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Birmingham Childrens' Homes in the 1950s

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I came across this picture while looking for something else ( aint it always the way )
 
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Sure does Rowan ! looks to me like a advertisment of some kind , have been reading a article on Marston Green Homes on this website , how many of these homes where in Birmingham ? seems to me 'Birmingham Homes and Orphanages " etc where a Cottage industry to dump unwanted kids , the stories themselves bear this out , I have felt for years and still to this day have realised I was dumped at Sir Josiah Masons by my Mother , the sooner I came to realise this the better I felt .

There where genuine orphans without parents .......how ever there was as in my case extended family around ........can even remember My Mother asking me at aged 4 before I went into SJMO asking me if Id like to go to Live in Australia with Uncle Howard ? this was just before the war .....didnt no any Uncle Howard .....probably one of these characters who helped ship out "unwanted Kids' to the Colonies for slave labour . Nostalgia is all well and good looking through Rose Tinted Glasses ! but for unwanted children for years with 1 parent and extended family elsewhere up to th the 60s where dumped and salved their conciences by taking them out after begging them too 2 weekends a year .

I have a long memory , it seems like yesterday .....and Carol yes I do remember the Dining Hall Woman Prost Whatever you liked to call her...another monster who kept pulling my ear and twisting it for the sheer joy of it until I could take no more and slammed her to the floor in the Dining Room . You may have been there then Carol, she never did it again after that. I experienced all this in the thirties and forties ..... God knows how bad it was in the twenties and before that . Yes I am Bitter and with good reason , I dont wear rose tinted glasses.!
 
jennyann said:
you may have already seen this site devoted to the Cottage Homes in Erdington. https://www.institutions.org.uk/pictures/orphanages/aston_cottage_homes.htm
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I visited the old cottage homes today and to me nothing has changed. I was there as a young child myself and how happy I was . It brought back all the good hours I had there in the save arms of a house mother . I cant faulter the homes or how they were run. I was there from 5years old to 13 years old, and Id have gone back in till I was 18. If id have known what I was going home to . I didnt go to my home or to my mother I went to a family member. i was in appledore by to clock if any one was there from 1951 -1964 please let me know as there was 24 children in my home boys and girls,:p;):D
 
I Have Had A Small Book Given To Me Called
: The Gardens.from The Cottage Homes To Mercian:
It Tells The History Of Erdington Cottage Homes.it Is Produced By Mercian Housing.for Their 40th Anniversary.there Is About 22 Pages With The History Of The Homes And Photographs.
I Don't Know If Anyone Would Like Me To Scan It And Put It On Here.or I Can Contact Mercian Housing To See If They Have Any Spares Books Available.i Would Probably Ask For Their Permission To Publish On Here First.
 
Winston I think if they give you permission, it would be better to contact Keith and put the pictures and information on the main Birmingham site.
 
:):)
WINSTON said:
I Have Had A Small Book Given To Me Called
: The Gardens.from The Cottage Homes To Mercian:
It Tells The History Of Erdington Cottage Homes.it Is Produced By Mercian Housing.for Their 40th Anniversary.there Is About 22 Pages With The History Of The Homes And Photographs.
I Don't Know If Anyone Would Like Me To Scan It And Put It On Here.or I Can Contact Mercian Housing To See If They Have Any Spares Books Available.i Would Probably Ask For Their Permission To Publish On Here First.
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i would be very grateful if you could scan me the booklet as i was a child in the cottage homes from 1951-1959 thank you paulinea :):p
 
pauline
i will get in touch with mercian and ask if they they have any more books.if not .i will scan it and withs keiths permission.put it somewhere on here.
or if they have any books.i will post it to you.postage free.
 
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pauline cooke said:
:):)
i would be very grateful if you could scan me the booklet as i was a child in the cottage homes from 1951-1959 thank you paulinea :):p
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hi winston ithank you very much for your help, i visited the gardens on monday and even though the buildings are the same the field has got houses on them, but the memories are still there for me ,was you in there at all thank you paulinea
 
hi rowan when were you there and what house were you in i was in home 9 appledore 1951 -1959 they were the best years of my life , if i had them years back i be happy to go there again paulinea
 
HELLO, EVERY ONE,SHENLEY FIELDS,COTTAGE HOME,S, is were my grandfather ended up, he was 3, when he ented the home,s in 1915-1928, he never spoke at all of his life in the home,s, i was 15, when he passed away in 1975,bless him.I spoke to my mom about his parent,s,wait for it his father died in 1915, his mother was still married to her first husband & had 3 kid,s all died put my grandfather his sister in care, had more kid,s that died & married 6 or 7 time,s more. my grandfather got married in 1940 & yet he still had to change his care home name to his real name which he never know till he got married & he was a true gentleman. if my grandfather was baptised & got married in a catholic chapel who would have his [baptised-cert] any idea,s anybody, cheero, christy.
 
WHAT About The Old Childrens Home On The Moseley Rd
Origionaly It Was Known And Used For A Remand Centre In B,HAM fOR yEARS
Then It Chaned To A Commutity Home ,Owing To The Carrying On With The So Called Social Workers And The Tennents ,They Closed It Down, And Its Been Empty For Donkey Years , So Why Is It Still EMTY , ?. Does Any body Have Any Ideas
Best Wishes Astonian ,
 
hi, every one, who know,s were i can get [INFO- ON SHENLEY-FIELD,S HOME,S]i-e school, register,s leaving cert,ANY INFO,DATE [1915-1930] THAT,S HOW LONG MY GRANDFATHER WAS THERE.i have phoned some department,s & no joy please help,, i have jill plumley,s book telling a picture of the history of the home,s,, thank you,, cheero, christy
 
WINSTON said:
pauline
i will get in touch with mercian and ask if they they have any more books.if not .i will scan it and withs keiths permission.put it somewhere on here.
or if they have any books.i will post it to you.postage free.
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hi winston, how are you i hope you are well. I am desperatly trying to get a copy of the book from cottage homes to mercian. My mom was brought up in erdington cottage homes from 1948 to 1962 her name was louise laplanche and she was in home 17 she will be celebrating her birthday very soon and i am trying to track down this booklet for her as a suprise gift i have contacted mercian housing but no body there seems to be aware of this booklet i was wondering if you had a contact name there that would help me trace a copy. or did you scan in your copy and post it somewhere and then i would be able to print a copy off my self . I would be extremly grateful for any help or information you could give me as i know this book would mean the world to her many thanks louise,s son :)
 
Hi Annetoinett:

You might try to contact Peter Higginbotham re the Erdington Cottage Homes
book. You can contact him via this site:
https://www.workhouses.org.uk/

There are lots of photos and an aerial map of the Cottage Homes on this site.
 
annetoinett said:
hi winston, how are you i hope you are well. I am desperatly trying to get a copy of the book from cottage homes to mercian. My mom was brought up in erdington cottage homes from 1948 to 1962 her name was louise laplanche and she was in home 17 she will be celebrating her birthday very soon and i am trying to track down this booklet for her as a suprise gift i have contacted mercian housing but no body there seems to be aware of this booklet i was wondering if you had a contact name there that would help me trace a copy. or did you scan in your copy and post it somewhere and then i would be able to print a copy off my self . I would be extremly grateful for any help or information you could give me as i know this book would mean the world to her many thanks louise,s son :)
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hello antoinett
if you can im your address to me.i will send you a book.
winston
 
hi winston i can not thank you enough for your help i know my mom will be delighted with this book. thank you so much for your help time and kindness i have sent you my address and email via instant msg once again thank you
 
Hi its me from Wigan again.

I was in Aston (Erdington) Homes for about a year in 1953/4
 
pauline cooke said:
i was in the cottage homes in 1951 till 1964 i was in appledore home 9 right opposite the clock and the main office and are looking for anyone who was there then
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Hi Pauline,
Just registered on this site.
Yes. I was in the Cottage homes from 1958 to 1964....I lived next door to you! in home 11. I remember a few from home 9 like Yvonne Harkett and her sister Pamela,Elaine Hands,Tom Barrow. I wonder where They are now.
I was also in home 12 where my sister was, and also in Southview from 1963 to 64. I remember some new houseparents arriving at home 9, they were the Whittakers they had a daughter called Marie. I could write a book about ECH, So many memories,all good ones too. I left at 14. I would have happily stayed on there as things didnt turn out so well afterwards.
I wonder if you remember me.
Regards.
 
No mention here of Sycamore House, 13 Park Road, Moseley - a C of E childrens' home ?
 
I was there with my two brothers (Donald was with me in the MacDonalds - I think - but don't know the house number) and my other brother Roger was in the house right opposite the main office - I think this had the clock tower.

I left in April 1954, and i think we had been there about a year - I was certainly ther Christmas 1956

Derick Pearce
 
There used to be a childrens home on the corner of my road Hurst Lane shard end in the late 50's early 60's I became friends with a boy in there Stephen Hampton wonder what happened to him,think he came from Small Heath.
 
Siily me!

In my last thread i said i was at Erdington until easter 1954, then said inc. Christmas 1955, should have been christmas 1953.

Derick
 
thanks Jenny. Anyone else out there knew of Sycamore House chldrens home?
 
pauline cooke said:
i was in the cottage homes in 1951 till 1964 i was in appledore home 9 right opposite the clock and the main office and are looking for anyone who was there then
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hi pauline
iam trying to trace my own past . i was in erdington homes in the early 60s in rydale house father was a mr theobold cant remember daughters name if you remember him or me
(alan pritchard) please let me know
thanks alan
[email protected]
 
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