Children's Nursery (Newburn)

[EeyoreBlue]

I've finally been able to access my mums adoption records, and discovered her birth mother (a family member) listed her occupation as "cook at a children's nursery".  This was in Newburn, Northumberland. However, my question is, what sort of nursery would it be? I didn't think there were childcare facilities in the 1940s. Any ideas?

[Kiltpin]

Two thoughts - 

Some large factories/companies had nurseries for the children of the female staff. Some also had primary schools. 

In large families, the children's room(s) were often called the nursery.   

Regards 

Chas

[EeyoreBlue]

Thank you. Didn't know about factories.

Had thought about large families, and had previously been led to believe she worked in the 'big house'. But can't imagine them having a cook just for children, but may be wrong!

[Drosybont]

There was increased nursery and nursery school provision in the 1940s so that mothers could work and to support under school age children during evacuation.  Looking in newspapers I can't see anything mentioned in Newburn, but there are ads showing that County Durham had provision of this kind, so presumably Northumberland did too.

Drosybont

[EeyoreBlue]

Thank you, really appreciate it. She lived in Newburn, so would assume she didn't travel too far to work.

[Stanwix England]

I spotted this in the newspaper.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle - Saturday 09 January 1943

"Newburn Urban District Council War Time Nursery, Applications are invited for the appointment of four Probationers at the War-time Nursery Central Recreation Ground, Newburn from Girls between the ages of 16 to 18 and interested in the care of young children. Salary £40 per annum. Applications stating age, qualifications and experience endorsed 'Probationer' to reach me not later than Jan 19 1943. Thomas Shaw, Clerk to the Council, Council Offices, Newburn, Northumberland."

So if I've understood that correctly, that must mean there was at least one nursery in Newburn connected to the war, by January 1943 at least. I can imagine they might have had cooks?

Weirdly, I can't find any other reference to the 'central recreation ground' so I'm not sure where that was supposed to be within Newburn.

[EeyoreBlue]

Thank you. That's amazing! There is a large park in Newburn (from memory) so wonder if it was connected tobm that? I'll have visitvto seeing there are any historical plaques

[Tickettyboo]

https://eastendwomensmuseum.org/blog/2018/8/7/women-babies-and-bombs-how-day-nurseries-contributed-to-working-womens-lives-during-wwii

That article is based in the south of the country but gives information that would be relevant nationwide as married women were needed for war work (and a damn good job they made of it too!)

and this article from the Newcastle Evening Chronicle 9 Sep 1940 describes the recruitment and training of staff that would be needed in preparation for the day nurseries being established.

Boo

[EeyoreBlue]

Thanks Tickettyboo, that's really interesting!  I found online last night that the records for Newburn Parish council (or at least the equivalent of the time) are available, so I'm going to try to have a look at them, and see if there is any info about employed people.