Ashford residental home . middlesex

[donduck]

i like some pics of ashford residental home.i was there from 1946 till 1954,then went to beecholme in banstead ,where a lot off children went to banstead from ashford.donald

[dawnsh]

Hi Donald

Welcome to Rootschat 

If you go to the 1st page of this topic and look at reply #1, the first link has some pictures.

Hope this helps.

Dawn

[donduck]

I was in Ashford Residential Home for approximately 2 years around 1950 - 1953. It was a huge building, and housed children from babies to 15 year olds. i came late 1946 till 1953 then went to bansted

It was very 'dickensian' and doesn't bring back very happy memories to me, but I would be interested in hearing from anybody else who may have been there during that time.

A few things I recall - There were boys one end and girls the other end of the building, with a huge corridor in between. (I recall this particularly, because one of my punishments for running away, yet again, was to get on my hands and knees and scrub the whole corridor - can you imagine an 11 year old doing that now?)

I also recall, that there were long dormitories (which we had to clean daily with a huge ronuk(?) polisher, and we had special name for the mice! I was beaten up on my first day. We used to go scrumping fruit in the orchards at the back of the building. We were always hungry. I got 1shilling and threepence for pocketmoney, and periodically got beaten up in the air-raid shelters and relieved of said money! If not, I, and others got over the wall into the village to buy some cigarettes! Oh, and I recall the 'blacking room' where all shoe polishing was carried out, and I still recoil in horror at the hundreds of cockroachers that scattered on turning the light on!

Apologies for going on a bit, but it's quite theraputic for me I suppose.
When I left there, I was sent to another 'Home' in Banstead till I was 15.
This was all because of my parents splitting up - it was certainly all different in those days................

[CaptKirk]

i like some pics of ashford residental home.i was there from 1946 till 1954,then went to beecholme in banstead ,where a lot off children went to banstead from ashford.donald

I was going to visit the Ashford location two weeks ago with my mom and aunt while in London. However, a relative who has been doing genealogy research thought it might be better to visit the London Metropolitan Archives (LMA) since the original Ashford buildings have been torn down and the LMA has photos and historical records from Ashford.

First, I visited the LMA website to get as much information as possible then emailed LMA staff for advice on what to look for and suggestions on where I might start. I must say that the British government has put a lot of work in to preserving historical records and helping ordinary people find and access those records! The staff are extremely helpful although very busy!

Records after 1930 are not easily accessible in order to protect the identity of those who may still be alive. However, anyone who attended Ashford and has sufficient ID, can request the records be searched for them by staff.

Based on the suggestions from the email, I was able to look up the  Ashford Residential School admission and discharge registers for 1907-32 available on microfilm X100/093. I was able to see notes about my mom and two other siblings on that record.
I was also able to view photos from Ashford dating from the late 1800's to 1936. Unfortunately, neither my mom nor my aunt saw any photos of people or buildings that they recognized ... not even the playground photos. Also, there were not very many photos of Ashford in the collection box as compared to other schools. Still, it's well worth looking through as you never know what you might find.

For a cost, you can make copies of records and photographs. You'll need to apply for a history card first. That can be done online or in person.

For more information about the London Metropolitan Archives and other resources, visit: http://www.lma.gov.uk

[jane harrison]

hello
thats great that you got so much info if you can get the book looking back at ashford middlesex a photograph album by p j ramsden 1995  i s b n number 0 9510833 3 3 it has a picture of the school also old photos of ashford area. he also has a book a history of ashford (middx) i s b n  number 0 95110833 2 5 that shows a map & picture of the front gates  these books you may be able to order by post from ashford lib phone 01784 253651
jeannette

[majnan75]

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[jane harrison]

hello

[jane harrison]

hello
sorry was attempting to post a copy of an artical in my local paper but again it not allowing attatchments for some reason
its about the demolition of ashford remand & the removal of the tower on one of the old buildings
Quote the year 1990
This was the bizarre scene as the tower of the old school building @ Ashford remand centre was removed to safety, before the buildings demolition. A crane helped remove the large rocket like structure inch-by-inch from its home of the past 120 years
The tower dated back to when the building belonged to the West London District Schools complex & was incorperated into the category B ashford prison being built on the site.
Brickwork & tiles that could be re used where taken away.but the process of bringing the massive tower to the ground took several weeks. Items rescued from the building included a plaque showing the names of former pupils killed in the Boar War& the foundation stone where later housed in the prison service Museum in London. the tower was kept @ the edge of the building site as the replacment building was created

[Truthseeker]

Dear All,
I am trying to find anyone who may remember Rev Ronald Glazebrook during his time at Ashford Residential School. He was there between 1948 - 52. He has now died. kind regards