Ancestry UK

St Nicholas' Home for Crippled Children, West Byfleet, Surrey

The St Nicholas' Home for Crippled Children was opened by the Waifs and Strays Society in 1893 at Chertsey Road, West Byfleet, Surrey. It was a replacement for the St Nicholas' Home's previous premises at Upper Tooting. The property, sometimes referred to as Byfleet Hall, was formerly associated with the Princess Mary Village Homes at Addlestone.

The official opening, on June 7th, 1893, was performed by Lady Louisa Egerton, with the Bishop of Winchester conducting a service of dedication in the home's small chapel. There was then a presentation of purses by members of the Children's Union and others.

St Nicholas' Home, West Byfleet, c.1903. © Peter Higginbotham

Notice of opening of St Nicholas' Home, West Byfleet, c.1903. © Peter Higginbotham

The new home could accommodate 60 children, comprising girls aged from 3 to 12 years and boys below the age of 7. Apart from being larger than the old building at Tooting, it had very few stairs which made life much easier for those in wheelchairs.

St Nicholas' Home, West Byfleet, c.1903. © Peter Higginbotham

St Nicholas' Home, West Byfleet, c.1905. © Peter Higginbotham

St Nicholas' Home, West Byfleet, c.1906. © Peter Higginbotham

St Nicholas' Home, West Byfleet, c.1906. © Peter Higginbotham

St Nicholas' Home, West Byfleet, c.1906. © Peter Higginbotham

St Nicholas' Home, West Byfleet, c.1906. © Peter Higginbotham

St Nicholas' Home, West Byfleet, c.1907. © Peter Higginbotham

Dolls and crutches at St Nicholas' Home, West Byfleet, c.1903. © Peter Higginbotham

The home's small chapel stood in the garden at the rear of the house.

Sunday morning chapel at St Nicholas' Home, West Byfleet, c.1907. © Peter Higginbotham

In 1908, the home moved a mile or so to new purpose-built premises at Pyrford.

Immediately next door to the St Nicholas' Home, and opened on the same day, was the Society's Byfleet Receiving Home.

Records

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Bibliography