National Childrens Home, Stroud (CLOSED)

[Hystericalwriter]

There's lots of old postcard views of Stroud with Rodborough in distance here:
http://www.rodboroughfort.co.uk/index.php?option=com_g2bridge&view=gallery&Itemid=2

I used to live in Minchinhampton and came down the hill past Butterow turnpike cottage on way to work..........don't remember a children's home other than Ebley tho'

Went back past the fire station and on towards Stratford Park last week didn't recognise the old Tech college, gone and masses of new houses in the process of building. but the trees that they wanted to chop down in the 80's are still there! That's progress


Anne

[alf]

Another person has made contact with me and she was in the same home. Roxborough House in Nelson Street, Stroud, now a Community Centre. Now to find the school.

Alf

[Burge]

Hi Alf. I grew up in Stroud, went to the Rosary school and sometimes walked home along Stratford Road. If you are coming from the Stroud direction, you have the park on your right. All along the left hand side behind the houses is the railway track to Stroud. Right at the other end of Stratford Road, you branch off left onto Paganhill. In the 50's the firestation was situated on the Cainscross Road almost opposite the Marling school which backs onto the Stratford Road. Did you attend a local primary school or one that belonged to the home? Whiteshill school was situated at the Paganhill end of Stratford Road. Of course there was the Rosary school but that was Catholic. How about Uplands school? I still have friends living in Stroud so I will ask them if they can remember anything.

Teresa

[AngelaR]

Hi Alf

I live very close to Nelson Street. I will ask some of my elderly neighbours....

[LizzieW]

Alf - If you lived at Roxborough House in Nelson Street, and went to a C of E Primary School, you probably went to Church Street School.  Having done a search on google streetview, it seems to be called The Whitminster Centre, and is Stroud Youth Centre and Stroud Area Youth Office.   It's a pupil referral centre for 14-16 year olds.

Four of my children went there, the headmistress at the time (1960s/70s) was a Mrs Tyrrell and the school motto was "Aspire High", which was a pun on the fact that the church had a spire.

Here is a photo.  Ring any bells?

Lizzie

[LizzieW]

By the way Nelson Street is not near Stratford Park.  If you google nelson st, stroud, the first item is a google map.  If you look at that you can see how near Nelson St is to Church St.

Lizzie.

ps.  Should have said when my kids went to the school, it was just a C of E primary school. 

[Burge]

Agree there Lizzie. Stratford Park is outside of the town, up past Beeches Green. Church Street was the school I couldn't remember so thanks for that. I remember playing against  Church Street in a rounders tournament way back in 1964 and we beat them!

Teresa

[Burge]

The local paper for Stroud is the Stroud News and Journal which can also be viewed online. Perhaps they would print a letter for you? I am sure there are many people in Stroud who could well provide you with the information you are after.

[alf]

Hi
The School
All I can remember about the school. That was a small stone building with one room which I found strange having been to Stone school which had 3 rooms. The school was on my right as I passed Stratford Park, but some distance away. To eneter the school you just walked off the foot path and down a few steps and into the school. To the right was avery small playing yard, not impressed. The school was amongst other houses on the road. Something tells me that the school belonged to the home because on my first day I was taken to the school by a lady in a car and all the kids and on the way home we all went and played in the park before going to the home. I could be wrong with the school belonging to the home, but we all left in the morning in a group and returned home sometimes covered in mud in the evening. I know it was quite a long walk and with short legs it took for ever.

Alf