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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Kent => Topic started by: K8T on Tuesday 23 August 22 11:16 BST (UK)
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I'm looking for a photo of Coney Hall, built by Sir Henry Lennard in 1880. There appears to be a void on the internet of photos of this hall. I can find reference to Coney Hall Farm but not the Hall. There seems to be very little information about the Hall other than it became a Shaftsbury Children's Home around the mid 1930s and was destroyed by fire, possibly in the Blitz but still unsure of this. I know it was hit by a bomb in 1940 killing to members of staff.
At some point it was also referred to as Coney Hill.
Any information and photos would be greatly appreciated.
K8T
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I assume this is Coney Hall on this 1907 map (shows "Coney Hall Farm" and "Coney Hill" a little north.
https://maps.nls.uk/view/103676678
A few mentions of Coney Hall in newspapers, including a number of letters to the editor regarding Sir John Lennard putting up a wall enclosing Wickham Common
(Saturday, May 10, 1890, Publication: Daily News)
Modified to add:
Still being advertised in 1959 - the Shaftsbury Society at Coney Hill, West Wickham, though I guess it may not be in the original building?
Wednesday, Mar. 4, 1959, Publication: The Times
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Thanks maddys52.
This has confused me. The research I've done so far gave the impression that Coney Hall Farm was Coney Hall but I have also found an early 20th century map which just states 'Coney Hall' so now I'm not so sure.
Are you able to look at the newspapers you have stated without subscribing?
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I look up old newspapers online (free) through my Australian National Library card which gives me access to British Library Newspapers (via Gale Primary Sources). Not sure where you are, but I think many libraries offer similar access.
Modified to add:
Happy to copy some items for you - though it's my bedtime now so can organise it tomorrow if you'd like. :)
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That would be fantastic, thanks.
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No worries. :) Will send you a pm.
Reading through another article about the Wickham Common enclosure I note it says :
"One of the free paths at present existing runs from Sir John Lennard's own house across Coney Farm, through the enclosure, all the way to Lord Derby's estate at Keston"
Thursday, May 1, 1890
Publication: Daily News
I think this implies that his house (presumably the one shown on the map at Coney Hill) is separate to Coney Farm.
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If Coney Hall Farm and Coney Hall are the same place this is listed as a painting of Coney Hall Farm :-\ https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/coney-hall-farm-193161
Kay
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I will admit to getting very confused reading through many advertisments and family notices with Coney Hall Farm/Coney Hall/Coney Hill (will send you copies), however I wonder if this was the property? Advertised for sale in 1928.
Monday, June 18, 1928, Publication: The Times
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There seems to be very little information about the Hall other than it became a Shaftsbury Children's Home around the mid 1930s and was destroyed by fire, possibly in the Blitz but still unsure of this.
Articles in The Times say the Shaftesbury Society was gifted a house "Coney Hill" in Dec 1934 and it opened in July 1935. "a large modern house and stands on a hill top with four acres of ground."
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Another photo - Coney Hill Home for Crippled Children in The Nursing Times, Saturday, Aug. 13, 1938. Looks like the same building as the one for sale. :)
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Another view from the same article in 1938.
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Strange that I cannot find any articles about a fire at the Coney Hill Home. There was a fire at the "Coney Hill Mental Hospital", Gloucester in 1958. I wonder if this was it instead? :-\
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This local website confirms it was destroyed by fire but without any details:
https://westwickhamresidents.com/about-us/local-history/
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Thank you maddys52 that's amazing and very helpful. I'm surprised it isn't on the local West Wickham History site. I really appreciate you sending these through.
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Thanks Kay99 and jayaygee. I saw the painting of the farm but wasn't sure they were one and the same. I can see now they were not. I've also seen the Local History site but there doesn't seem to be a lot of information on the fire. I do know it was bombed in 1940 and there were two casualties, both members of staff. I have also found out who they were. a cook - Ellen Edward aged 40 and a maid - Dorothy Vera Darrell aged 15.
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I don't have a subscription to findmypast (or British Newspaper Archive) however I see that there are many articles about the Coney Hill Home for Crippled Children in there as well. One that I can see on the free search (only gives snippets of the article) mentions the Home was donated to the Shaftesbury Society by Mr and Mrs Basil JONES. (21 October 1938 - Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser).
Also mentions of the "direct hit" in 1940 in various newspapers including 19 February 1941 - Falkirk Herald - Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland - the snippet - " The Shaftesburv Society is still in London, and carrying on as normally as possible in difficult circumstances. The Coney Hill Home near London had a direct hit in October, but fortunate’- none of the crippled children there was injured. "
There is this report of a fire at Coney Hill Home for Crippled Boys at Slottendane Rd, Margate (a long way from West Wickham):
"Curtains and linoleum were slightly burned Boys' home to be used for old people? Th: premises onc: oc:upi:d by' Coney Hill Home for Cr:ppkd Boys. at Slottendane Road. Margate. which was closed by the Shaftesbury Society last July." 24 March 1959 - Thanet Times - Margate, Kent, England
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An informative article about the direct hit on the Home here I think, though I can't see the whole item.
1 November 1940 - Bromley & West Kent Mercury
"... asleep in their dormitories when the bombs fell, bringing the ceiling down on them. All were got out safely, some suffering from minor injuries. The matron, superintendent and a nurse, who were sleeping in the hall, escaped unhurt, but a cook and maid occupying a sittingroom in the part of the house which received the full force of the explosion, were both killed. The news of their loss was kept from the children ..."
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I have been trying to find out a bit more about the entrance lodge to Coney Hall, on Croydon Rd for you K8T.
The family of Frederick Pelham TREVOR was living at "Coney Hall" according to various family notices in the papers, and they appear on the 1911 census with 3 servants. Although he writes the postal address as "Coney Hall, West Wickham, Kent", the enumerator has called it "Coney Hill Farm, West Wickham, Kent".
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWD4-XZY
The next house in the census is "Coney Hill Lodge, Hayes, Kent" occupied by Edwin TIDBURY (chauffeur) and his family. Is this the entrance lodge - possibly. :-\
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWD4-X8Q
Next is "The Stables, Warren Wood, Hayes" then "Warren Wood, Hayes, Kent - occupied by Frederick TREVOR's step father John SMAIL and his family and servants. Then, "The Lodge, Warren Wood".
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWD4-X86
The house previous to "Coney Hill Farm" is "Coney Hall Cottage, West Wickham, Kent" (occupied by John WOOD, farm labourer, and family)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWD4-XZP
and prior to that is the "Hartfield House stables" then "Hartfield House".
So looking at the 1909 map in reply #1
https://maps.nls.uk/view/103676678
you can more of less follow the enumerator's route on the census in 1911. I think then that Frederick TREVOR was probably living at Coney Hall Farm, but the Lodge where Edwin TIDBURY was is most likely the one still standing on Croydon Rd. (I could well be wrong!) But, where is the house that became the Shaftesbury Society Home? If it was empty it should still be noted I would think?
In 1901 the enumerator's route is similar. The houses in order are:
"The Priory" - John Craigie ROBERTSON and family
"Coney Hall Cottage" - George FRY and family
"Coney Hall Cottage" - John WOOD and family
"Coney Hall Farm" - William STOKES and family
"Coney Hall Stables" - Albert and Ethel THOMAS
"Coney Hall" - 5 servants (Most likely the building that became the Shaftesbury Society Home?)
"Warren House Lodge" - William ENRIGHT and family
"Warren House" - 8 servants
I'm not sure that helps or makes things more confusing!