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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Renfrewshire => Topic started by: Cramond Brig on Thursday 25 February 10 12:48 GMT (UK)
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In the 1901 Census, one of the Black Watch soldiers from my research, is registered as an Inmate in Bank Top House Boys Home, Bank Street, Greenock, along with 22 other boys with ages ranging from 15 to 22. At that time he was an Apprentice Blacksmith.
I have done an internet search but nothing comes up and I wondered if anyone from Greenock would know anything about this establishment. I expect it was an Industrial School.
Alistair
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Hi Alistair
I have tried to find out what I could about this before for someone
but we couldn't find any records for it
I wonder if it would be worthwhile contacting
the Greenock Telegraph to see if they would publish it in the
paper to see if anyone knows anything
does the census have the actual number of Bank Street the home was on
it may help to know if the building was used for something else
or even if it is still standing
Elaine
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Hi Alistair
I have tried to find out what I could about this before for someone
but we couldn't find any records for it
I wonder if it would be worthwhile contacting
the Greenock Telegraph to see if they would publish it in the
paper to see if anyone knows anything
does the census have the actual number of Bank Street the home was on
it may help to know if the building was used for something else
or even if it is still standing
Elaine
Elaine
The only address detail is Bank Street, That is all the Census document has. The Superintendent's name was John Coutts Jack and his wife was Martha
Alistair
Elaine
The only address is Bank Street - no number
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All I could see on the the Working Boys Home was this www.scribd.com/doc/22785293/History-Greenock-1921 - page 45.
Monica :)
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All I could see on the the Working Boys Home was this www.scribd.com/doc/22785293/History-Greenock-1921 - page 45.
Monica :)
Monica
Interesting to see its description as "The residence at Bank Top which latterly became that estimable institution the Working Boys' Home". I suppose it was thought of as estimable back then.
I have contacted the Greenock Telegraph, the Library and the Museum to see if they have anything.
Alistair
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Hi Alistair
I found this
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19390822&id=vAs1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=lqULAAAAIBAJ&pg=2474,3051594
it notes that the family who lived there had connections with the McLean Museum
so I think you may be in luck seeing as you have contacted them
then looked for some births on Inverclyde BMD's
http://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/GetAsset.aspx?id=fAA1ADYAMgAwAHwAfABGAGEAbABzAGUAfAB8ADAAfAA1
Elaine
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Hi Alistair
I found this
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19390822&id=vAs1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=lqULAAAAIBAJ&pg=2474,3051594
it notes that the family who lived there had connections with the McLean Museum
so I think you may be in luck seeing as you have contacted them
then looked for some births on Inverclyde BMD's
http://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/GetAsset.aspx?id=fAA1ADYAMgAwAHwAfABGAGEAbABzAGUAfAB8ADAAfAA1
Elaine
Elaine
Thank you again. That leads to interesting Census entries. In the 1901 Census old Hillhouse is described as "living on private means". I hope to get something from library or museum.
IDon't want it to lead too far away from my casualty but it will be interesting to find out if the house was a gift from the Carmichael family.
Alistair
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did you notice that the William Carmichael in that story's middle name was
Hillhouse
Elaine
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did you notice that the William Carmichael in that story's middle name was
Hillhouse
Elaine
Yes, I did.
Alistair
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I hope you get some info from the McLean museum
I will let you know if I find anything else
good luck
Elaine
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ah the Bank Street boys home again....I've been trying to find information on this institution to no avail. Can't find anything sadly. I think from memory that it may have had a connection with Quarrier's Homes who were based in Kilmacolm but when I tried to look for my ancestor they couldn't find anything for me.
It may just be worth revisiting that because to be perfectly honest, I can't remember if there was a link or not and if so what records survive. The lady there was very helpful and they do have an e-mail contact if you have a look at it online.
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Sorry, should also add, I contacted the Watt Library and although they knew about the home, they couldn't tell me anything about it - don't think the records have been kept. They did say they were going to have a look. I think that there are records in the archives there which are not catalogued. They probably have some stuff there which no-one has looked at for years. If anything has survived it doesn't seem to be catalogued or searchable in any useful way. Perhaps if enough people keep asking Greenock about the records they have there they might get someone to look through them.
I know also that there is a great deal of stuff at Greenock Town Hall also just locked away with no-one making any effort to sort through them.
I'm not really suggesting this would be fruitful, but I happened to be 'lucky' (if you could call it that) in that one of my ancestors had strayed into the Glasgow records because of an illness. They had recieved treatment at the Glasgow poorhouse in Govan which is now the site of the NHS hospital there. I think it's worth just contacting the City Archives there to ask them to search for details relating to your ancestor. You just never know. My ancestor was treated there and Greenock paid for the care because she was in their parish. Records, if they exist, are quite rich in detail.
good luck. And if you find anything please do let me know.
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I know also that there is a great deal of stuff at Greenock Town Hall also just locked away with no-one making any effort to sort through them
maggie that is a shame as I am sure there would be people intereted in indexing the information
Elaine that could be a mission for you and I
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I know also that there is a great deal of stuff at Greenock Town Hall also just locked away with no-one making any effort to sort through them
maggie that is a shame as I am sure there would be people intereted in indexing the information
Elaine that could be a mission for you and I
Go for it, ladies. Sounds like a challenge.
Alistair
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Oh I would love to get my hands on some of the stuff they got hidden away
and now that I am not working I've got plenty of time
could even be therapeutic ;D
I think I know someone I could ask about it too
Elaine
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Hey there, that's a great idea. I would love to help too though I'm not based in Scotland now. All that valuable information shouldn't just be left lying around like that when so many people would love to have access to it.
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This is something for someone in Greenock to check out also, the Ravenscraig hospital - is it still open, I know it's due to close - if anyone had time to talk to someone there and maybe pay a visit it might be useful.
I know the hospital is what became of the old workhouse and in my search for information I was told that there had been a lot of archive stuff just sitting around out there. It may have just been thrown away but I'm not sure if that's what happened to it or if anything survives. Some of the archives went to Glasgow University, but that was stuff relating to mental health care, it's an NHS archive. The stuff relating to the poorhouse side of things was just lying around out there, once again not catalogued and nothing being done with it.
If any of it is still there it should really go to the Watt Library before it is thrown away. But then, if they have a whole room full of records at the moment and no one is sorting them out it may just be treated in the same way.
Can't understand Greenock and their attitude to this historical information. Greenock's history is extremely rich, given the fact that it was a significant port of departure for people heading for the 'new world' - why have we just let all that stuff be destroyed or neglected.
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I got this reply from McLean Museum
"Thank you for your email. I do believe that Bank Top House was an Industrial School. We don't have an awful lot of information about it but we do have an excellent account of one boy's stay there on our Local History Forum. It is by Dan Bonar, under Oral History and can be found at http://mcleanmuseum.proboards99.com"
You do have to create a free account to get access but it is a wonderful story and certainly answers some questions.
Alistair
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I've now had a reply from The Watt Library and it does sound like Major Bonar's Home may not have been Bank Top House, The Library said:
"Thank you for your recent enquiry to The Watt Library. Bank Top House was also known as The Working Boys' Home and was a home for "Destitute and Homeless working lads over 14". The Home first appears in the Greenock Post Office Directory in 1876/77 and was then at 5 Bogle Street. It was begun in connection with the Greenock Working Boys' and Girls' Religious Society who held meetings in the Society's committee rooms at 46 Cathcart Street and Mission Hall, Broad Close.
I believe this is different from the Industrial Schools, these were more like homes for wayward boys or boys who had been in trouble and were sent there by the Sheriff.
Unfortunately, this library does not hold any records for the Home, they may not have survived. You might try The Mitchell Library in Glasgow or The National Archives in Edinburgh."
Alistair
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hi --
I have just found 3 of the bonar boys an industrial school in greenock.
father is in lodgings and mother annie in another institution in greenock.
major dan bonar was a lifelong friend of my husband's parents--he was a lovely man and really did well in the army--considering his poor start in life.
i have obtained a transcript of major bonar's oral history about the home
from the mclean museum-----very interesting.
it describes the day to day life in the home.
some boys were there for crimes but dan and his brothers were there as their mother was an alcoholic and their father was working so couldn't look after
them-----from joyce.
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It was at 15 Bank Street, my grandfather was also there. I am trying to find out more about it also