Dalziel of Wooler Memorial Home, Kingston Hill, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey
In August 1933, boys from the Barnardo's home in Clapham were relocated to new premises at Gloucester Road off Kingston Hill, Kingston upon Thames. The site had previously been occupied by the Princess Louise Home, run by the National Society for the Protection of Young Girls. Under Barnardo's management, the property was renamed the Dalziel of Wooler Memorial Home and could accommodate up to 150 boys aged from 8 to 14. The Home took its name from the eminent newspaper owner and politician, Sir Davison Dalziel (1852-1928), whose widow had financed its construction.
The location of the Home is shown on the 1935 map below.
Dalziel of Wooler Memorial Home site, Kingston upon Thames, c.1935.
Former Princess Louise Home, Kingston upon Thames, c.1905. © Peter Higginbotham
Following a renaming of the northern part of Gloucester Road in the 1960s, the home's address became 10 Galsworthy Road.
With a decline in demand for places at the Home, it was eventually closed in August 1968, with the remaining boys being transferred to the Ifield Hall home in Sussex.
The building has since been demolished and modern housing occupies the site.
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.
- Barnardo's 'Making Connections' and Family History Services — for enquiries relating the records of children formerly in the care of Barnardo's and those of other organisations absorbed by them.
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)
- Norman, Frank (1979) Banana Boy — autobiography of novelist and playwright who lived in several Barnardo's homes including Kingston.
Links
- The Barnardo's website.
- The Goldonian Website — memories and information from former Barnardo's children.
Except where indicated, this page () © Peter Higginbotham. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.
