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Nazareth House

Thanks MIke... I 'tweeked' them as best I could with what little I have on my puta... as they had really faded... its odd because I have other photos but mostly of the children at Cofton park.. all taken at the same time... yet they havent faded??... Yes the two on the swing are more or less the same.. only one was closer....

Glad you like them Tony and that you can see a 'bit' of the building in the back ground... I dont remember those Nuns names you mentioned .. Ohh forgot the photos were taken in 1978... March!! Iv written all the children's names on the back too!! Gosh I must have been organized back then!!... Another Sisters name I remember was Sister Magdolane.. (sp not sure) ...and yes the Nuns as far as I understood ran the old peoples home,
Glad you like the photos...
Angie xx
 
Hi Polly and Angie, I hope you both can read this, please let me know. I had a meeting with The Father Hudson Homes Society in Coleshill yesterday, I'm so glad that I did! They have provided me with records of every letter written by my father to the society and the replies for both of the times the family was there. I didn't realise that we were there as early as 1959, I thought it was 1961 and later. On our admission in 1961, according to the records I was given, the place was referred to as, Maria Goretti House, was it called that when you worked there Angie? The society couldn't tell me why it was demolished.I don't know if I told you, the building itself wasn't erected as a convent, it was built in 1910 for Austin Work apprentices as boarding for them and was opened in 1912 and was known as the Austin Apprentices College, it closed in 1925 and presumably became Nazareth House after that. I haven't found any more photos yet but I am still hoping more may turn up. I am trying to access the archives in Birmingham Library as they do have a photo but there's a lot of forms to fill in.They sent me the forms as PDF Files but I will have to convert them so I can fill them in online. I will upload all the photos to the forum when I think I have gone as far as I can go with my search.
I hope you both are well.
Kindest Regards to you both,
Tony.
 
WoW Tony you have been busy researching havnt you... well done .... the house was always known as Nazarath House when I was there... I was there on placement from my collage course in about 1976... then after collage was given a job there... but I left to marry in 1978... so was only there a short time,
Yes it would be great to see any photos you may find... Keep up the good work...Great to hear from you
All the best Angie xxxx
 
View attachment 58508 My nephew found this i think it may be Nazareth House
169042_177269465650963_100001037338593_424327_7072198_n.jpg
 
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Hi Tony, I am so pleased for you that you have managed to find out more information on your stay at Nazareth House. It must be lovely to have some of your questions answered.
I didn't know that Nazareth House was originally built for the Austin - that's very interesting.
I am still looking for pictures and information for you - I am sure one day something else will turn up.
Thanks for letting us know how you are getting on.
Polly :)
 
Great photos - I have been doing my mums history and I have a form which states she is at Nazareth House, Rednal, Birmingham age 9yrs in 1949 and they are sending her off to Australia as a Child Migrant. She was three when she entered the Nursery there.
When I went to the 'Apology' at Queensland Parliament I met other 'orphans' from there, who recounted the Austin Works, across the road and something about scrumping from the trees over there and dashing back before they got caught!
They called her 'Carrots' for her red hair, but Mum who lives in the Midlands has repressed her memories of that time. Maybe just as well, but sad at the same time.
Little did she know her future father-in-law was working at the Austin Works Longbridge and was for 40years!
 
Thank You Liz for posting the photo that your nephew found. It certainly is of Nazareth House. Photos of the place seem to be scarce but everyones help in the forum has given me encouragement to carry on researching. Thanks again and also thank your nephew for me.
Tony.
 
Hi ! Did you ever get to see Nazareth House for yourself? I thought the place was intriguing although I missed my mum and dad. I had my brother and three sisters with me which helped considerably.
Regards, Tony.
 
Unfortunately, didn't get to Redal on my UK schedule - hopefully next time. This site is brilliant for images and info to place mum's life in context. Lets say one thing: she disowned all religion after her experience, sent us to Cof E Sunday school so she could have a lie in! However I think the Lickey Hills environment must have eased whatever sorrow she felt.
 
Hey Angie, good info to go with the 1912 pic of Nazareth House - My mum was 3yrs in the Nursery in 1944 and unknown to her of course a baby brother also illegitimate awaiting adoption. We only welcomed him into our family after the secret veil was dropped 66 years later.
Apparently boys were more popular with adoptions so mum had to stay till they shipped her to Australia.
How long would they have stayed in Nursery for? 4/5yrs?
 
My middle sister was in the nursery in 1959 aged three with our youngest but the second time we stayed there in 1961 she was with with our oldest sister in the main home.Boys and girls were kept apart so my brother and I only got to be together with our sisters at meal times and when our dad visited at weekends.Oh! we also met at evening Benediction but couldn't talk in church. I guess "kiddies" stayed in the nursery until they were 5 years old. Hope you, Angie and Polly are keeping well.
Regards, Tony.
 
Hi everyone! Wow! Nazi House eh? I was there with my brother and two sisters from Dec 1959 to Dec 1963. My brother Phil and I were in John Bosco Group (Sister Assumta's) Boys and my two older sisters, Jackie and Yvonne were in Sister Aloysius (spelling?) (pronounced ‘Allo‑wish‑us’). The only photo I have is of when my dad came to visit and he is standing holding my niece outside the church around the back on the drive (towards the laundary room) I'll put it up on here when I dig it out.
 
Hi ! It was a Shetland pony called Christmas presented by Chipperfield Circus The Convent has since been demolished to make way for a new housing estate. My biggest regret was not taking any photos of the place.
Click to expand...

"Christmas" was a lovely black and white pony which we were allowed to ride as long as we were under 5 stone in weight and had a nun watching over us! He was donated by the circus after we had been to see the show at Bingley Hall and one of the girls from Nazi House was brought to the centre of the ring and had to sing a carol - Away in a Manger if I recall! Anyway, the pony was brought in after she had finished singing and was delivered to the convent a few days later. However, the poor thing only lasted a year or two because the nuns had no idea how to look after it (much the same as us kids really!) and the poor thing died. I remember seeing its hooves all cracked and swollen. It had to be put to sleep. Another victim of Nazi House cruelty!
I also actually mention this episode in my book.
 
Houchens Head said:
"Christmas" was a lovely black and white pony which we were allowed to ride as long as we were under 5 stone in weight and had a nun watching over us! He was donated by the circus after we had been to see the show at Bingley Hall and one of the girls from Nazi House was brought to the centre of the ring and had to sing a carol - Away in a Manger if I recall! Anyway, the pony was brought in after she had finished singing and was delivered to the convent a few days later. However, the poor thing only lasted a year or two because the nuns had no idea how to look after it (much the same as us kids really!) and the poor thing died. I remember seeing its hooves all cracked and swollen. It had to be put to sleep. Another victim of Nazi House cruelty!
I also actually mention this episode in my book.
Click to expand...

I remember the pony in the field at the back of our house in Tollhouse road right next to the convent, I sadly watched the horse being put down but wish I hadn't as they used a humane killer gun rather than an injection but I guess it served the same purpose. I think the land our estate was built on was sold off by the convent around 1962/3 followed later on by the convent itself.
 
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Hi Izzy. Yes. You are right. I recall houses just starting to be built on land previously owned by Nazi House, just before I left in Dec '63. I went back (only in passing as a delivery driver) in 1990-91 and demolition work on the old building had not long finished. I thought this was ironic as it had been about 33 years since I last saw the place, and the day I go past all those years later, it was in the process of being demolished! Just like fate sending me there to watch it's demise!!
 
View attachment 59805

My old man outside the church at Nazi House. I remember the rows of pink carnations all along the driveway. This was taken approx 1962/3. The car was a 1956 Chevy Bel Air. My dad always drove big American motors! Bloody Poser!!
 
Hello pollypops, i have just joined this debate, i am looking into Nazareth House for my friend she was
there in the very early days, with her sisters, i am talking 1927 they came out of there in the early part
of 1939,Can you tell me how to print off the attachments that i see on the blogs.
As you might have guessed i am just learning and havnt got my head around all of it just yet.
vonnymeek
 
vonnymeek
If you want to "snipe" a picture, right-click over the desired pic, and then click on "save picture as" from the drop down menu that appears. I usually save pictures to my desktop and then file them somewhere later on.
 
Hi Houchens head, been looking at your posts, i was in nazi house for a time in1957. Can you tell me the name of your book i'd love to read it. Marie
 
Hi Houchens Head... I have just noticed your ost... and I sure do remember Sister 'Allo-wish-us'... ( Icarnt spell either!!)... when I was there working with her I always found her to be very nice... I did miss her when they packed her off to Scotland!! ... Bless she gave me her special china mug when she left... a tall one with little roses on it...& I still have it to this day.... :)
 
Peters_History said:
Hi Houchens Head... I have just noticed your ost... and I sure do remember Sister 'Allo-wish-us'... ( Icarnt spell either!!)... when I was there working with her I always found her to be very nice... I did miss her when they packed her off to Scotland!! ... Bless she gave me her special china mug when she left... a tall one with little roses on it...& I still have it to this day.... :)
Click to expand...

I'm pleased to see that you found her very nice! She always treated us kids really badly, as did nearly all the nuns.
 
I found most of the nuns quite harsh, I dont have many fond memories of the place, there was quite a nice nun called sister Madeline (I think) and i dont think I was treated as badly as some of the children as my dad used to visit often. Still have a hatred of porrige to this day as I rember being made to eat it every morning and it was always cold and lumpy. Yuk! Going to try and download your book now. Thank you. Marie x
 
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I remember Sister Magdolane (not sure of correct spelling either!) she was elderly and kind. I have a picture of her when I went with the Nuns and children on holiday to Cliftonville... apparently they went there every year.
 
When I was at Nazi House I was in "St John Bosco" Group, which was the boys group and was run by Sister Assumpta (imagine an elderly Bob Monkhouse in a cowl and that was her!). Anyway, our "holidays" were always to another Nazareth House somewhere! We went to Hammersmith Convent for a week and also Southsea Convent. I seem to remember going to Crosby near Liverpool aswell. (By the way, it was Sister Magdelene)
 
Hi
I have just read your post about Sister Assumpta. I was at Nazareth House for two short spells in 1959, from February to July and again in 1961 August to October ( although as a nine year old it seemed ages !) I wonder do you remember any of the Turner Family? There was myself. Anthony, my younger brother, John and my older sister, Anne. My two youngest sisters Carol and Bernadette were in the nursery although Carol was in the main part second time around. The boys were looked after by Sister Assumpa helped by a fairly plump woman called Betty who I recall was a bit "cross-eyed". The girls were looked after by Sister Columba I think in 1959 and Sister James in 1961. I remember Assumta had a black mongrel dog called Rover. The place was huge and had its own laundry , farm and garden. How much do you remember? I have loads of memories some vivid and others vague. I am researching Nazareth House history and am looking for photos, I have a few but would love to get some more. I can honestly say we weren't treated that badly but that may because my dad visited us weekly.
I look forward to hearing from you.
All the best,
Tony Turner.
 
Hi Tony. Just received your email via F.R. (It's me, Baz from IoW).
I remember Betty well! Also Nora. She was deaf-mute. Rover was the "Devil-dog" - always snapping and snarling at us kids! Mind you, we used to torment the hell out of him when Assumpta wasn't around! I also remember Sister James, although I had forgotten about her. She was quite nice if I remember. She was tall and wore glasses. Also Sister Agnes - who was really kind. She was only young herself and I remember her being really upset because she was being transferred to Nazi House in Hammersmith. I have a couple of pics of the building, but they are on my pc hard drive as I managed to get some from t'internet. Don't know if I mentioned earlier but I wrote my autobiography in 2004 and published it online. You can download a pdf copy for £1.99. I don't get paid anything - that's just overhead costs! You can get it at https://www.lulu.com/product/file-d...gContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/3
All the best
Baz
 
Hi, I dont remember an awful lot about my time there, was there for few months in 1957 . I dont remember any real abuse but I wasnt happy there and was very homesick. To be honest think I have blocked out a lot. I remember a lay woman who looked after us and slept in our dormatory I thought her name was Mary but could be wrong. I think the fact that our dads visited us regulary saved us from a lot of unkindness Tony, I remember when we finally went home , feeling so sorry for the children who lived there permanantly. Best wishes Marie.

Hi Barry, no luck in downloading your book, so Im going to try and buy a copy. Marie
 
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