Heaton Park Prefabs

[uk2003]

Hi Margaret

What was White Heather camp in the first place?

Ken 

[uk2003]

Sorted 

Today, a few people still remember the park for the White Heather Camp, a charity that offered a break for children from the poorer areas of the city in the 1920s. It was also used as an RAF transit camp during the war when young airmen staying there included Tony Benn and author James Herriot.

http://www.gov-news.org/gov/uk/news/heritage_registers_high_in_the_heart_of_the/73992.html

[Barbara.H]

Hi Margaret and Ken,

Have you got a Manchester library card to access the Guardian and Observer newspaper archives? If so, do a search for 'White Heather camp' and 'Heaton Park'

I just did, and there is a piece dated 10 Feb 1917 that describes a 'hydrotherapy' pool at Heaton Park in 1917, used for the treatment of convalescing soldiers. I knew they trained the Manchester Regiment at Heaton Park, but apparently there was a convalescent hospital set up there as well. Its fascinating, apparently they had a sort of early Jacuzzi - in Heaton Park, in 1917! They were about to build an extension called the White Heather Military Hydro.
Could this be the origin of the swimming pool?

There's another article, 7 October 1916 about the hydrotherapy treatment, says there is a photo on another page of the paper but I haven't found it yet 

If you can't find the articles, send me a PM and an email address.  I'll try and make time to transcribe a bit of them later

  Barbara

[aggiebagwash]

I've seen that link before but it still doesn't give any clues as to how long the White Heather Camp existed, how large it was, what facilities other than the swimming pool and maybe the athletics track were available and it's that specific information that we need. What areas did the poor children came from were they local or from outlying areas? Which charity opened it or was it mulitple charitable agencies? All we need is that one clue to open up the search. There must be people still alive who stayed in the camp but how do we find them?

The transit camp wasn't only used for the RAF but also the army. My father was billeted there during the war for a short time. Where would we find out more details? Maybe a local military historian might know.

Margaret

[aggiebagwash]

Barbara this is fascinating thank you. I do have a library card and hadn't thought to use it.Old age has a lot to answer for. I'll have a look later and if I get stuck I'll PM you.

Margaret

[uk2003]

Link - not much to it but a date

http://www.worldcat.org/title/signature/oclc/225842021

Ken 

[uk2003]

The more people who add information to this thread the better because it will open up new areas to search and I'm sure and at some point it will reach the person who holds the answers.

Margaret

I have left a posting on a facebook group called "Save Heaton Park" it has near 7000 members.

Ken 

[aggiebagwash]

Thanks for telling me Ken I'll register my vote now.

Margaret 

[Barbara.H]

Here's something from the Guardian/Observer archive again;

30 August 1913
"The Manchester Sunday School Union has a holiday and convalescent home at St Annes on Sea, and funds are now needed to extend the existing premises. One plan for raising the money was suggested and put into practice last year, when white heather was sold in the streets on one day. Five hundred pounds was made out of the sale, and it was then decided to establish a Manchester White Heather Society and to institute a White Heather Day. The President of the Society is Mr Matthewson Watson and the honorary president is Mr Harry Lauder.."

it goes on to announce a benefit concert for the following week, performed by Harry Lauder.

White Heather Day sounds vaguely familiar to me, would it have continued into the 1960s? I'm wondering if I heard about it at my Sunday School..