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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Lancashire => England => Lancashire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: ScouseBoy on Wednesday 15 December 10 21:08 GMT (UK)
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Does anyone know whether the site which is now Styal Prison was a childrens Home circa 1953 or 1954, please.
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There is a Wikipedia page about this, but it won't allow me to post the link. If you Google 'Styal Orphanage', it will take you to it.
Jen
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Thank you ;)
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Hi
'The prison occupies some former buildings of the Styal Cottage Homes. These opened as an orphanage for destitute children from the Manchester area in 1898. In 1956 this closed and the site re-opened as a women's prison in 1962, with women transferred from HMP Strangeways.'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Styal_(HM_Prison)
The workhouse website has further information on the Styal Homes (with photographs) - under Chorlton poor law union
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/
Regards
Valda
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:)Styal Children's Home was just that a Children's Home I know because I was there with my three brothers and sister. I think there may have been another res. place for children not far from Styal C's H. as I have seen information and comments about another home for children but I think it was more of an open air school for sick children. Styal children's Home was not a nice place. Some children ran away, I was the only one in my family that didn't. One of my brothers used also go to the village doing work before and after school, deliver milk, help with the post and on a Sunday used to help a lady who played the organ in church. We visited it last summer just before he died.
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By the way although it was a children's home it was not an orphanage. My parents were alive infact if you look on the www for Styal Children's home you ill see red brick buildings. The first one on the left is the one used for visitors. When our mum came to see us that is where we would see her. We would all have to sit on the woodenbenches. Rather like those used in train station waiting rooms. :) I believe some of the children in Styal ended up being sent away abroad (migration).
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Hi all , i am looking for any info on a home /hospital for children with infectious deceases?
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Tutin,
It is fascinating to hear from someone with direct experience of this home. Can you tell us roughly when you were there. Any more details of life in the home would, I am sure, be of interest to many of us.
Jen :)
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Hi Lord V
I think you have a big job in front of you. The reason I say that is because I think at the time you are looking there was a lot of TB, Polio etc so a lot of places for sick children. It may be possible to get info from the Nuffield trust as I believe they may keep hospital records. I was in a place in Conway, Wales with TB I think after leaving Styal Childrens Home but I think there was a lot of places like it.
By the way Genjen I've sent you a reply.
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Did Styal childrens home go on holiday to Morecambe Bay Holiday Camp for one week in the summer around about 1954 and 1955?
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By the way Genjen I've sent you a reply.
?? Where? I don't seem to have anything in my PM inbox.
Jen ??? :)
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Hi Tutin66, sorry i should have mentioned i was looking for around mid 1960's
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Well now this is my third time of trying. I've only just joined so i'm probably doing the wrong thing and losing messages instead of sending them. Anyway hear we go again.
I was in Styal C'sH from the age of 3-9. We left just before the Coranation. My sister and youngest brother must have been about 12 or 13. My eldest brother had some sort of "learning difficulties" so was used as free labour. I know he had problems but i remember seeing him painting windows. I think the second eldest had to leave when he was about 15 but I know he used to do jobs in the village to earn money ie deliver milk collect papers and post from railway station and help at local church on Sunday. My sister and I both lived in "B" house the second on the right on the www Styal pictures. my youngest brother was in "A" house the first house. the first house on the left just as you as look in the intrance is where we would see our parents. We would sit on wooden benches just like those in railway staition waiting rooms. If children wet the bed they had to take them to the laundrey and wash them by hand but take them just as other children were on the way to school (to shame them). This happend to the twins so they missed a lot of education, couldn't read or write when they left. I remember having my feet scrubbed with a big wooden brush till little beeds of blood coverd my feet. Alway falling down polished stairs spraining my ankle my sister haveing to force my shoes on my fett. I still have my toes curled under.
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Hi Lord V
Styal was closed in the 50s. After closure as childrens home was used for refugees from Hungary. However from other articles I have seen in the past about Styal I feel sure that there was another place for children somewhere around Styal village because some people go on www pages about Styal C H and what they say dosen't match up with what I remember It sounds like a much nicer place with nicer staff. So I feel sure there was another place and I think it possible it was a place for sick children. There possible will be someone on the Styal village www that will be able to help you.
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Did Styal childrens home go on holiday to Morecambe Bay Holiday Camp for one week in the summer around about 1954 and 1955?
hello i am trying to find out where i can find records of members of my family who were in styal homes in the 1930.s
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When I was in junior school in the late 1940s/early 1950s, I remember children who were undernourished, or weak or whatever were sent to a home/school near Alderley Edge, for convalescence which might be the place you are thinking about Tutin that was nicer than yours, it is not that far from Styal.
Lizzie
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In 1926 a relative was widowed with 6 children the youngest only 1 year old then in 1933 she died. The younger children went to Styal and the two youngest who were girls were at some point taken by families who wanted a child or free house servant...
One disliked being what she called a free skivvy and ran away but was later caught and taken back, the other one never married and stayed with the lady for the rest of her life.... the sad thing is that it was noticed that as the other children were playing outside she was watching through the window and seemed to have had no contact with young people.
One of the boys married a girl who was also in Styal at the same time but did not know each other when there.
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There definitely was a home where the prison now is. It was called Styal Cottage Homes. I was in there from 1950 until 1955. I was 8 when I went in. They then started to put us on new estates such as Wythenshawe and Middleton. I was in M home and I used to run away on a regular basis and put up with the beatings when they brought me back. The place itself and the location were really very good. the problem was they staffed it with sadistic people. There were a couple of great house parents but the majority of them would give you some form of punishment for the slightest thing. Most of the female staff were single and had no idea about young children.
There was an open air place next door for children with breathing problems. But nothing to do with Styal Cottage Homes. I sang in the Church choir there for the years I was there.
I have lived in Australia since 1964 and have told my 2 daughters all about it. I tell them about my running away and going to my grans in Ardwick. I would walk through the night to get there and the police would normally leave me for 48 hours and then come and take me back. They knew where I went and felt sorry for the runaways.
I know this is a bit late, but if you still log on, hope it helped.
Love to hear from anybody who was in there during that period, I remember lots of names but not to be published on here.
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Hi - Although I didn't live at Styal myself, a relative of mine worked at the homes during the time you were there. I would like to send you a personal message (PM), but you will need to post two more messages, as you need to make 3 posts in order to be able to send and receive PMs. (See the Help Section). Just a brief word or two will do.
Cheers!
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We used to go to Colwyn Bay in Wales for 2 weeks for summer holidays
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There was always a Christmas Party held at Manchester university for us each year.
My gran lived about a mile away down Brunswick street so I used to sneak out from the party and
go to her house for about an hour
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I've sent you a PM.
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I had family too at Styal Cottage homes in the 1920's/1930's. Only just spotted this thread, not a lot was revealed as I think the family were too ashamed.
Mum and Dad were both alive, but Father was in and out of the Workhouses of Manchester. The four Children were placed at Styal for 2-3 years.
Sarah
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Hi, My uncle was at this home in the 1940s after his mother (from London) was unable to cope during the war. He was unofficially adopted from there by my grandmother after her husband died in 1939 and grew up in Manchester alongside my father and his two brothers as a member of the family. He is still alive - living in the same house for over 60 years now and the last of the brothers - as he was quite a few years younger than them. I got interested in genealogy trying to figure out why my dad had three brothers, two with the same Christian name and none of them with his/my surname - and in fact with in total three different surnames! It was complicated but fun to research.
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I was resident at Styal from 1953 to 1954 aged 8. I was there exactly 1 year. The home was a place where children with poor health were sent from all over the Gtr Manchester area. The home was operated by Manchester education committee and if there medical staff felt you were not of the right weight-height for your age off you went to Styal. I personally was in poor health. This was entirely due to lack of nutritious food (the war had only ended 8 years earlier) no fresh fruit and vegetables. The regime there was strict, but I loved it. 3 meals a day, green playing fields a farm next to the home (I had never seen farm animals before. All of this for an 8-year-old from Hulme was brilliant. The houses as I remember were all called after famous kids hero's, I was in Robin hood house the girls in house's with names like Alice in wonderland etc. The home had its own hospital, and I spent some time in there after I fell from an apple tree. Your parents were only allowed to visit on Saturday's/Sunday's and visiting was for 2 hours. We used to go on long nature walks along the river Bollin, visits to Wilmslow town centre to watch a film (once a month) and at Christmas we went to a pantomime. To be perfectly honest I missed my family terribly, but when the day came to leave Styal and return home I was sad. All the friends I had made plus the matron and her staff were there to see me off and wish me well. A great place and one I will remember fondly for the rest of my day's. I hope this as given a small insight into Styal for the period I was there. Thanks Ed
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Did you know someone called Cornelius or liked to go name of Ian? Looking for background of my dad. He never spoke of Styal Cottage homes I don't think he had a nice time there. He was adopted by Parkyn when he was 8?
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Yes, it was known as Styal Open Air School. The school was run along the lines of a boarding school with various cottages Wendy Snow White Robin Hood etc. I was there in 1958/9 for eight months
The school was surrounded by fields and well kept during my time there. It was an orphanage at one stage I believe.
There has been some bad press about Styal and I can only speak for myself when I say that I did not experience any sexual or physical abuse. I learnt more at the school than I did in my local school. Art and Music gardening as well as everyday lessons were offered at the school. Uniforms were clean and kids well fed and cared for, albeit in an emotionally deprived environment but then comfort was not 'the thing' anywhere else, people were much more emotionally restrained in those days.
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OK there is some confusion regarding Styal Cottage home. As a resident at the time that it was a children s home I will give you the correct information from the time I was there and then the time after I left and its change of use. I have given info in the past but haven't been on for quite a while. So this it what I know. I was in Styal from the age of 3 (1947) the first house on the left in the photo you usually see was the place we would see our parents. I have mention this before. I lived In the second building on the right (B home) with my older sister). My youngest brother, who was also my sisters twin lived in the first house (A home). I'm not sure were my other two brothers lived. The home was cruel. For eg. Sometimes we didn't have socks on and I remember one time my feet got very grubby. The house mother (possibly Mrs Ramsbotham) was so cross she scrubbed my feet with carbolic soap and a wooden brush. The twins wet the bed and had to take their sheets to the laundrey and wash them by had. they missed a lot of school and unable to read or write when they left at about 12 year old. We left when I was 8 I had my 9thbirthday just about the Coronation time (1953). After the place closed it was used for Hungarian refugees. This is when I'm not sure of dates and facts as I believe it was after it closed again that it was then used as an Open air School and it sounds like the staff where a lot nicer.
So there you have it. I am the only one left in my family now but I remember my time very well and am in the process of writing it for my family and my siblings who had a very bad time. By the way the Chapel in the Village, not the one in Styal it self was shown in the TV sers. about the Cotton weavers their families and the the people who built Styal Village. it is the Chapel that my brother Douglas use to go to on a Sunday to operate the bellows for the lady who played the organ. If there is anyone who would like further information I will be very pleased to help you in any way that I can. But no promises as I don't know everything.
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My dad Patrick Maguire was sent to this place when he was a boy😕I thought it sounded like a cruel place . I think it changed him for the worst between that and his parents rejection. And now the council want me to pay 30 quid to search for his record. Should be free for people who are looking for answers and to move on.
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Hello Mike
Saw what you said about your father. I was very young and very scared when at Styal so find it very difficult to remember names apart from the girls in my house. Boys and girls, brothers and sisters lived in separate homes. I asked for my records some years ago. All I was sent was a copy of a form with mine and my siblings names. I was informed that was all they had. So before you pay out you need to have it confirmed that they have any information.
I will be going to a conference in Sheffield in September regarding children in care. There will be Soc. Wks. and people who have been in care. So I may be able to ask if it is possible there will be records also the Care Leavers Assoc. based in Manchester do advise people who have been in care regarding access to records so they may be able to advise you. However it maybe that The cost is correct, I don't know. I think that other organisations charge more such as MOD. Anyway best of luck. If I can be of any help or you would like to ask specific qn. I be pleased to help but as I said I was very young. Most of the stuff I remember is the bad stuff because it affected me so much.
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Thanks so much Tutin. Wonder if they realize how it affected families of children from Styal like homes? Regards Michael
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Hello Mike,
I wrote to Manchester Social Services it must be 10 years ago now regarding my (deceased) Grandfather who was at Styal with his siblings in the 1920's. At the time we were only able to write with questions that they could choose to reply to but I guess that this was because it would have still been within 100 years - this was free at the time but I got only limited information back only dates of admittance, home address etc no reason given for why they were there in the first place which is what I wanted to know.
I would be interested to find out what time period you are researching and if you find out any extra for the £30.00 fee
Regards
Sarah
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Yes, and later an open air school for 'delicate' children. I was there c1958.
f you google Styal Open Air School you will find lots of info :)
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My grandad, Harry Davies and his twin brother, Arthur Davies went into Styal Cottage Homes in June 1922 at nearly 4 years of age. From what my grandad told my mother, they both had a happy life there and absolutely adored their Housemother. Their sister (my great aunt), Dora Davies went into Styal Cottage Homes in 1926 at the age of 11.
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There’s a book about Styal cottage homes “A Styal of Its Own, 1894-1964, the True Story of 25 Twilight Orphans” by James Stanhope-Brown published in 1989. It’s available for loan from Cheshire Libraries.
All the best Genna
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Hi Tutin66
I would be interested in asking yourself if you remember my Father - Cornelius, 'Corny' or 'Ian', who was at Styal from around 1945 - 1950. He may of been a year older than yourself (born 1943 and taken to Styal from around 2 years of age or so).
As you mentioned, it was not a positive experience & he was finally adopted in 1950 at the age of 7 where he went on to live a good life !
Feel free to PM me or reply to this message if possible
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I lived within a few miles of the place and I remember when I was in the top class in the juniors, not sure what year that is now, I guess year 6. I was 11 so it would have been 1952 and a boy in our class fainted in class one day and from that it was found that he was hungry (unusual in our area and at our school even then) and he was sent to Styal. We understood it was to give him more fresh air. We all knew the school as more a convalescent home than a children's home/orphanage as amelinixon has posted.
He was only there a short time as I remember he went to the boy's grammar school the following year where all the other boys from our class went to, so he must have moved back home.
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Hi Tutin66,
Do you remember anyone with the surnames of Needham or Howard at Styal .... were the twins Annie & James?
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I'm just wondering if it was this Mrs Ramsbotham that absolutely destroyed my father for life. He was a complete and utter nightmare to be around... that anger he carried for life was just beyond belief. My father was at an orphanage there just after WWII and left when he was fifteen/sixteen. He speaks with total contempt of his time there.
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I would be keen for anyone who was or knows of children at Styal from 1945 onwards to message me to see if they knew my Dad.
Many thanks
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Gareth what years was your Father there ? My dad was there also but NEVER spoke of his time there it was that bad.
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He was there from 1946/7 to about 1955/6 I think. Not too sure exact years. My dad left when he was 15/16 and joined the post office. At that time, he was informed that because of his "class" he was not eligible for further education and therefore shunted to the post office.
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Thanks Gareth that's the same time as my Dad. I have sent you a PM/Message on this site if you can access it and would like to talk more
Cheers