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London & Middlesex Completed Lookup Requests / Re: Stepney Address.
« on: Monday 11 November 19 02:25 GMT (UK) »By the way, I also found the following on Google, just in case you haven't seen it:
http://www.mile-end-residents.co.uk/the-south-grove-workhouse/
Derek
By the way, I also found the following on Google, just in case you haven't seen it:
http://www.mile-end-residents.co.uk/the-south-grove-workhouse/
Derek
Yes thanks I'd seen that one.
Btw, have you found your GreatGrandfather on the various Censuses?
Romilly.
wow, that's terrific... really good to know... thanks so much
Derek
Hello to Romilly and DsandSue,
Hope you will forgive my ignorance, but this is my first time on this website and found by just doing some browsing.
When I was 6 years old in 1948, right after the war, we had nowhere to live. So my mother and three sisters and I were sent to live in Southern Grove Lodge. It was called an institution in those days, however some women sang workhouse songs.
I do recall elderly residents who lived in another area of Southern Grove Lodge because whenever I walked past them, they would want to talk to me, but I was scared of them.
Only women and children (up to age 15) were allowed to live there - in dormitories. Men were not allowed to even enter the building. I recall one morning upon waking up and there was talking about an elderly man had come into our dormitory, opened a window and jumped out, and killed himself.
We went to Guardian Angels School, where the playground was on the roof!
We stayed at Southern Grove Lodge for several months. Mum wanted to move, however we did return to it again in about 1952/3, and we were given a house in Harold Hill, Romford.
I would say about why the LMA will not give out the personal information for you to see because of any living relatives who think it's a stigma. I've always thought that people should never be ashamed of being poor.
I'm 77 now, but remember my childhood and, the strange thing is, we remember more the older we get.
Over the years, I've often searched for Southern Grove Lodge without much success. No doubt, the 'powers that be' want to hide the majority of workhouses.
Kind regards, Morsie x