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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Stirlingshire => Topic started by: nequine on Saturday 16 December 06 22:08 GMT (UK)
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Dear Community
A couple of haystack needles...
I am interested in knowing whether there was or were orphanages in the Stirling area about the time of the Great War and immediately afterwards.
Also I have a 1930s reference to an address at 10 George Street Stirling. Was that a residence or a business or what? Is George Street Stirling still in existence or has been "swept away" in the march of progress?
Many thanks for any help or guidance you can offer.
Regards
Nequine
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Hi there,
I have had a search on streetmap, and don't get any hits on George Street in Stirling nowadays. However, there are planty that would be classified as Stirlingshire (Falkirk, Larbert, Grangemouth, Doune and Dunblane). Googling hasn't thrown up any matches for it either. Not sure if this helps or not :-\ What is the context of the reference you have to it?
Cheers,
Clare
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Dear Clare
The Stirling street was on a marriage certificate - one of the last of the "habit and repute" declarations, before the world changed on 1 January. If memory serves the certificate was a little short on witnesses but it clearly states that the bride's usual address is 10 George Street Stirling. I would like to know if the address was an actual building or a piece of fiction hung on a skyhook somewhere.
Was Stirling large enough to merit Post Office Directories?
And any idea of orphanages. Workhouses - where an unloved child might have been dumped in the period of the Great War?
Thanks for your help and enthusiam and any further pointers
Nequine
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Hi Nequine,
Sorry, I don't know the answer to either of those questions. I just used Streetmap to see if the street still existed :)
Best of luck in your searching.
Cheers,
Clare
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Hello Nequine
George Street was demolished in the early 1970s. There was a school there called the Craigs School because it was also in a street known as The Craigs. To find George Street's whereabouts on a modern map look between Upper Craigs and Wellgreen Road. It was in there.
The Children's Home might have been the Whinwell Home. It was founded about 1880 by Annie Knight Croall, who ran it for many years then handed over its management to a Board of Trustees. Miss Croall died in 1927 but Whinwell continued until 1980. The Aberlour Trust bought the building but eventually sold to a property developer and the building was demolished and houses built in its place. All the records, including case notes, are with Stirling Council Archives. They have a contact email via Stirling Council website.
Best wishes
Hannah
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Dear Nequine
Are you able to help me with the Whinwell Orphanage? My Mum was there from 1947-1956, any information would be much appreciated.
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Hello Alm1
All the records for the Whinwell Childrens' Home are held by Stirling Council Archives, from 1884 - 1980. That includes each child's case notes. If you go in to www.stirling.gov.uk, find 'Access Information' and click on 'Archives', that takes you straight to their site. Click on Item 5, Personal Deposits, and scroll down to 'W' and you'll see the entry for Whinwell. It doesn't give you any information of course, but if you click on 'Contact us' you can ask about your mum's records.
Best wishes
Hannah
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Dear Hannah
Thanks very much for your information. I have been downtot he Archive and got my Mum's file but due to the data protection, was very little there. I thought it was quite sad, 9 years of her life in a smll envelope.
Louise W
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Hello.
Here is a map that I have scanned showing Stirling in 1898.
I have highlighted George St. Craigs house is still there and so is the block of flats on the left hand corner of Geporge St.'s junction with The Craigs.
I remember all of the buildings on the opposite side to the school as being flats with a bakery midway directly facing the school. I think number 10 would have been on the same side as the school.
Hope this helps.
(http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/38fergie/StirlingMapGeorgeSt.jpg)
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Hi All, my name is Neil, Whinwell Children's Home was not specifically an Orphanage throughout it's history. I was accommodated there during early 60's and 70's. Heading up a steep drive, large red chapel on left and small cottage on right, home was central at the top of drive. We all stayed in two large Dorm,s Mrs Flora Ritchie was the Matron when I stayed there. It was not a Local Authority Home, relied on donations from Councils who sent children to it. Children who were there suffered/experienced poverty, disadvantage and/or family illness and could not be looked after at home. We had large orchards and play fields outside, an indoor playroom downstairs and a T/V room on the middle level. The dinning room was adjacent to the large Kitchen, porridge was ****, we got sugar in it when the Matron was on Holiday. We all went by bus to various locations in Fife during the summer, staying in schools on camp beds. The home last accommodated children in 1980, now closed, knocked down and replaced with private housing. Records held by Stirling Council are very poor given the circumstances and importance of children attempting to trace and give understanding to their early years.
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Nequine, my name is Neil, I have left a post, Whinwell Children's Home, Upper Bridge Street, Stirling. Now demolished and replaced with private housing. Not always an orphanage, historically a staging post for children being sent abroad, Canada, Australia, over 200 sent from Whinwell Home. Used for a great deal of time as a residential Home for children normally under 12 years from all over Scotland. Relied on good will of locals and trusts all over Scotland. Hope this is helpful and you find it given the year you first posted.
Aye
Neil