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Ancestry UK

Norwood Children's Home / Wood Vale Short-stay and Reception Home, Norwood, Surrey

In 1930, the London County Council took over the former Lambeth School, at 32 Elder Road, West Norwood, previously run by the Lambeth Board of Guardians.

At the outbreak of the Second World War the children were evacuated to hostels at Braughing, Hertfordshire, and the home was used as a Supplies Department depot. In 1949, the premises reverted to use as a children's home but for short-stay cases. In 1950 the establishment was renamed Wood Vale. The premises could accommodate up to 204 children.

The Wood Vale site is shown on the 1960 map below.

Wood Vale Children's Home site, Norwood, c.1960.

Wood Vale Children's Home, Norwood - aerial view from the south-east

Wood Vale Children's Home, Norwood, from the south-east. © Peter Higginbotham

Wood Vale Children's Home, Norwood, main entrance. © Peter Higginbotham

Wood Vale Children's Home, Norwood, two 44-bed houses for junior boys, c.1968.

Wood Vale Children's Home, Norwood, 44-bed home for senior boys, c.1968.

Wood Vale Children's Home, Norwood, view of dining hall and rear of entrance block, c.1968

Wood Vale Children's Home, Norwood, view of dining hall and end of house, c.1968.

Wood Vale Children's Home, Norwood, view of laundry chimney, c.1968.

Wood Vale Children's Home, Norwood, dining hall interior, c.1968.

Wood Vale Children's Home, Norwood, gymnasium and cinema, c.1968.

Wood Vale Children's Home, Norwood, children's wash-room, c.1968.

Wood Vale Children's Home, Norwood, dormitory and adjoining staff room, c.1968.

Wood Vale Children's Home, Norwood, dormitory and wardrobes, c.1968.

Wood Vale Children's Home, Norwood, sports day, c.1968.

In 1964, Wood Vale was taken over by Lambeth Borough Council who erected a new building, known as South Vale, at the north of the site, on what had been the Wood Vale playing fields. Wood Vale was closed in around 1968 and subsequently demolished, with modern housing being erected on the site. The South Vale buildings have now also been replaced by housing.

Records

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Bibliography

  • None identified at present.

Acknowledgments

  • The 1968 photos of Wood Wale were very kindly donated by Peter Goodall.

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