Hollyshaw Residential Nurse, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
The Hollyshaw Residential Nursery was established by the London County Council in or around 1948 at Camden Park, Tunbridge Wells. The building had previously been used as a military hospital.
An article on the home in October, 1948, reported that:
In 1958, the superintendent as Mrs F.I.K. Winter, and in 1968, Miss J. Cosham. After 1964, the running of the home was taken over by Southwark Borough Council.
Janet Kelly (née Moran) and her brother Rob were residents of the home in the 1970s. She recalls:
There was one section of the grounds, that felt enchanted. There was a large white staircase, rolling lawn, a tree we used to swing off, frog racing in cardboard boxes, an old garden shed in the bushes, we used to pretend to get married in.
There were crab apples, cob nuts, runners and all sorts of vegetables we were unaware of. An elderly neighbour of the care home used to give us children humbugs on the way to school. We had a foster Gran, and different groups to eat in.
I remember the larder, and washing room complete with mangle. We all called it haunted, through childhood imagination.
My brother was in the dormitory upstairs, and the girls dorms were downstairs.
The garden had to be evacuated and treated for Hornets at one point. There was a small stream at the bottom of the garden, in which we used to pinch raw jelly from the larder, and sit by the stream to eat.
The superintendent, Miss Cosham was really a wonderful and committed woman, that inspired many. When Miss Cosham was off on her yearly Holiday, she sent every single child a greeting card with "To Janet, Love Miss Cosham" we felt special to actually receive mail.
Some really nice times, and other sad ones too. On balance, we were very lucky. All abuse rumours in the newspapers about Hollyshaw, were unknown to us as both children and adults.
The property has now been converted into flats.
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.
- The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU. Has various inspection reports.
Bibliography
- Higginbotham, Peter Children's Homes: A History of Institutional Care for Britain s Young (2017, Pen & Sword)
Links
- None identified at present.
Except where indicated, this page () © Peter Higginbotham. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.