Shenley Fields

[Missy74]

Missy74

Certainly your grandfather was there at the date of the 1939 Register and the person listed after him, possibly his brother, is blocked out and does not appear in searching. Your grandfather's date of birth is given as 5 December 1925. If that is his brother and he is no longer alive and you can prove his death, you could apply to have that unblocked. As to the whereabouts of the Shenley Fields records and their public accessibility, I don't know, but perhaps another member does.

Maurice

Hi, thank you for your response..it seems to be a pretty fractured family at that point. I think their mother died during the birth of her third son and the father maybe put the boys into care as I have a record of them all living at one address in 1930 but in 1935 there is only the father listed there and my g/father as you know is listed at shenley fields in 1939.
His brother died in 1995 unfortunately It seems that mebbe they were separated at Shelley fields and went on to live much different lives with very little or no contact between them

 

[Paper_Flower]

Hi. I know that my grandmother worked at Shenley Fields briefly in possibly the 60s or 70s, but I don't know many other details. I don't suppose any one remembers her? Her name was Margaret Cooper, she was Welsh but had lived in Birmingham for most of her life.

 

[Catherine Clarke]

Hi all myself and two sisters went to shenley fields in 1966 I was there till 1973 .one of the houses i was in was the Trees in would love to talk to anyone who was there at that time. I would also like to hear from anyone who might have been in in the home with my two sisters their names are Jackie and Josephine Thomas. Any information would be great. Thanks.

Hello

Hi Trevor,
I were in number 12 Maryland with Mr and Mrs Ruhorn.

I was at the Trees for a few weeks in 1965 or it might have been 1966. I remember Ma Bowes having a go at me for being snobby and ignorant. I found out years later that I am deaf!!. I was sent to the on site hospital when I had tonsillitus and a raging fever.

 

[Missy74]

My dad was in Shenley Fields in the 40's with his brothers and sisters hes name was Brian Hollis he spent 8yrs there and left when was 9yrs old, anyone here remember him or his family Maisie, Leslie, Pauline and Sheila.

i have a record of my grandfather being at shenley fields (rose cottage i think) in 1939...im unsure as to wether his brother (ernest) was also here,
i think they were placed in the home because thier mother died aged 30
my grandfathers name was albert david little

 

[Peter1]

my grandfather was in shenley-fields[1915-1928] as jack-preen, when he married in 1940 he found out his real name was john edward newman also his sister floss lived in the homes also she did service work at marston green [ironing] my grandfather never mentioned the homes,he went to a reunion in 1974, they were in the eveing mail. i have 10, photo,s of this at shenley-field cottage homes.

Hi Christy, my dad (Jim/James Edmund Littleford) was placed in Shenley Fields (born 1919) about 1924? for some years. I did attend a reunion with him probably the 1974 you mention. I would love to see any photos - of course because I would like to see early pictures of my dad and his early history - which was rarely spoken about in any depth. If anyone has pictures from those days would love to see them please. I did buy the Jill Plumley and looked at the homes registers in B'ham Library many years ago. My dad died in 2002.

 

[Peter1]

Hello Christy

My Mom,Aunt and Uncle were at the homes from 1926 until the mid-thirties.

Sadly they have all passed away now and I cant ask questions but I know my Mom hated it..there seemed to be a lot of cruelty and unkindness.She told me about wearing 'Daily Mail' boots which were too big...'you took a step and left the boot behind !!'' I am looking for a book about the homes but cant find it...any ideas?

Thanks

Hi Jacqueline, my dad (Jim/James Edmund Littleford) was placed in Shenley Fields (born 1919) about 1924? for some years. I did attend a reunion with him probably the 1974 you mention. I would love to see any photos - of course because I would like to see early pictures of my dad and his early history - which was rarely spoken about in any depth. If anyone has pictures from those days would love to see them please. I did buy the Jill Plumley and looked at the homes registers in B'ham Library many years ago. My dad died in 2002.

 

[Peter1]

My Dad used to start talking about times in the early 1920's when he was put in Shenley Fields, and had a hard time there. As a youngster I didn't have much interest about it. Now wish I had listened

Hi oldMohawk -apologies this is a notes I have used previously , my dad (Jim/James Edmund Littleford) was placed in Shenley Fields (born 1919) about 1924? for some years. I did attend a reunion with him probably the 1974 you mention. I would love to see any photos - of course because I would like to see early pictures of my dad and his early history - which was rarely spoken about in any depth. If anyone has pictures from those days would love to see them please. I did buy the Jill Plumley and looked at the homes registers in B'ham Library many years ago. My dad died in 2002.

 

[Peter1]

would any one know what school the boys may of gone to between the years 45 and 53.

In June this year I mentioned about my Dad being put in Shenley Fields aged 10 in 1920 with one of his brothers. and how he occasionally talked about it, and how I got the impression that he had a hard time there. As a teenager I didn't listen that much, and since wished I had.
However, I recently found 4 sheets of paper on which he had written a very detailed description, of the place and the people running it.
One paragraph in his writings mentions one of the many daily chores about large tins of 'Ronuk' polish for the bedroom floors applied with a 'bumper' wrapped in a blanket, but the boys often turned the chore into 'fun' by wrapping blankets round their feet and sliding along the floors. Another paragraph mentions a big coal fired boiler, from which hot water, was carried by the boys for bath nights and how, one night, a boy named Fielding tragically fell into the boiler.

Wonderful to get information written by those experiencing the 'moment in time'. My dad (James Edmund Littleford) would have been there at about the same time as your day, they would certainly have overlapped in years.

 

[Peter1]

I think there might only have been one or two. I attended one. Jill Plumleys phone number is listed if you trail back here. She will be a font of knowledge

 

[Tallyjones]

Hi, I’m writing on behalf of my father Tally Jones. He would like to connect with anyone in the Shenley field homes. Rough years that he was in the homes with his brothers Terrance Jones (passed away) David Jones (passed away) and Kevin Jones. Does anyone have any photos/memories here at all?

 

[Peter1]

Hi, I’m writing on behalf of my father Tally Jones. He would like to connect with anyone in the Shenley field homes. Rough years that he was in the homes with his brothers Terrance Jones (passed away) David Jones (passed away) and Kevin Jones. Does anyone have any photos/memories here at all?

I wish you great luck in getting information and especially photos of the times in Shenley Fields. If people on this site see your message they will certainly try to help. A very generous Site.

 

[Gingerden]

Shenley fields Childrens home (woodcock lane birmingham)

HEllo my names trevor tomkinson and i was in shenley fields from about 1965 untill 1974 i stayed in the trees home first mrs bowes then i was placed in ryedale under mr and mrs stephenson anybody there around that time feel free to contact me

t.a.tomkinson@talk21.com

regards
treva2

Oh i was trying to remember which home i lived in. I was in the trees too 1962 for 3 months. Lived it. Well cared for . I went to school at illmington girls school. Had foster parents after that. I remember a boy that kept escaping micheal faulks i saw him go one day on a nature walk, he said if you dont dob me in ill biy you a bag of sweets next time i get paid. He was 16 worked in a slaughter house, he kept his words. He had a mother he used to visit. I loved uncle john who worked there. I was a happy child made him laugh. He sent me a postcard from london one day when he did a day trip there. We wwre well cared for. I needed to be after what id gone through. Both my parrnts had died within 6 weekks of each othet, i needed the love and care of a family again. I got fostered to a family im glad to say. I live in Poole dorset now. Im 70! How time flies! Ive still got the memorys.

 

[Missy74]

ive just ordered this book on amazon thanks for the info

 

[Peter1]

I have mentioned a few times on this Shenley Fields forum that my dad, James Littleford went to Shenley Fields probably about 1930 for some years. My dad mentioned Mr Beamond and his wife who worked there in some senior capacity. Perhaps his wife was a matron or house mother? My dad mentioned this to me as Mr and Mrs Beamond came to live by out house long after they had retired. I never did speak to Mr B which I regret. Does anyone recall Mr B?

 

[Missy74]

1930 is about time albert david would have first gone to shenley fields.
ive since found his older sibling was at cropwood open air school in 1939 as a housemaid.

 

[Missy74]

So i just thought id let everyone know that i did invest in a copy of "cottage homes" book by Jill Plumley and it was worth every pennie.
I actually found a given memory by the late ernest little ( my relative). It gave me a lot of information about his life and the situations of both him and his siblings.
There is a list in the book of contributors if any one would like me to look up a name feel free to comment

 

[Missy74]

whilst looking for information on birmingham childrens homes i found this page, i thought it interesting and a good read.
"Birmingham childrens home project".
It has interviews from both children and staff from numerous homes around birmingham.

 

[Missy74]

The Birmingham Archives and Heritage have started a project called "The History of Childrens Homes in Birmingham", which is to be based on the memories of people who have lived or worked in any of the childrens homes and the project is funded by the Heritage Lottery fund.

They are hoping to develop an archive of materials and photographs relating to all the childrens homes within Birmingham thus creating a valuable archive of historical materials and facts which will greatly assist others in the future who may be looking for information either about the history of a childrens home or details about an ancestor who may have lived or worked in one of the homes.

Anyone wishing to contibute any photographs or written or verbal memories to this worthwhile project can contribute their memories anonymously if they wish and can contact the team in confidence at:
Childrens Home Project,
Birmingham Archives and Heritage,
6th Floor, Birmingham Central Library
Chamberlain Square
Birmingham
B3 3HO
Tel: 0121 464 0993
Tel: 0121 303 4549
e-mail: gudrun.limbrick@birmingham.gov.uk

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/cs/Satellit...apper%2FWrapper

ive looked at this archive and its full of great information and pictures.
Definatley worth a look for anyone researching childrens homes or family research.

 

[Missy74]

Hi

My Dad was put in Shenley fields in 1939 aged 2 by his father, His name was Stanley Sutton. He was evacuated to Mountain Ash in 1942 and was collected from the home by his Mother in 1945 as Stanley Harrison. Dad remembers very little about the home as he was so young, does anyone remember him?

I have tried to contact Jill Plumley to get a copy of the book for him, but I haven't been able to get hold of her. Does anybody have a copy I could buy or have any other way of contacting her? An email address maybe?

did you manage to get a copy

 

[Peter1]

The Birmingham Archives and Heritage have started a project called "The History of Childrens Homes in Birmingham", which is to be based on the memories of people who have lived or worked in any of the childrens homes and the project is funded by the Heritage Lottery fund.

They are hoping to develop an archive of materials and photographs relating to all the childrens homes within Birmingham thus creating a valuable archive of historical materials and facts which will greatly assist others in the future who may be looking for information either about the history of a childrens home or details about an ancestor who may have lived or worked in one of the homes.

Anyone wishing to contibute any photographs or written or verbal memories to this worthwhile project can contribute their memories anonymously if they wish and can contact the team in confidence at:
Childrens Home Project,
Birmingham Archives and Heritage,
6th Floor, Birmingham Central Library
Chamberlain Square
Birmingham
B3 3HO
Tel: 0121 464 0993
Tel: 0121 303 4549
e-mail: gudrun.limbrick@birmingham.gov.uk

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/cs/Satellit...apper%2FWrapper

This looks very interesting. The link does not seem to work?

 

[Missy74]

This looks very interesting. The link does not seem to work?

try " birmingham childrens home project"