children's home, Shoreham

[bykerlads]

Does anyone know if the records of the Children's Home/Orphanage which was in Ham Road, Shoreham still exist?
Specifically, records from around 1939-42, concerning children evacuated from London and then sent on to West Yorkshire?
Were the children who stayed there all orphans ( perhaps of the Blitz) or was the Home just used as a place to accommodate all evacuees, even those with parents/families?
All info welcome.

[groom]

Have you seen this - it mentions the evacuation to Yorkshire  http://www.shorehambysea.com/st-wilfrids-childrens-home-ham-road-1933-1953.html

Interestingly, the school where I taught in Croydon, was evacuated to Shoreham - I wasn't there at the time, I read it in the log books.    They weren't there for long as it was discovered that Shoreham was on route of bombers heading to and from London. If they hadn't succeeded in their mission they used to drop their bombs near there before they headed out over the coast. I wonder if that is why the Home was evacuated?

[bykerlads]

Thank you for the reply, Groom.
I have read the link which you quote, which confirms what I have been told about the evacuees to West Yorks.
Amongst these was a little lad who was billeted in my father's family, was never "re-claimed", and remained in the family as my dad's foster-brother. He had no memories of his life before being evacuated, so from time to time I have a go at trying to find anything which might be relevant.
I'd be interested to know about the school which was evacuated to Shoreham- are the school logs archived anywhere? We know my uncle was born in London and he assumes he was orphaned in the blitz or his parents died during the war. Did the school have any pupils who were in children's homes?
This is the first new bit of info we've had for a long while- for which many thanks.

[groom]

As far as I know, the log books aren't archived but are kept at the school. When we were teaching the children about World War 2 one year, we did a mock evacuation to Shoreham and visited the school where they were taught. I don't think any of the children were from Children's Homes. At the time it was a Junior Girls' school and a Junior Boys' School in the same building, but run separately. I'm not sure if they were evacuated to the same place and I'm afraid I can't remember whether it was the boys or girls who went to Shoreham.  I'll PM you the address of the school in case you want to contact them after the Summer Holidays.

[bykerlads]

Thanks for the Pm and this info- I've replied with a PM.

[Bernard Finch]

I was at the Shoreham Childrens Home on Ham Rd from 1934 till 1941 when Peter and I were in Yorkshire after being evacuated for 4 years.  I was a toddler when I arrived at the home with my sister Stella  and two brothers - Norman and Peter Finch. I cannot remember the name of the school we attended.  I was adopted soon after arrival back from Yorkshire. Bernard Weller (Finch)

[J.J.]

Hello, Bernard... We've hijacked an older thread. Perhaps they won't mind...Please post an answer to this, though, so that others can find this and private message you.  ( It only works with 2 posts!)
Don't post any email addresses, though.

* I imagine you may already have this, but for other familiy's descendants searching:
 Henry Finch & Ethel F C Fillery   Marriage reg: Dec 1923   Eastbourne district vol. 2b  p.216
 Ethel Florence Carter Fillery c. 1891 Wadhurst, Sussex on 1911 with parents & siblings listed
 (These registered certs are all available to order online from the GRO)
 **24 Norman Henry   **26 Stella Geraldine  **27 Gladys Doreen    **29 Raymond Peter 
 A tree attached to 1911 census on FamSearch

* Hello bykerlads!!!  If you want the post moved, you can ask for Bernard's post to be repositoned by using "Report to moderator" on Bernard's post.

[bykerlads]

I'm glad to see that this post is still active.
My uncle, who was at the Shoreham childrens home prior to evacuation to West Yorkshire, passed away some time ago.
I will look at the brief account of his experiences which he gave me and see if any names ring a bell.

Bernard, could I ask if you recall where you were evacuated to in Yorkshire?

My uncle was sent with a group of children to Dunford Bridge near Penistone and Holmfirth. He was billetted with my father's family, never "reclaimed" and stayed as a foster child, eventually making a good life for himself here in West Yorkshire.

[J.J.]

Hello bykerlads!
Oh, he was indeed claimed...by his new benevolent family who had love & kindness to spare! A wonderful outcome! ♡ ♥ ♡  All the very best to you! J.J. in the Snowy Middle of Canada

adding* I do hope that Bernard Finch replies! I can't P.M. him to say there's answers.