIGHT and family
"Warren House" - 8 servants

I'm not sure that helps or makes things more confusing!