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Princess Alice Orphanage New Oscott

Princess Alice Orphanage was in Sutton Coldfield not Erdington it was actually the Beggars Bush l lived not far away and l went to Boldmere High School for boys and we had a lot of boys from there in the school.All gone now shopping centre and housing
 
Kathleen Betty Bown said:
Hello Lee, Yes the farm was owned by the NCH and was called Princess Alice School Farm.

I can give you information on the farm, as I lived there with mum, dad and sister. My Dad was the farm manager - I can let you have photos of the farm buildings and the old farm house which was built as far as I remember in 1645 or possible 1648, I remember it being in Cromwells time, and wondered if they were Royalist or Parliamentarians that lived there. From what research I have done it seems the farms were rented from Sir Thomas Holte and he was a Royalist. We had some great times on the farm, and we were the last to live there until it was all sold up by the NCH they thought they could get more money selling the land for building than keeping it going for the boys and girls to learn how to farm. Shame really, as Dad had just got the farm turned round and was making a profit for them. When he took over some of the cows were over 20 years old! of course they were not very productive, so he managed to build up a new herd. Would it be better if we e-mailed so I can send the photos? Regards Betty

[email protected]
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Hi, just found this site and viewed some of the comments etc., I grew up at the Orphanage (Princess Alice School as it was then named) from December 1950 to summer 1968. I learnt a number of years ago that our farm (where a massive housing estate now sits) was compulsary purchased by the Council for housing at the time when child care was gradually moving from a community residential accomodation facility to individual foster care system. The children's home was gradually closed and sold off in sections, for commercial use, hence the appalling planning that now blights that part of New Oscott, Sutton Coldfield.

I'm still in touch with some former staff and children from that time, although it gets fewer and fewer as the years go by. Ifn anyone wants to know more, I am in possession of a few aerial photographs of the Childrens' Home and Farm. The entire set up ran along the Chester Road North, adjacent to Jockey Road and along the back of Monmouth Drive and rear of Darnick Road.
Patrick Davies 24/05/2022
 
The orphanage choir, looks about 1900s, possibly just before. They have a couple of mandolin players. Wondering what instruments would be on the 'tables'. Maybe xylophones ? Viv.

Screenshot_20230522_093616_Chrome.jpg
 
Patrick Davies said:
Hi, just found this site and viewed some of the comments etc., I grew up at the Orphanage (Princess Alice School as it was then named) from December 1950 to summer 1968. I learnt a number of years ago that our farm (where a massive housing estate now sits) was compulsary purchased by the Council for housing at the time when child care was gradually moving from a community residential accomodation facility to individual foster care system. The children's home was gradually closed and sold off in sections, for commercial use, hence the appalling planning that now blights that part of New Oscott, Sutton Coldfield.

I'm still in touch with some former staff and children from that time, although it gets fewer and fewer as the years go by. Ifn anyone wants to know more, I am in possession of a few aerial photographs of the Childrens' Home and Farm. The entire set up ran along the Chester Road North, adjacent to Jockey Road and along the back of Monmouth Drive and rear of Darnick Road.
Patrick Davies 24/05/2022
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Hi. I am new here. I am wondering if this is the place that was at New Oscott where Tesco now is. I lost my father recently and he never really talked about his childhood as it wasnt a pleasant one. He did mention being in an orphanage there even though he wasnt an orphan. He was left there when his mother went to work down south. I believe it would have been late 1930s/1940s. Would there be any records at all? I now live in Ireland so cannot pop along and search some archives unless they are online.
Mark(son of Jim O'Donnell)
 
Hi Mark,
I have been trying unsuccessfully to access some records for the orphanage. Early records are kept at Birmingham Archives but for the period you would be searching you would need to apply to what was the National Children's Homes but is now Action for Children based, I believe, at Watford.

The problem I encountered was that information is sparse and some records, photos etc. may contain information about children who are still alive today. Unlikely, but this is the reason I was given for not being able to see them.

However, as you are a direct descendent, it's worth approaching them to see if they can help.

From my investigations I think that some children had an unhappy time at PAO but others were luckier. Do hope your father was one of the latter. One of the children I was trying to find was, according to his daughter, a sensitive boy and refused to talk about his time there.

On another note, I have been researching the children who died at the home up to the 1930's and who are buried in St Michael's churchyard, Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield. There are three memorial stones recording nearly 40 children, one has been lost (hopefully recovered when the new car park is built), one is leaning badly and the other looks quite safe for the moment. I have been working with the Parish Administrator to ensure that all the names and details are not missed and forgotten.

Good Luck with your search
 
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