The material below is taken from the web page Unless otherwise indicated, content is copyright Peter Higginbotham and may not be re-published without permission.
Ancestry UK

Haldane House, Bogside-by-Alloa, Fife, Scotland

In November 1946, Brankstone Grange, a large country house at Bogside-by-Alloa, Fife, was opened as a Barnardo's home under the name Haldane House. Originally a home for boys aged five and over, it switched to housing younger children in 1948 then by 1955 had become a general mixed home. The Scottish comedian and actor Gregor Fisher (aka Ralph C Nesbit) was once an inmate of the establishment.

The following pictures were kindly contributed by Colin Lambert, whose parents were the original house-parents of Haldane House.

Haldane House home, 1946. © Colin Lambert

Haldane House boys and staff, 1946. © Colin Lambert

Haldane House boys, 1946. © Colin Lambert

The home closed at the end of 1969 with the children being moved to The Tower home in Edinburgh.

The property is now privately owned and has reverted to its original name.

The former Haldane House home.

Records

Note: many repositories impose a closure period of up to 100 years for records identifying individuals. Before travelling a long distance, always check that the records you want to consult will be available.

Bibliography

  • Barnardo, Syrie Louise, and Marchant, James Memoirs of the Late Dr Barnardo (Hodder & Stoughton, 1907)
  • Batt, J.H. Dr. Barnardo: The Foster-Father of "Nobody's Children" (S.W. Partridge, 1904)
  • Bready, J. Wesley Doctor Barnardo (Allen & Unwin, 1930)
  • Higginbotham, Peter Children's Homes: A History of Institutional Care for Britain's Young (2017, Pen & Sword)
  • Rose, June For the Sake of the Children: Inside Dr. Barnardo's: 120 years of caring for children (Hodder & Stoughton, 1987)
  • Wagner, Gillian Barnardo (Weidenfeld & Nicholson, 1979)

Except where indicated, this page () © Peter Higginbotham. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.