Bexhill Convalescence

posted by A. Gyseman on 20 Oct 2007 at 7:48 am

I have just had the following anecdote placed in the 'Memories' section and it has been suggested to me that I also enquire here. The impression of a little boy was that the "convalescent home" was more in the nature of a hospital and I had been sent there by Hackney Hospital in London for two weeks. Any ideas would be most welcome. Thank you

"Just came across your site and memories flooded back to 1938 when as a weedy cockney boy I was sent for two weeks to a convalescent home at Bexhill. Had my 8th birthday in there, our beds out on a freezing balcony all night in late October - crazy! Often wondered where that was and if it is still there?

I remember being in a group of small boys being taken into the town, going into a sweet shop where an older lad asked for a penny packet of stationery. Me, not knowing what stationery was, asked for the same, thinking it something nice to eat, only to discover a few sheets of notepaper with envelopes - never trusted anybody since!!. "

< back to previous | Post Follow-up |

Bexhill Convalescence

posted by Hannah Fullbrook on 26 Oct 2007 at 12:30 pm

I think my great grandmother Edna Hannson went there too - but 30 years or so earlier. I have heard similar stories. Sorry I can't help you - I'm searching too! (see message: "old boarding school/ children's hospital")

Bexhill Convalescence

posted by A. Gyseman on 28 Oct 2007 at 7:05 am

Sounds very possible we on same quest! I would have thought by now that the abundance of local historians would have come to our aid but there you are...Unfortunately, being a child and so many years ago I have no conception of distances so it could have been very close to or far from the town centre. Will watch this thread with interest. Good luck.

Bexhill Convalescence

posted by A. Gyseman on 09 Dec 2007 at 10:19 am

It is now nearly TWO MONTHS since I posted my original message, expecting a deluge of replies from (mainly) older residents of Bexhill and maybe half a dozen or so local history fanatics. To my utter amazement, not a single response! The only person to send a message was a lady (Hannah Fullbrook) also on the same quest. I see, but don't understand why, she has withdrawn her enquiry completely and don't know why unless contemptuous of Bexhill's total apathy.

Convalescent Home

posted by Marcia Woolf on 10 Dec 2007 at 2:41 pm

My husband thinks the present BUPA home (on the seafront near Galley Hill) was formerly a convalesence home, but he remembers his mother staying there, so I'm not sure it was a home for children. Maybe someone at the Town Hall planning office could help, as there must have been a change of use application at some point?

Convalescent Home

posted by Jude on 22 Dec 2007 at 11:41 pm

The BUPA home on the front used to be a convalescent home for the printer's union. I think it was called the Alf Evans Convalescent Home. I believe there was a convalescent home at the top of Sea Road in the old town but I'm not sure what it was called. If you contact the Bexhill Museum they would probably be able to help you.

Not everyone in Bexhill is guilty of apathy.

Brookwood House

posted by peggy crust nee fenton on 27 Dec 2007 at 4:55 am

Brookwood House was a convalesence home for girls at st St Leonards on sea

Convalescent Home

posted by Hannah Fullbrook on 29 Dec 2007 at 10:34 pm

I don't know why my mesage was withdrawn either - certainly the enquiry is not! I've been searching for convalescent home for 3 years now, and I've not made any progress other than finding people in a similar boat. I'm only 25....you never know, I might get somewhere before I turn 50!

Answer To Your Quest

posted by Jude on 30 Dec 2007 at 10:54 pm

Having done some googling based on local knowledge, I'm pretty sure the home you're looking for was the "Little Folks Home" which was in Little Common, now since demolished. Children were sent from the Queen's Hospital, Hackney Road, Bethnal Green for up to 50 days' convalescence from 1911 to 1974. Further information can be found on the following links:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords/details.asp?id=2100&page=33

http://www.aim25.ac.uk/cgi-bin/search2?coll_id=3991&inst_id=23

Hope this answers your enquiries.

Jude

RE Bexhill Convalescent Home

posted by Dorothy on 01 Jan 2008 at 9:08 am

The home you refer to was in Old Town Bexhill at the top of Sea Road

Convalescent Home

posted by Jude on 01 Jan 2008 at 3:31 pm

That was the Metropolitan Convalescent Home which was for adults, primarily for women. It became the East Down House for the mentally handicapped in 1970. The men's section was in Cooden Sea Road.

Convalescent Home

posted by sheevee on 03 Jan 2008 at 11:10 pm

I was brought up in Bexhill in the 50s/60s and I know the large convalescent home at the top of Sea Road was for adults but there were quite a lot of smaller homes in the area. The Little Common one sounds very likely.

One of the "cures" for TB was to be left outside in all weathers on balconies but if you were only there for two weeks it wouldn't have been this.

We used to travel every year to Aylesford Priory from Bexhill and I thought it was at the other end of the country - then found as an adult it is only about 30 miles away!!

Little Folks Home Bexhill

posted by Maggie on 19 Feb 2008 at 9:35 am

I was sent to this home in the early 1950 and stayed for 2 months. I had attended the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children in Hackney Road and also too was a very weedy and under weight child. All I can remember was being shown xrays and my Mum telling me I had to go away for a while as I had a shadow on the lung. Does anybody know where to find the records for children that attended this home.

Little Folks Home

posted by chris summers on 20 Feb 2008 at 1:37 pm

Just to add to this
My mother was a carer at little folks home in the mid sixties.I remember well the care and love they gave the children.I recall they had a donkey for the kids to look after.
In later years I lived at 92 cooden sea road and could see the place from my back window.
I also recall a white owl that frequented the gardens.

Little Folks Home Bexhill

posted by Jude on 20 Feb 2008 at 3:10 pm

The links in my earlier posting will take you straight through to information as to where the records are located. Here they are again just in case:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords/details.asp?id=2100&page=33

http://www.aim25.ac.uk/cgi-bin/search2?coll_id=3991&inst_id=23

Jude

Little Folks Home Bexhill

posted by Nicky on 20 Mar 2008 at 9:31 pm

I too am trying to find out more about this convalesance home. I have very recently found out that my mother was sent here in the early 1950's due to loss of weight and becoming extremely being thin and weak. Unfortunately, I cannot find out what her condition was and whether or not children with the same illness were sent here? My mother is no longer alive and her illness was never discussed by my late Grandparents with her sisters, therefore this is a great mystery! My Aunt can only remember being allowed to visit every Sunday. I have tried the archive records but this is so complicated!

Little Folks Home

posted by Margaret Candland on 03 Jun 2008 at 1:25 am

I could hardly believe my eyes when I found these messages regarding a convalescent home for children in Bexhill. For years I have wondered about that time of my life when I spent a few weeks there around 1950. I remember a similar situation as the first writer, A. Gyseman, whereby children's beds (both girls and boys) were lined up facing glass doors which were often open to the elements and there would be wind and rain pouring into the area. I also remember one night in particular when one of the girls in the bed next to me got up wrapped herself in a white bed sheet and ran out through the open doors into the night towards the sea. That caused quite a fuss as you can imagine. I also remember nurses piling children in prams (even though most of us were too old for that) and going for a walk around the nearby country lanes. Hope to revisit the area one of these days.

Alf Evans Convalescent Home

posted by Nicola Stubbs on 15 Jun 2008 at 7:12 pm

I remember many wonderful weekends visiting my relatives Chubby & Lou Treasurer (Lou was the matron there for many years, and Chubby used to pick up the patients at the railroad station)

It was indeed owned by the printers union and served as a convalescent hospital for employees of the printers union who were recovering from surgical or hospital visits.

The accomodation was like a first class hotel and the food was fantastic! especially to a student (from the USA) working in London

Little Folks Home, Little Common

posted by J Branscombe on 07 Jul 2008 at 9:51 am

My partners nan use to work at the Little folks home which was based in Little common it was behind what is now Little common doctors surgery. My partner rembers going there for christmas on many occasion in the sixties/seventies. think the building was demolished in late seventies early eighties.

Little Folks Home

posted by R Blackwell on 11 Jul 2008 at 8:17 am

I have not been resident in Bexhill for many years but I may be able to help out here. I believe the convalescent home for children that you refer to was the Little folks Home in Little Common, just outside Bexhill. It was on Cooden Sea Road and has now been demolished and the whole site re developed. My Grandfather was Handyman & Gardener there and my Grandmother was part of the housekeeping staff. They lived in the lodge at the end of the drive. I only ever went into the building a few times to visist and have no real memories of the place. The time I am refering to would be the late sixties.

Convent In The 1950's

posted by Jenni van der Schoot on 23 Jul 2008 at 8:47 pm

I was looked after by some nuns while my mother in London was ill in the early 1950's. Can anyone tell me where this may have been? Ilive in New Zealand but am visiting England at the moment and may have a chance to come and find this place- if it still exists. Thank you if you can help me..

Metropolitan Convalescent Home, Cooden

posted by Brenda Callaghan on 01 Aug 2008 at 8:19 pm

I found this site while browsing Rother Council. I am researching family history and remember being told by my Mother I was born in a mens nursing home, Bexhill on Sea. She was evacuated along with other expectant mums. My birth cert. says Cooden. Birth date 09/09/1939. Could anyone tell me if this building still exists? A day trip to take photos would be pleasurable.

Little Folks Home

posted by ann redmond on 10 Aug 2008 at 10:36 pm

i am very interested in finding out more aboout the home"little folk" as i like maggie&margaret was sent there in the eary 50s too,i wasnt told very much about why i was sent there my mother being a nurse told me it was a lovely place.i would like to hear from anyoe who spent any time there and what was wrong with them,was it a TB hospital? i too remember being put out on a balconey. i was told i had whooping cough& phenmonia .thanks ann

Hospital/convalescent Home

posted by valerie on 31 Aug 2008 at 8:25 pm

does any one know if the building called oceana along the seafront between the sovereign cafe and de la ware pavillion was a hospital or convalescent home? it is quite a grand building which has been turned into flats it is in the ideal position thanks

Little Folks Home

posted by Margaret Weeks (nee Orme) on 04 Sept 2008 at 5:21 pm

I was a trainee nurse at Little Folks Home from January to September 1961 and vividly remember the building, grounds, staff and many of the children who were "collected" each Thursday from The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in London and escorted by train to Cooden Beach and then mini-bus to Little Common. Trainee nurses were employed at Little Folks for up to a year until they were 18 and then we went to the main Hospital in Hackney Road or at Shadwell in East London (having first spent three months in the probationer nursing school at Banstead in Surrey).

Little Folks Home

posted by lorraine mcdonagh on 12 Sept 2008 at 4:27 pm

Fond memories of this place - would love to swap. Was there many times 1962 -1971 ie jenny the donkey ! the beach walks wellie boots the boot room ! schooling in the play room mid night talks then pretend to be asleep.

Little Folks Home

posted by Lorraine MCDONAGH (Nee Moore) on 15 Sept 2008 at 8:10 am

been thinking about it since first message ! so much floods back to you any one remember the milk shakes the hot chocolate drinks the hill behind with those steep steps well they seemed steep then.The play area up in the forest the dens we used to make thinking no other kid had made them before us!the weekly nit comb sessions with the mauve solution! the little chairs and tables in the entrance hall for the seven dawalfs. i was asthmatic known as wheezy anna then went on to become a nurse still working at it but often think of the happy times at the home any one else recall these same memories

Little Folks Home

posted by Margaret Weeks on 18 Sept 2008 at 9:49 pm

The younger childrens "wards" were built in an extension to the main house (with accommodation for six trainees above) The youngest babies and toddlers were in Near Carmichael and the 3 - 5 year olds in Far Carmicheal (Don't know who Carmichael was!) It was a real challenge to bath each child and get them all into their cots at bedtime -there were six in each ward. Only one of us was assigned to each ward - we also had to give them their suppers! Then we had to sort out their clean clothes for the next day - all their clothes were supplied for them whilst they were at Little Folks - the laundry there was kept very busy. All the clothes were sorted into sizes and stored on shelves in the Boot Room - this was also the room where all the children were got ready for the essential daily walk or to go up to play on the Hill in the afternoon, all sizes of wellington boots were kept there too! There was also a schoolroom for the older children, they had to have their walk (usually down to the beach) before school - the younger ones were taken out later in a variety of prams and pushchairs - it was a long walk for some litttle feet as no way were we allowed to bring the children back before lunchtime!

War Convalesence

posted by Jacqui Const on 28 Sept 2008 at 5:56 pm

Does anyone know of a place that would have looked after soldiers returning from WW1 to recouperate in Bexhill

Little Folks Home Bexhill

posted by teresa timmins on 15 Oct 2008 at 4:54 pm

i worked as a very young nurse at the above home about 1950 i was then teresa tomlin. Anyone who worked there about that time still about?

Russell & Lennox

posted by Larry Boyd on 26 Oct 2008 at 11:00 pm

Hello. I'm doing some genealogy on the family tree and have a couple of questions. Does anyone know of an Ida Kathleen Russell, b1906 daughter of Louis Russell? She married an Albert Mitchell Lennox in 1927 and they had 3 daughters, two were born in Bexhill, Nina Kathleen in 1929 and Jane Elizabeth in 1932.

Sincerest regards. Larry Boyd

Bexhill Convalescent Home

posted by Rob Smith on 23 Dec 2008 at 3:20 am

In the 1901 Census a 10 year old relative of mine William Pipe (born Deptford c1891) was living at a convalescent home at 27 Wilton Rd, Bexhill. The Superintendant was Mary Wailes. In all there were 5 children aged 6 to 11 boarding there.
Regards,
Rob Smith

Little Folks.

posted by Julia O'Loghlen on 11 Jan 2009 at 7:42 pm

I was sent to Little Folks from Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children, around 1945 it was and still is the my happiest memory.Matron used to make little rounds of chocolate and put one on each of our pillows, I was there the whole Summer and the last to leave as no one came to collect me.Does anyone remember the afternoon naps in the garden under the tree? Matrons name was Hook,and the nurses name was Greensmith and Smith.

Sorry To Butt In

posted by andrea maria head on 21 Jan 2009 at 6:43 pm

i stumbled on this site while tring to look for info on the actual bexhill hospital. in 1935 a little 8yr old boy called venn, was run over by a heavy goods lorry on station rd, he died later that day in the hospital, he would have become my uncle. i was told that he had a bed dedicated to him in the hospital and i am interested in finding out anything about it really. i have read the news paper articles of the time, i wonder if any of you that are maybe a little older remember, i named my first born son after him and i'm just drawn some how, he would be 82 by now may be some one out there was his little mate ron. thanx andrea x

The Little Folks Home

posted by Dave Edwards on 23 Jan 2009 at 8:49 pm

Hi,
I spent a very happy 4 weeks at the Little Folks Home in Bexhill in May 1958. I remember a few names of the nurses and the youngsters who were with me at the time. I also have about a dozen photos which i took too. If anyone was there at that time and you are interested in sahring a few memories please let me know. I can also email you a photo or two.

Little Folks Home

posted by dave on 24 Jan 2009 at 4:10 am

My mother worked with Mrs Blackwell at the little folks home,her name was Dorothy Montgomery,I have some of my earliest memories of the lodge, the garden was full of Gnomes,I now collect Gnomes maybe there is a conection,I also remember the donkey I have a photo somewhere of me sitting on the donkey with my Dad,There were apple trees in the lodge garden and I believe there are 2 still standing in the garden of a bungalow built on the site.This is certainly an interesting step back in time for me.

Nanny Blackwell Little Folks Home

posted by Mrs Fiona Green (nee carr) on 24 Jan 2009 at 7:12 pm

my brother, david carr, told me about this site and he lives in canada! when we were growing up, my mum, dorothy carr (nee montgomery) was very good friends with the lady that we called 'nanny blackwell'. she lived at the little folks home lodge and was the caretaker, with her husband, of the home. i have several photo's of myself and my brother on the 'donkey' and i remember the many 'gnomes' in the garden very well. i think i have a couple of photo's of richard blackwell and his brother, taken in the gardens of the bexhill park, around the lido. we used to sail our boats on the pond and feed the ducks.

For Dave Edwards

posted by dave on 25 Jan 2009 at 6:36 pm

Hi dave I now live in canada and would be very interested in any photos you may have.my email address is joebloggs115AThotmail.com (replace the AT with @).
I have a few photos of the lodge and the donkey but not much else.fond memories indeed.bye for now.

Little Folks Home - Memories.

posted by Dave Edwards on 26 Jan 2009 at 7:09 pm

Further to my earlier message, I have now had a chance to look at my photos from 1958 which jogged the old memory. I remember that the LFH was at the top of (or a good way up) a hill which we used to walk down to visit the beach. When we got to the beach we all did some breathing exercises, taking deap breaths of the clean fresh sea air, as opposed to the dirty smoggy air of the East End ! Then it was back up the hill to the LFH. I remember Nurse Coates and the really lovely Matron (can't remember her name)who had a dog. She would not have her picture taken but gave me a photo of herself and her dog as a keepsake. Then there was the school (which you can see in my photos) where we lightly continued our education and the grounds at the back where we all took off and played. Great times ! The only other lad I can remember who shared our dormatory was Melvyn Meed from Hackney. Anyone wanting a copy of my photos let me know, you might be able to fill in a few of my missing memories. email davefedwardsATaol.com (replace AT with @)

Chest

posted by Julia O'Loghlen on 11 Feb 2009 at 10:25 am

Hello Ann It was a place for little children that were recovering from chest complaints, which would include TB. phenmonia, Julia.

Little Foks Home

posted by Jo Cobern on 21 Feb 2009 at 10:51 pm

I was sent to LFH after being in Queen Elizabeth Hospital ( closed 1990)in 1957 with suffering having an ear operation. My memories were not very happy ones due to being homesick and being picked on by other girls. I was a redhead with freckles! I broke a thermometer as I was so upset. I was hoping to go home after spending 3 weeks there and ended up contracting german measles and stayed a total of 7 weeks. My dad used to come down and see me once a week and used to take me to the pebble beach.

Little Folks Home, Bexhill

posted by Denise Ferry on 25 Feb 2009 at 11:01 am

I remember being sent to the Little Folks Home from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to convalesce after having rheumatic fever. It was around 1965. I recall a young boy who learned to walk again while I was there, and everyone cheering. I very much enjoyed my stay there - everyone was so nice. The only name I remember was a Nurse Hazel, who was lovely. My worst memory was when everyone's parents came to see them and mine didn't turn up. Apparently my mum missed her stop! (She eventually turned up very late that evening!) I have often searched the web for photos of the home and people, but have found none. It's lovely to read all your memories.

Open-air School In Bexhill.

posted by Norman Backman on 12 Mar 2009 at 3:20 pm

In the early 1950's at the age of 7 or 8 I was sent from London(Cricklewood) to Bexhill for a period of 6 months to "gain weight and better well being". I can remember 2 of the nurses being Miss Hart and Miss Bignal, and of course Matron- a very kindly soft spoken lady. We were about 20 boys in all and would spend time in the grounds playing and collecting acorns to be given as food to pigs kept elsewhere. I can also remember walking to the beach and being coaxed to run down the pebbles in bare feet to the waters edge.Also I remember falling over in the courtyard and getting pebble stones in my knee which the nurses removed and bandaged me up(I still have the scars at 64 years)!! I can remember my Mum and Dad visiting every other weekend or so it seemed. My Mum always called it "The Old Manor". Can anyone enlighten me as to where this may be situated.We use to have afternoon sleeps on the floor downstairs as well as play time in the same room when it was wet outside.Another new boy and I were thought to be brothers by the staff as we were so alike, his name was Brian Mills and came from Finchley I think.

Little Folks Home

posted by m barnett on 13 Mar 2009 at 12:11 pm

my husband was in the little folks home he was sent there because his mother was having a baby he caught mumps while he was there and had to stay longer we went back to find it is now a block of flats went to the local museum and found information also bought a book bexhillon sea a history and found a picture on page 90it was a great day out and good to to go back in time.

Ms

posted by Catherine Goad on 14 Jun 2009 at 10:13 am

I too was sent to a convalescent home in Bexhill for two weeks. I was sent from the Childrens Hospital in Hackney. I have vague memories of it as I was only 5 or 6 yrs old. The memories keep flooding back to me of late and I would like to find out more about the place. I remember on arrival I was given knitted clothing to put on, the grey blanket on the bed and feeling so cold at night. My memories are not good ones and I would like to hear from anyone that went there in and around 1960.

Ms

posted by catherine Goad on 14 Jun 2009 at 10:42 am

It was great to find this page and read all your memories, I have been searching google for a long time looking for the old place in the hope it would jog some memories. I have sad memories of leaving my mother on the kerbside outside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital remembering the bus pulling away. I remember my mum and dad coming to visit and going outside to see the donkey, there was an old apple tree and I tried to pick one to feed the donkey. I can not recall how long I was there but think it might have only been two weeks. I wonder where all the old records are kept and if we could have access to them. I was sorry to read the Little Folks Home has been demolished as I had planned to go there this summer to see the old place. My email address is catherine.goad@hotmail.com I was there in 1961 or there abouts.

Little Folks Home

posted by Jude on 15 Jun 2009 at 5:21 pm

Hi Catherine,

The records are in the following archives but I believe they are still closed as they were only submitted c1975.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords/details.asp?id=2100&page=33

http://www.aim25.ac.uk/cgi-bin/search2?coll_id=3991&inst_id=23

It may be worth contact the National Archives to find out when they're likely to open them.

Jude

St. Heliers

posted by Catherine on 26 Jun 2009 at 3:44 pm

Would anyone happen to know if a woman's convalescent home would have been named or been at an address "St. Helier/ St. Heliers"?

I am trying to trace a woman's stay at Bexhill in 1884. The address she gives is

St. Helier/s
Bexhill Sussex
April 1884

She is Madleine Leigh Noel and the subject of my thesis. I suspect that she was in Bexhill to convalesce; but, I am having no luck in finding what connection St. Heliers has with anything in Bexhill.

Any information would be gratefully appreciated!

Catherine

Little Follks

posted by Michael Moore on 10 Aug 2009 at 9:03 pm

I was begining to think i'd imagined the place as i could find hardly any infomation I stayed there on 2 occasions in the early 70's as did my sisters ... i have memories of being collected at the hospital in Hackney and the train journey to Bexhill being met at the other end by the van and the trip to the home ... other memories are having to exercise in the mornings and climbing those steps up the hill to the forest which seemed vast, walks to the beach, a trip to saturday morning picturs and my 1st taste of lemon curd sandwiches for supper lol ... i think on my last visit a nurse said it had been sold to a nursing home for the elderly although i may not be exactly correct in my recollection shame its no longer there i would have liked to have taken my kids down to Bexhill to see it

Convalescent Home In Cooden Drive

posted by Mike on 11 Sept 2009 at 6:28 pm

Apprommately in 1950, aged about 7-8, I spent 6 weeks in Great Ormond Street Hospital with Polio. When I recovered, they sent me to a place in Tadworth, Surrey but, for some reason, I didn't like the place.

After a couple of weeks' at Tadworth, I was transferred to a place in Cooden Drive, Bexhill, where I spent quite a few months.
I've never gone back since, but have always wondered if the place still exists after all this time.

Little Folks Convalescent Home

posted by Peter King on 14 Sept 2009 at 5:50 pm

I've been trying to locate the Convalescent Home I was sent to in the early 1950's after contracting & recovering from Yellow Jaundice, when I was about 7years old.
Is there any register available that could confirm 100% whether this was the Home I was sent to?
My stay was very pleasant, but my lasting memory was the other kids in the room crying at night because they wanted to go home.
As I'd never been on holiday I hoped when they checked me over, before discharging me for home, that they would find me unfit to leave, as I enjoyed it there so much.

Convalscent Home

posted by Chris Sheen on 08 Oct 2009 at 11:02 pm

I was trying to track down a convalescent home that my dad was sent to in 1963 aged 6. Dad was sent to recover from pneumonia and put on a train in Hereford on his own and met by a nun somewhere in cornwall. He doesnt remember the name of the place only that it was in cornwall, has a sea view and white railings, run by nuns and was made to eat porridge!! Is Bexhill the place he could have been??

Little Folks Home

posted by Chris Clarke on 28 Oct 2009 at 1:22 pm

My husband spent some time in LFH when he was a small child. I have been trying to locate any photos. He was there in the early 60's

Bexhill 1941

posted by Kenneth Stevens on 01 Nov 2009 at 8:25 pm

Greetings One and all,
In the Autuum of 1941 I was in the army (Middlesex Regiment) and was stationed in Bexhill in a very modern and comforable building. I have to say that I was the only one on duty there during the daytime (because I ran the Company Office) because the rest of the company marched every day to Battle in Sussex to do their Battle Course
(that's not a pun ! ). Consequently during the three months we were there I never saw the rest of Bexhill in daylight.

We were told that the building we were in was a Convent in peacetime. I hope to be visting Bexhill in the summer next year and would like to visit it. Can anyone identfy it for me. There was a long brick wall adjacent to the pavement with a large entrance to the driveway that went up a steep slope the inside of the wall to the "Convent" with the long front of the convent at the top.
That's about all I can describe - if anyone thinks they recognise it please email me at kayjay@clara.co.uk
If you can give me the name of the road I can very likely locate it up on the Google "Road by Road" picture map.

I will be very grateful if you can help

Ken Stevens

Little Folks Home

posted by Brian Wyatt on 11 Nov 2009 at 8:02 pm

Over the past few weeks I have been on a memory trip of my life,so far,
I moveed to Little Common in 1946 from Essex.
My dad was a chauffer and when his boss moved we came with them.
I lived in "The Common" till 1958 when I moved to Bexhill, but still kept in touch with the village.
I have collected many stories and photos of Little Common.
I am still in touch with Mrs Blackwell's son David
Dave, or as whe know him "INKY BLACKWELL" has given me a few photos of Little Folks Home, including the demolition which I have scanned onto my PC.
Inky doesn't have a PC but has agreed for me to send copies to anyone who requests them.
He tells me that The Matron's name was MIDDLEMASS and the sister was BRIDGELAND.
Quite a few of the village lads whent out with nurses from the home and I recall at least two ended in marraige
If anyone has any queries on the home or surrounding area just e-mail me and between Inky,myself, and other "locals" we will try our best to give you some answers
Inky's mum had a passion for clocks and her house was full of them
This must have rubbed off on Inky as he is now a specialist clock repairer and restorer.
He has also got a large collection of motorbikes with currently 7 actaully on the
road.
Brian
e-mail brian.wyatt@sky.com

Little Folks Home - Records

posted by Dave Edwards on 22 Nov 2009 at 2:55 pm

I thought that some of you may be interested to know that I recently wrote to the trustees of the QE Children's Hospital where I stayed in approx 1958 to see if there were any records. It turns out that there are. Upon proving my identity they advised me when and why (my illness) I was transferred to the LFH at Bexhill. The trustees were very helpful as i had never known exactly what was wrong wth me all those year ago. Dave. davefedwards@aol.com

Childrens Care Centre

posted by ken Lines on 23 Nov 2009 at 4:26 am

In 1945-46 I was in a convalescence home for children somewhere in Bexhill. I remember it with some affection and wonder if anyone remembers where this place is/was. The only thing I can remember was that it was on a hill, near a small wood, where we used to pick flowers in the spring. There were at least two Swiss nurses, who took us for walks down to the beech and around Bexhill. The assistant matron used to drive an Austin 7 car, which we kids thought was pretty cool. I remember there were large grounds surrounding the Tudor-style building.

Since first sending the above, I have discovered that the mane of the home may have been Collington-Manor

Message For Ken Lines

posted by BRIAN WYATT on 23 Nov 2009 at 2:19 pm

Hi Ken,
If it was Collington Manor .
This large house stood at The junction of Collington Lane,Cranston Avenue and Walton Park. Long time demolished, short walk to Collington Woods and a bit further on to The beach at West Parade.
Collington Woods was totaly flattened in the Hurricane of October 1987.
Has now recovered, but will take many years to recover to it's original state.

Brian Wyatt

Thanks For The Info. Brian

posted by ken Lines on 07 Dec 2009 at 6:40 am

Well, there you go. I didn't even know there had been a Hurricane. I have lived in Australia for the last 40 years, but my war years in U.K. are still fresh in my mind. I probably was not too home sick during my stay at Collimgton because I had already been evacuated prior, to Cornwall, and had been well treated there. At the moment here in Australia our Government have made a public apology to all the kids that were forced to emigrate to Australia just after the war (no mention of compensation, yet), apparently, there were thousands. ken Lines

CHILDRENS HOME 1901-1951

posted by mrs sue dover on 07 Dec 2009 at 4:12 pm

Hello, Ihave just come back to Wimbledon from Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex. My husband and I went to see friends who had just moved to Bexhill. As I like to know a little about the places we stay in or visit, I was asking the man who ran the bed and breakfast that we stayed in how old the house was. He [his name was Andy and he and his family were now the owners of the very large property for the last four years] told us that the house was built in 1901 and has not been altered since, it was built as a childrens home and stayed as such until the early 1950s, when it then became a hotel, until the 1980 and is now a B&B. Because I was interested in the little bit of history he gave us, once home I decided to see if I could find out more about this house and came upon this site so I thought I would write it down I case it was relevent to anyone out there, good luck with your searches, by the way the name of the B&B is PARK LODGE, 16 Egerton road, Bexhill on sea and it is a stones throw from the sea. I would if possable like to here from anyone who finds this interesting, Thank you, I will now contine you my own search.

Open Air School In Bexhill

posted by Bob Webb on 19 Dec 2009 at 9:26 pm

I lived in Twickenham and was sent to an open air school in Bexhill (I think it was for boys only) in about 1949/1950 and I stayed for quite a few months, I remember being there for guy fawkes night and going home for the christmas holidays and then coming back and definitely staying until the summer holidays.

It was a large country house on the outskirts of Bexhill and I vividly remember the grounds and the large barn. The school also had a beach hut at the sea-front, which was within walking distance of the home and we would go there a couple of times a week.

We spent half the day doing school work and the other half playing in the open air but sometimes in the barn if the weather was particularly bad and on really bad days staying in the house.

I've been trying to find out more about it off and on for some years.

LFH Circa 1945 - 50

posted by Doorothy (nee' Carter) on 20 Dec 2009 at 5:08 pm

was recovering from heart/lingprobs trains wset on strike so ran awat as though the gr0wn ups were lying and wan5ed my mum. was there with a lad called david, a girl called maureen - from the same part of london. a darling bedridden girl (also Maureen?) lovely matron and a staff nurse from h... who couldn't get the idea of kidney problems into her noddle with all the nastiness that can mean. We had a lovely boy there called peter and a really lovely techer called Miss Hazel - our choolroom was at the end of the 'ssmall' garden. thete was also a lovely lad graham who's parents took me home when i refused to promise not to run away again. thegardner promised to send me som chickc and bunnies, but there was a big fire at paddington so either he didn't send them or the fire got the poor things. i remember the beach -some pools of quicksand and winter mixtures or fruit crunches being given to us on the beach - would love photos etc if anyone remembers me etc.,

Where Is It

posted by vivien mary plumridge on 13 Jan 2010 at 2:06 pm

i was a nurse round 67 at little folks home. where are the other nurses of that time. where is the house itself. it had some beautiful antiquities in the house, and i loved living in it. i went looking for it two years ago and cdnt find it. i have some lovely memories of that time and of the lovely children, i have many tales to tell. hope i can talk to you one day. i was nurse bush.

Little Folks Home

posted by Elaine Seal on 06 Apr 2010 at 4:29 pm

I believe I stayed at this children's convalescent home in Bexhill on Sea on three different occasions (some time between 1961 -1965), after recovering from minor operations at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hackney Road, London. I remember being in a dormatory - and having hot cocoa/chocolate and a bun just before bed time. I believe I attended the school room for some time (much to my horror) on the last ocassion. I also remember the donkey Jenny and have a photo taken with her standing behind me. I hated the lemon curd sandwiches and didn't really like the banana and sugar ones either! I remember the wellie boots and the long walk through the woods and the steep steps which I think led to the beach. I remember one nurse cut my lovely blonde hair, never knew why - (probably had nits). I recall one nurse wrote to me when I returned home, but I don't think my mum would have wrote or encouraged me to write back to her. What a shame, I remember her being very kind to me. I also remeber the nursery where the todlers and babies slept - It still haunts me that I was made to sleep there with my younger sister who wouldn't settle at night because she missed mum.

Convalescing In Bexhill

posted by Peter King on 17 Apr 2010 at 12:00 pm

I too was sent to a convalecent home by Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hackney Road., circa 1950+, as part of my recovery from Yellow Jaundice illness.
I could not exactly remember where the home was, but on enquiring with the NHS recently, I'm assured it would have been the Little Folks Home in Bexhill, from the National Archives Hospital Records Database. They gave me the address as Little Folks Home, Little Common, Bexhill on Sea. The info. says it closed circa 1975. I gather the site is behind Little Common Doctors Surgery.
There's not too much that I remember of my time there, other than the fact I thoroughly enjoyed it and did not want to leave for home. I recall we were checked over to see how we had recovered and hoped at the time that I would not have recovered sufficiently and perhaps have the chance to stay longer, but unfortunately that wasn't to be.
I recall when first arriving, there were a lot of kids crying in the ward/dormitory during the night that they wanted to go home. For some reason I wasn't one of them!
I don't think the weather was too good during my stay but recall we still went to the beach and built sandcastles.
I'm not sure if my memeory serves me right but I do seem to recall being taken out shopping, to Woolworths on the last day, to buy a present to take home, with the pocket money we had been allowed to bring with us.
Happy days!
Peter King

Home

posted by Eric Phillips on 30 Apr 2010 at 8:50 am

can any one remember the Little Folks Home in Bexhill-on-Sea back in 1956, i was 12 years old i can only remember two people at that time, nures Handcock and Sister Morris who at the time broke her arm. if you do remember please contaked me, i have been back but time did not stand still and its gone.

Eric

Home

posted by Eric Phillips on 04 May 2010 at 3:47 pm

I would like to thank all of the above for your help and giving me a look back into my child-hood, Dave Edwards if it is possible to send my any photo they would bring back old memories, Hi vivien I believe, there was some chair on the hill to sit on, i do remember the sir name of Mis Bush i also know that Sister that was at the home did have a broken arm and gave me a knock on the back of my head once, I think i did deserved it at the time.

can anyone remembered the bathroom looking out onto the back garden with the view of the hill. I was only 12 years old.
ps not very good at writing but hope this helps you all.

Little Folk's

posted by Sue Curtis on 23 Jun 2010 at 8:03 pm

Hi, I stumbled onto this site after reading a book which I loved in my childhood and still have many years later. In the books are many pictures of children at the Convalesence home at Bexhill. I would love to know more about the home. My books date from the early 1900's.

1937 In Little Folks Childrens Home

posted by Ann Ballard on 10 Jul 2010 at 9:50 pm

I was in the Little Folks Childrens Home in Bexhill in 1937. I was there from mid March. I was sent there from Queens Mary's Hospital in London (Hackney) after surgery on my ear. I was due to be there for 3 weeks but diptheria broke out and everybody had to have throat swobs taken and we were isolated for 3 weeks. I spent 4 months in all there because of the diptheria outbreaks. My memories were far from good including a young coloured boy, about my age, who was bullied terribly. However, I do not want to go into too much detail as of now. But if there is anybody reading this who was there during that period I would like to be able to communicate with them as I have many other stories.

Little Folks Home 1968

posted by Anne Dyos (Stewart) on 07 Aug 2010 at 4:44 pm

I was fortunate to work at the Little Folks Home in Little Common. There were 6 of us girls, all aged about 17 and it was basically a pre-nursing course. I remember being met at the train station by Matron Middlemass and being driven to the home. The entrance hall had teddys and dolls sitting in little chairs and the overall atmosphere was homely. Two nursing sisters, a couple of auxillary nurses and the six of us 'nurses' along with Mr & Mrs Blackwell and Matron looked after the children. We had one and a half days off a week but Matron encouraged us to save the days off so that we could go home once a month. The children mainly came from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children in Hackney Road. Matron & Sister Bridgeland knitted for the children - does anyone remember those cute knitted pleated skirts? We washed the socks at bedtime and put them on radiators to dry and they had to be folded a certain way-I still flatten the heel and fold them the way I was shown! I loved my time at Little Folks Home and I have fond memories of taking groups of children to the beach, playing on the hill and feeding Jinny the donkey. Nurses Champness,Needham,Burdge,Amos, Redford where are you? I would love to hear from anyone who was there with me.

Brackendene, Woodham Rise, Horsell Near Woking.

posted by B OUTLAW on 22 Aug 2010 at 1:40 pm

HAS ANY ONE GOT INFORMATION ON THIS CONVERLESANT HOME
IT WAS TRANSFER D TO THIS PLACE AS A WORE TIME
IE 1939 45 WAR FROM BEXHILL

Little Folks Ward

posted by Dave Edwards on 25 Aug 2010 at 4:49 pm

Hi folks, I'm still researching my time at the Hackney Road Childrens Hospital and then my stay at the Little Folks Home in Bexhill (see my previous postings above). I now have a copy of my admittance record (reason for treatment etc).
My wife and I went to the Museum of London recently and whilst looking through the modern history section we spotted a photograph of the ward in the QE Cildren's Hospital in Hackney Road where I (and probably a lot of you) were treated (me in 1958). Can you believe it ? It was called 'The Little Folks Ward'. The photo was of an older period but it brought back memories. I can't believe that there is so much stuff still around just waiting to be spotted. It's a shame that the Home in Bexhill is no more though, as I would love to have had another look at it. I have some photos of my stay in 1958 if anyone else was there at that time. The matron with her dog, Nurse Coates etc. Let me know. Regards to all Dave Edwards.

Little Folks Home - Photos

posted by Dave Edwards on 25 Aug 2010 at 4:58 pm

Reading back over some old postings I see that some of you wanted a copy of my photos. I don't know know your email addresses so if you want to contact me directly, you are welcome. davefedwards@aol.com My time was May 1st to May 29th 1958.
Regards, Dave Edwards.

Bexhill Convalescent Home

posted by Robin Miller on 20 Sept 2010 at 9:35 pm

My mother (b.1928) was at the children's convalescent home in Bexhill in the 1930s. She lived in Greenford in Middlesex at the time, but has no memory of how she came to be at the home. Sometime in the mid 1960s, when I was very young, I remember passing through the area and we stopped outside the home to have a look, so the building was still there then.

Memories Of Early 1950's

posted by Brenda Collinge on 19 Oct 2010 at 11:27 am

I can remember being sent to a children's convalescencence home in Bexhill, Cooden Lane I believe. I was sent there following operations for a mastoid probably in 1950 or thereabouts for a couple of months. I was a cockney girl and spent a year in Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children, Hackney Road prior to the visit to Bexhill. My memories are not very happy because I missed my parents and my brother and they were only allowed to visit every other Sunday (or perhaps that's all they could afford). I can remember that we had some horrible tastless white boiled fish with potato on a Thursday and I hated it. I can also remember being issued a bundle of clean clothes (perhaps once a week), which more often than not were the incorrect size. The only other thing I remember was that the beach had pebbles and we used to go for walks. Must have done me good though because I'm still around at 66. Does anyone else have similar memories? Brenda from Farnborough in Hampshire.

Princess Patricia's Red Cross Hospital

posted by Cathy on 03 Nov 2010 at 8:39 pm

I have an old postcard that my Grandmother sent to my Grandfather - addressed to Princess Patricia Red Cross Hospital, Bexhill on Sea. He was there druing WWI (from Canada) convalescing from a gunshot wound. I'm trying to find out more about where exactly it was/is? Thanks.

TB OR NOT TB

posted by Peter Abbott on 10 Nov 2010 at 11:19 pm

My wife spent quite a long time here when she contracted TB she was only five , but she still remembers being pushed out side in her bed to breath the fresh air, she had other brothers and sisters at home who all tho they had not got TB were treated as if they were infected , by there friends and friends parents ,its was quite a big thing in them days , and it was only a few years after they had found a way to cure it .
Prior to that you would die of it, a sad thing she told me that after she had been released and clear of TB she went home ,and went to play with a neighbours child in there house un be known to the childs parents , when the parent came back and saw her the mother pushed her out into the street and said I dont want s you spreading your TB in my house, she was six and when she tells me I can see her start to well up,even now she is 64, she went home and asked her dad I dont have TB any more do I?? so sad.

CONVELESCENCE AT LITTLE FOLKS HOME 1959-1961

posted by Melvin Rose on 15 Nov 2010 at 1:18 pm

Having come across this site, which like many have for many years been looking for the convelescence home which I stayed as a child, have no idea of the actual year other than it was between 1959 -1961 sometime, after reading all the memories provided, I rember the Donkey which I recall was on the front lawn when my parents took me there, which I spent 2/3 weeks not sure if any one can rember I was on crtches and was unable to walk to the beach, however I was always allowed to go first up the stairs to the forrest grass area which I recall there was some swing or play area. I always helped with getting the breakfast dishes and cuttlery ready in the morning and rember a fish tank with tropical fish?? when every body went to the beach I sat in a conservatory area and allowed to play with lego type bricks, also attended the school, and rembere they had an old punch & judy tent and some puppets, which I remember as a 10/11 year old put on a little performance having seen it at the seaside.
It was most refreshing to read all the old memoryies of this place, when I first arrived stayed in a dorm with another boy who had very badly scred legs and was having skin crafts, which once he left I was moved into the main dorm and recall a little girl that I spent hours talking too but she was very poorly, have no recolection of any names but must confess some the discriptions of the nurses and matron sound very familiar.
If any of you were there during this time my name is Melvin Rose ( but may have been known as Dennis which is my first name but have always been known as Melvin) if any of you have any photos of the Little Folks home would love to receive them on my e.mail melvin.rose@blueyonder.co.uk or if you rember me would be nice to hear from you.
The problem I had which was ostomolitis which is now all sorted however have now other health issues, have undergone a triple heart transplant in the past 8 years and now have scirosis of liver (not through drink as I/m a T totaler) and also diebetic, but still working and enjoying a full life which I hope will also find everybody or anybody who will remember me during my short stay at Little Folks Home.

Home to hear from anybody soon

Yours Appreciated
Melvin Rose

Collington

posted by Norman Backman on 22 Nov 2010 at 11:45 am

Following on from my email of March 2009, I am now in possession of a photograph of 14 "Little Urchins"-some smiling,some aprehensive (me),on the back of the photo my mother has written "Collington Manor-Bexhill 1952". So there we have it!! It certainly was Collington Manor. Is there anyone else out there who remembers their time there in 1952? My "Twin"-Brian Mills actually came from Finsbury Park and his mum's name was Elsie. Where is he now? Looking at the photo I cannot remember any of the other lads, but as Brian only lived a bus ride away from us at home in Cricklewwod we visited them once or twice when we returned home. Then in 1953/4 we moved to Ruislip and presumedly lost contact.

Little Folks Home Mid 1960's

posted by Caroline on 23 Nov 2010 at 9:39 am

I was there for a couple of months in the mid 60's - I was around 8 and had been ill and in and out of hospital for around 6 months (Fulham Hospital in London - no longer around) and was sent to LFH by Hospital and GP. I remember my parents taking me to Victoria Station and was on train with other children and nurse or nurses.

I remember being examined by a Doctor on arrival - one of my more recent illnesses had been a ruptured appendix and the doctor removed some stitches that the hospital had left in!!

Recall that there was a hut/portacabin type structure in the garden where we used to go and have school lessons.

Remember when it was time for me to go home, that I was helped to pack up my belongings by a nurse but not allowed to say goodbye to any of the other children.

At various times I have wondered whether because of that, that perhaps other children stayed there more permanently and maybe it was a childrens home. This info board is fabulous because it has given me some knowledge that I haven't had before.

Have given my email address and if Dave Edwards reads this would appreciate some photos as his stay there seems to be closest, in time, to mine.

Have no memory of family visiting - money and distance being the problem I suspect but I do remember sitting in the hallway and they walked past me when they arrived - I had improved so much they simply didn't recognise me. A wonderful testimony really for The Little Folks Home.

LFH In The 50s

posted by John Cole on 01 Dec 2010 at 6:28 am

I was sent to the LFH for six weeks in the early 50s by the Childrens Hospital in Hackney. I still have vivid memories of my stay, and very few nice ones I must add. I remember sitting in the room with the big bay window waiting for my parents to visit. They always told me to save them a seat as they had to walk from the station and were done in when they got there. I can remember the clothing store and always asking for a red check shirt that had taken my fancy. I remember being force-fed tea because they'd poured it for me and all children had to drink it. I've never drunk tea in my life. I can remember the children being upset at night and making noise in the dorm. The lights would go on and the nurses would make any child who was awake stand in the bathroom facing the wall in their pyjamas. I remember the woods and the tall pines and going for walks there. Not all good memories of the place.

Early One

posted by Tony Warren on 27 Dec 2010 at 4:14 pm

My father, from Hackney, was sent to a childrens convalescent home in Bexhill twice about 1915-20.
They slept in open bungaloes having an oil skin cover in bad weather. They could not leave table until they had cleared the plate but then ran wild all day.
He remembered Pound Day when local people donated ?1, which could turn out to be a load of fuel, foodstuff etc.
The experience set the tenor of his life, he moved to the country as soon as he could, and lived to 86 years

Looking For Children's Homemidd To Late 50's

posted by Jale on 18 Apr 2011 at 10:54 pm

Can anybody help me locate childrens home in Bexhill. Was large house top floor room was a sick room that looked out over the large back/side garden.There was a boat in the garden and a sun house. The house was a corner house. preschool classess in the mornings carers loved toast with thier butter. after school watching childrens progammes in the managers living room. the house was close to fields.

The invants school was close and we whent to church on sundays and given a penny for the collection. I lived there for 2-3 years. care staff used to curl hair wth strips of materials. dining/ play room looked out to the front and front door porch.

Would be good to hear if anybody remmembers the house or the children or the staff or the owners. Good and happy memories just don't remember enough to find out where it was/is.

Little Folk-Memories

posted by Ann Ballard on 22 Apr 2011 at 11:47 am

I was sent to the Little Folks Home ib Bexhill, from Hackney in April-July 1937. And would love to share memories with those that were there at the time.

I noticed that Sue Curtis had a book with photo's in it, I wonder if that covers the period when I was there.

Metropolitan Convalescent Home Old Town,

posted by Roger T. Winter on 28 Apr 2011 at 8:28 pm

I was born in the convalescent home on the 5th October 1939. I was told that due to the fact that I was not expected to live I was Baptised in the Home and the matron was my God Mother. 72 years on I am researching the family history. Does any one have an idea who would have performed the baptisim and who the matron was then? I have just aquired a post card picture of the hone printed in about 1903 by Valentine,s of Dundee. I have also aquired a post card of the Little Common Convalescent home that was built in 1905 as a separate home for men. The original home in Old Town was established in 1880 and was formerly for both men and women.

Metropolitan Convalescent Home Cooden.

posted by john simpson on 31 Jul 2011 at 4:36 pm

We have a postcard of this place which we found in my mother in laws things after she passed away in 2008. My wife remembers visiting her in 1979 in Bexhill,after her second heart operation in the London hospital. We now live in Bexhill and have been searching the Cooden area for the Metropolitan, we think it may have been on claverling walk with the entrance to the driveway on Sea road (Cooden). Does anybody know anything about this place? It isn't so long ago that people still living in Bexhill remember the home. Any info would be nice.

Little Folks Home Bexhill

posted by james levy on 04 Feb 2012 at 11:01 pm

when i was about 5 years old in 1955 my brother henry and myself went to the little folks home Bexhill on sea surrounded by beautiful countryside and woods so the home was not actually in Bexhill but in the country side there was at that time a nurse called nurse Brown we all had a song about her it went born on the mountain tops of tenessee, wildest nurse in the whole country, terror of the maitron and the sister was she,the old staff nurse felt safer up a tree...nurse brown nurse brown, queen of the little folks home...if any of you recognise the song and were there round about this time, you may remember me and my brother i will be gladto hear from you.

Little Folks Home

posted by Adem Osman on 02 Mar 2012 at 4:40 pm

Like many of you I spent many months over several years at the home during the late 1950's as I suffered with bronchitis, and have many fond memories of my many stays. I remember having to go to school every day and taking an afternoon nap!

If anyone has any photos, information for this period I would appreciate it.

P.S Has anyone considered a Little Folks Home reunion?

Red Cross Hospital

posted by Lee Burke on 13 Mar 2012 at 2:05 pm

Does anyone have any information on a Red Cross Hospital for Officers? located in Bexhill before WW2. My Great Grandfather was there before his death in 1939.

Braemar Home Del-a Warr Road

posted by gail R on 17 Mar 2012 at 7:27 pm

Hi
Hoping to hear from any any-one who stayed/lived at Breamar Home Del-a-warr Road in the seventies or who remembers anything about it,maybe has any photos, Interested as I lived there in the seventies.Visited Bexhill recently and was sad to see it had been knocked down!

Gail

BEXHILL CONVALESCENT HOME

posted by jackie dagnall on 26 Mar 2012 at 6:20 am

I have a photograph [ postcard]of the Metropolitan convalescent
Home for Women at Bexhill .I wonder if this is the place many of you remember .If you email me I will send a scanned copy to anyone who would like one .Regards,Jackie

BEXHILL CONVESCENCE

posted by Nigel England on 29 Mar 2012 at 5:51 pm

s sent to convelesce at Bexhill in the mid 50's. My recollections are not infallible, but I seem to remember it was quite a large building. I was recently in Bexhill and tried to find the place. Although we are now talking 55 years later, I felt close to the place in SEA ROAD. My brother who was also there, seems to think the place was HALDANE HOUSE. Truth to tell, I guess we'll never know.

Metropolitan Convalscent Home, Cooden

posted by Wendy Diplock on 12 Apr 2012 at 1:10 pm

My Grandfather stayed at the Metropolitan Convalescent Home in Cooden after a hip / leg operation. He was born in 1889 and was about 15 years old I believe when he had the operation (Circa 1904). I have a postcard of the Home but would love to know more about it. Regards Wendy.

Need To Know

posted by Marilyn Neave on 30 Jun 2012 at 8:11 pm

All i know is that i was born in a mother and baby home in bexhill in 1952.
My mother was sent away as a single mother.
Iwould just like to know if it still exists.

thank you.

Little Folks Home

posted by vivien plumridge on 10 Jul 2012 at 9:01 am

i was a trainee nurse in little folks home in little common in the late sixties. it was a lovely setting and i enjoyed working there. a beautiful house, with some antique laundry facilities. i wrnt looking for it, and was was horrified that i couldnt find it.
another beautiful house victim to redevelopment? does anyone want to ask me anything. i can remember some things.

Little Folks Home

posted by vivien plumridge on 10 Jul 2012 at 7:11 pm

to chris summers

i remember your mother, she had a pale yellow uniform of the auxiliary. she taught me a lot about laundry!

thanks for that, ive been disappointed by finding the house demolished.

Little Folks Home [1967/8]

posted by vivien plumridge on 10 Jul 2012 at 7:18 pm

to anne dyos [stewart]
i was there immediately before you. i
loved the walks and countryside we were sent on to air the children. i 'grew up' there
in that short time.

great house. and mrs hutchinson was a lovely cook and produced some great grub for hungry nurses.3

Bexhill Convalescence

posted by albert gyseman on 17 Jul 2012 at 3:30 pm

I was the one who started this chain of memories but can?t believe it was almost five years ago! I gave up on this site after grumbling that no one bothered to reply and it was my daughter who recently discovered it by accident and told me what a marvellous response there had been after a sluggish start! I was sent there in 1937 for a week but was told I must stay another which took me past my 8th birthday on the 21st October (spent in bed on that icy balcony?). I have already mentioned one or two recollections and I wasn?t there long enough to collect any more but a thought did occur to me ? am I right in thinking that one night a week (Friday?) was ?dose? night when we were all forced to swallow some terrible concoction and might it have been yellowish and possibly liquorish?

Little Folks Magazines

posted by Jacqui Shaw on 21 Jul 2012 at 6:02 pm

I've been fascinated to read the messages about the Little Folks Home in Little Common. I grew up in nearby Eastbourne in the 50s and had a set of magazines from the home, which were bound into a 1-inch thick book (cream cover with dark brown spine). Anyone have a copy? Wish now I'd kept it/them as I seem to forgotten the contents entirely.

I Was There In The 50s

posted by graham locke on 21 Jul 2012 at 10:51 pm

hello my name is graham i had two visits in the little folks home in the 50s once with a collapsed lung and again with tb 55 and 57 second stay i was confident and enjoyed it first time i was worried and lonely but it helped me and im a fat 62 year old now in fair health

To Wendy Diplock

posted by vivien plumridge on 03 Aug 2012 at 7:52 am

just out of interest, are you related to the diplocks in surrey?

To Jacqui Shaw

posted by vivien plumridge on 03 Aug 2012 at 7:56 am

i just googled the little folks home magazine. they are very expensive now, but you can buy them on ebay. if you are interested to have a look. i went there this morning.

Kids Convalecant Home

posted by Val button on 23 Aug 2012 at 10:59 pm

There was a nursing Home in collington bexhill. An't remember the name it's now been turned into flats before it was a nursing home it was a hotel that had. Children from London staying there the walls had fishing nets & fake crabs there was a big stairway in middle of entrance hall that went off in 2 directions to the wings of the building. When I worked there was a fish pond in entrance as well. It do not know how long it had been there. If I remember the name I will come back on here

Little Folks Home 1960's

posted by Marion Barnes on 11 Sept 2012 at 4:54 pm

I went to this home several times as a child, usually during the school summer holidays,to improve from asthma and eczema. I loved it! I remember walking into the main entrance where there would be rows of dolls and teddies- a child's wonderland! The Matron had a 'sausage' dog called Oliver and the couple who looked after the grounds/laundry etc had a dog called Blackie-I have a photo of me with the dog. I remember the happy afternoons playing on the hill and the lovely walks into town and on the beach.I looked forward to the best treat- a ride on Jenny the donkey!I was always allocated to 'Girls Ward' but remember the younger children in 'Referee Ward' where we had bread and butter and milkshake at bedtime.There was a huge rocking horse in this ward. I was sometimes allowed to help in the kitchen podding the peas and also I liked to see the babies in the 'Baby Ward'. I supose the only thing I didn't like was having my hair washed- the nurse that usually did this was very rough! If I was there in term time I had lessons in the playroom with a teacher that came in the mornings.All the children never wore their own clothes while at the Home- they wore clothes belonging to the Home but they were nice and always clean and fresh, as we had playclothes like jeans and t-shirts and pretty dresses for going out in. I always have fond memories of this place and would like to have visited it again but alas it is no longer there.

Home In Collington

posted by Fi Douglas on 12 Sept 2012 at 4:56 pm

Hi,

I remember some sort of residential home on Terminus Rd, Collington (the Rd where the station is). It had just shut down in the 80's, and me and my friends went in the building for a look around, as it didn't seem to be boarded up or anything!

No idea why it was just left like that, but we were a bit naughty (and bored!) and went around the whole building. There was a central staircase, and a booth thing at the bottom (can't remember if it had a phone in?) and there was a gigantic kitchen with industrial size things in (massive pans/pots).

There were also wheelchairs (we had a whizz around , it was good fun!)

Not sure if this is the place in Collington someone else remembers?

Fi

Little Folks Home

posted by dave on 28 Oct 2012 at 9:06 pm

wow so many interesting replies and information, I have great memories of the LFH mainly the lodge where my mum and Mrs Blackwell would often be found,I remember the garden well so many gnomes, what a fantastic place lots of memories.

Metropolitan Convalescent Institution

posted by Brian Townsend on 29 Oct 2012 at 12:36 pm

I am trying to trace a relative who, I believe, spent some time in the above home during 1902. I think that the Institution was at Little Common Bexhill-on-Sea. Any information about the Institution, what type of illness and/or patients looked after there, would be very much appreciated. Also any help in how to trace my "Townsend" relative during this period at Bexhill would be great. Thank you in anticipation. Brian Townsend. Wales.

Information

posted by dave on 31 Oct 2012 at 11:31 am

There was a Bishop Townsend in the Bexhill area,might be a connection there.

Convalescent 1948

posted by Roberta Bedford nee Grange on 06 Nov 2012 at 6:19 pm

I am so glad to have found this site. I was sent to the convalescent home from the Queen Elizabeth Childrens Hospital Shadwell in 1948 aged 3 suffering from what my mum told me later was a spot on my lung, no one wanted to admit to TB. I was there for at least 6 months I remember the Salvation Army coming at Christmas and giving us presents. My mum only came once and that was Boxing Day. I also remember sleeping in what I later thought was a greenhouse, lots of windows. When you were getting better you were taken for long walks along the sea front. It must have done me good I am now 67. Does anyone else remember that time.

Little Folks Home

posted by Jan walker on 14 Nov 2012 at 11:59 am

I worked with Linda Amos,sue chilton,Margaret Hollands,Carole burdge,and 2 other girls from 1967-1968 before going onto the hospital in London.i still keep in touch with Margaret and Carole.,matron middle mass and sister bridge land were there then and also mr and mrs Blackwell.sister Morris used to work nights.my mother worked there later in about 1969 on nights.we had many happy times there.sadly the building has been redeveloped.i had many photos from that time as mrs Blackwell would bring her camera out and take many photos.i am on facebookmas jan walker if anybody would like to contact me.we looked after some lovely children and often wonder what happened to them.i was known as nurse Eastoe .

Mrs Blackwell

posted by dave on 17 Nov 2012 at 2:33 am

Hi jan as a toddler I used to visit the lodge where mrs blackwell worked, thats where i got my passion for gnomes from as the garden was full of them and also my life long hobby of photography, mrs blackwell would often come to our house and take pictures, in fact the only pictures i have of those years were taken by her,I went to see her last time I was in the uk many years ago, do you have any photos from that era that you would like to share.

The White House

posted by JULIAN GREEN on 12 Dec 2012 at 12:27 pm

I wonder if anyone can help me?
My late mother (a former British Telecom employee) used to take her mother to a convalescent home called The White House, in Bexhill, for a holiday in the 1980s.
I believe the home was owned by BT (?) and open to its employees. I have a postcard of the property, but I never visited them during their stays. I seem to recall the property having to be sold following BT's privatisation (?).
I would like to know the address etc., as I am intending to visit Bexhill at some stage. It would be nice to see the place where my family had such pleasant times.
I do hope someone from Bexhill will recollect the place I describe.

Dr. Julian Green

Info On Convalescent Home In 1964/5/6/7

posted by sharon cupitt on 17 Dec 2012 at 1:42 am

hello, good evening all, can anybody help with any info please, in either 1964/5/6 i was taken from the childrens hospital hackney road, east london for what i was told was to recuperate after a spell in hospital, i was 8 years old, i was taken by train by a nurse don and taken to a home in bexhill on sea there was only children at the convalescent home with seperate dormatries for boys and girls, i cannot remember the name i spent about 2 or 3 months there and we used to go out to the beach which i think was called st leonards on sea, at the time i was there, there was a serous rail crash does anybody know what year this was, also i am desperate to find out about this convalescent home, and does it still stand or has been demolished, i remember being taken back to the hospital in hackney road after my recuperation, i would like to visit bexhill and st leonards on sea and wondered if anybody could give me any info on this we will be visiting bexhill hopefully in the next month or two, i just feel this pull that i need to go back and find out more of my time spent in bexhill, my parents dont have any info they can give me only that i went from hospital to bexhill, thank you and kindest regards, sharon, my single name would be ward

Bexhill Metrolpolitan Convalescence Home 1911

posted by P aul Mason on 17 Dec 2012 at 12:54 pm

I was researching my late wifes family and found her Great aunt Elizabeth (Bess) Palmer was there on the 1911 census as a patient. This surprised me as it had never been mentioned in the family before. She was one of about 10 others who were described as Drapers assisstants. The mystery is why were so many drapers assistants there. Then I found on thi site somebody mentioned a connection to Hacknet, London and we do know that she worked in that area around that time as she was later married there.. Had there been some sort of problem/accident/even maybe a fire that needed these people to recouperate in a hospital type surrounding. Very intriguing.
If anybody knows I would be delighted to know too.
Thanks in anticipation
PM

The White House

posted by Jude on 21 Dec 2012 at 9:03 am

Julian,
There is a building called The White House at 23/25 Cantelupe Road which has been converted into flats. In the 1974 Kelly's Directory it is listed as "White House Convalescent Home". There is currently a flat for sale within the building so it may be worth Googling that to see if the photo matches the picture you have.

Re: The White House

posted by JULIAN GREEN on 23 Dec 2012 at 2:22 pm

Thank you Jude: the building you describe is indeed the White House in my postcard.
All the charming old leaded windows, and the garden and flower borders, are sadly gone.
Nevertheless, I can now look the place up.
Thanks again.

Haldane House

posted by John Reynolds on 27 Dec 2012 at 6:44 pm

Nigel England mentioned Haldane house in his post. This is was in Cooden Drive just round the corner from the Pole Grove.
It was a nursing home for seriously and terminally ill children.
When I was in Bexhill recently I saw that the building had been demolished.
There was a convalescent home in Upper Sea Road near the old town but I thought it was for adults.
Hope this helps Nigel

Little Folks Home

posted by Jan French on 23 Jan 2013 at 4:10 pm

I was a patient at the Queen Elizabeth Children's Hospital, Hackney in 1948. I had a mastoid operation at the age of two, then went to a convalescent home which I have only just discovered was probably the LFH as it was attached to the QECH. It's interesting to read about people's experiences as I was too young to remember. Has anyone had any luck obtaining their health records for the QECH and the LFH?

LFH Fondly Remembered

posted by Grahame Tindale on 23 Jan 2013 at 4:33 pm

As a youngster in the mid-sixties, I spent several weeks on several occasions at LFH. I spent one holiday with John Funnel - we both attended Chailey Heritage School. Morning breathing exercises - in through the nose, out through the mouth.
I remember a baby Named ADAM. I helped feed Adam, and remember mentioning to the staff someone else should feed him; as I was scheduled to leave for Chailey. Adam and I had bonded. Tears in my eyes as I remember this. A seven Year old should not worry about these adult issues! I hope Adam continues to live a fulfilled life?
Oliver and Eddie - the two dogs; I remember with great affection. Supper too, along with milkshakes - chocolate, banana or strawberry. Lemon Curd sandwiches too? I never felt sad - I should have, I suppose?

Little Folks Home

posted by helen mitchell on 24 Jan 2013 at 6:42 pm

Hi jan walker

I was there in the late sixties about the same time as you.....would love to see the photos.....can you put them online.....most people seem to have been at the lfh either before or after me.....its great to a message from my time.

Bexhill Convalescent Home, Cooden Drive

posted by Denise J on 25 Jan 2013 at 6:48 pm

I worked here in June 1974 when it was an established convalescent home for men and women. The home was mainly run by six ward sisters and a matron. I think Matron was called Miss Parry Jones, and there was Sister Chester, Sister Gould, Sister McPartlin, Sister Parker, Sister Hope and Sister O'Gorman. There were several male housekeeping assistants, plus the catering staff, and several auxiliary nurses working here. Patients that had been through both medical illnesses and surgical procedures came here to convalesce, with the added physio sessions on set days. A regular coach trip was organised for the patients in the summer, and there was a great deal of funding activity courtesy of the Comforts Guild. I have more memories if anyone wants to ask about this place during 1974 and 1975
It was demolished sometime in the 1980s.
Denise J

Home

posted by David Thurburn Huelin on 22 Feb 2013 at 12:51 pm

I am intrigued. My mother died the other day and we found a post card addressed to me at Braemar, 9 de la Warr Road. I have no recollection of what this was, but as the date is 1954 it is possible that I was sent there to convalesce from polio. My grandmother lived nearby at 3 Fairmount. Neither house is still standing, as far as I can see.

Little Folks Home

posted by Margaret Allen on 18 Mar 2013 at 12:49 am

I think this must be the one I was sent to in about 1961-2
I was sent from London children's hosp as had a shadow on my lung, can still remember sleeping by French doors and hearing the sea, also morning walks in the forest, and waiting for parcels from home, I can also remember a donkey in the grounds, was there for 6 weeks,

Margaret

posted by dave on 23 Mar 2013 at 3:56 am

I have a photo some where of me sitting on that donkey.

Little Folks Home

posted by Lyn (Greenleaf) Doel on 06 Apr 2013 at 7:27 pm

While I was reading East End Memories by Jennie Hawthor. I came across a paragraph where she left Queen Elizabeth's Hospital in Hackney and went to stay in Little Folks Convalescent home at Bexhill on Sea. I was drawn to this book which I had paid £1 for in Greenwich last week, now I know why. For years I have wondered what was the name on the convalescent home I stayed in in Bexhill. A few years ago I even drove there with my husband to see if we could find it. I think knowing that Spike Milligan spent some time in Bexhill made the trip a bit more interesting. But all we could find of any interest was a fish and chip shop! This book has answered a lot of my questions about this home. Reading other people memories of Little Folks has jogged my memory. I stayed at the home in 1970/1971 after spending 9 months in an isolation ward at The London Jewish Hospital in Stepney Green. I then spent another good few months in Little Folks home. I remember catching a coach from Queen Elizabeth's in Hackney then a train to Bexhill. Coming from The East End then seeing the Sea and the lovely country side it was heaven. I did miss my Family, but being in such a beautiful house and being looked after by some really lovely people made up for it. My own memories are going to the Picture's( as it was called those days) watching The Magnificent Men in Their flying machines. I seem to remember being taken by some nuns, but I could be mistaken. Sharing the room with a Down syndrome girls who used to scream out in the night and scare the life out of me. Playing in the beautiful gardens climbing trees and just enjoying being a child. I did get stung by a wasp while up a tree (not so good). My most memorable thing is having chocolate milkshake and peanut butter and lemon curd sandwiches at supper time. Even to the day if I have chocolate milk
or Lemon Curd I think of the Home. I would love to see any photos from Little Folks or to hear from anyone who stayed there. My email is lyngreenleaf[AT]gmail.com

Little Folks Home

posted by Jean Gibb (nee Martin) on 18 Apr 2013 at 9:41 am

I worked at Little Folks Home in, I think,
late 1964. I was just 17 and went there as
a pre-trainee nurse (there were 6 of us 'newies' all started at the same time). I can only remember the names of 2 of the others that started when I did - Catherine
and Linda. Catherine returned to Plymouth(?)
to continue her training there. Linda (surname, Balls) also left and trained somewhere else. Good memories, looking after the children. Sadly, not so good memories too.

Little Folks Home

posted by carol mellowship (nee Poulton) on 29 Apr 2013 at 5:19 pm

Hi, i worked at as a pre trainee nurse at TLFH in the summer of 1967 aged 17.I Have wonderful memories of the staff and the children, as well as jenny the donkey. My fellow nurse collegues, were Tina (she lived in Bexhill) Penny, Liz,and Sunits,( i think) who had the most beautiful sari, which only she could fit into as she was so tiny. I do have some photos of some of the children and nurses, and accompanied a group ofc children with Mrs Morris from QEH to TLFH.

Little Folks HomeI

posted by John Stone on 05 May 2013 at 8:05 pm

I guess it was where I spent 4 weeks 1962/3 after an operation at the Metropolitan Hospital became infected, I remember long walks, big garden and skin on custard (UGG). Hate to say enjoyed being away from the family

Little Folks Home

posted by peter robins on 12 May 2013 at 2:56 pm

my birth cert. says i was born on 20.09.39 at the metropolitan convalescent home, cooden. my mother lived in london at the time and returned there. my birth registerd at bexhill on 3.10.39.

Bramar De-La-Warr Road

posted by Bradley Woods on 17 May 2013 at 1:16 pm

In answer to David Thurburn Huelin, I stayed at Bramar Childrens Home in De-La-Warr Road in 70s. It was full of kids maybe upto age of 11, I remember a large room to side with a Glass house around it and a large Kitchen where we ate our meals. We were allowed to watch T.V in owners lounge on Sat Mornings and early eavnings and in winter we used to roast chestnuts in the fire. There were 3 large bedrooms for the kids which had about 3-5 beds in them, I remember the one at the back of the house was called the nursery. It was run by two women called mumfi and Di'e and had a couple of helpers. One of which used to live in. There was an old women called Mrs Haythorn who used to take some of us to beech in Summer. The house is no longer there, it was knocked down to make way for a road I believe. I stayed there for about 3 years, I remember some names of the kids there, Gail, Marki, Stephen, Michell. Anyway you will find no mention or records of this house anywhere for some reason and nobody seems to know anything about it.

Little Folks Home

posted by Richard Blackwell on 05 Jun 2013 at 10:05 pm

Well it was years ago that I commented on this thread and have just found it again. I have enjoyed reading people's memories especially the ones about my Nan and Grandad. Someone said nan always had her camera, which is one of my memories throughout my childhood, photography was one of her passions and is now one of mine.

I used to love going down and feeding the Donkeys a bit of grass or something. And I was always invited to the children's Christmas parties which I enjoyed very much.

The Matron I remember was indeed Sister Middlemass, and as a point of interest her Brother was the actor Frank Middlemass who starred in many films and series.

Collington Manor

posted by G BROWN on 24 Aug 2013 at 10:58 am

Hi have a lot of colour slids of children STAFF at collington manor in the 50`s and 60`s

For Richard Blackwell

posted by dave on 29 Aug 2013 at 1:34 am

you wouldn't by chance have any of her photo's would you, the only ones I have of my childhood were taken by her and I only have a hand full of them,any of the little folks home in particular the lodge or gardens, I have a lot to thank her for, I have a great passion for photography and I collect gnomes,a throw back to the lodge garden I think.

Collington Manor Convalecent Home

posted by Terry on 30 Aug 2013 at 7:11 pm

It is clear there were a number of convalecent homes in Bexhill and Little Common and most have been mentioned in this thread. The Collington Manor Home was one of these and those that stayed there will remember it as a Tudor mansion. It was located on the junction of Collington Lane East and Walton Park Road, Collington.
It specialised in accommodating children with TB sent for convalecent from various London Hospitals. Unfortunately it was demolished in the mid 30,s and bungalows now sit on its grounds.
For those interested the Bexhill museum has some good photos of the Manor and some details of its previous life as the mayors residence.

Kittiwake

posted by Sheila Douglas on 04 Sept 2013 at 3:17 pm

1935 aged 4 I was boarder at Kittiwake, run by Ms Silcock with a Nurse Jepson. Girls were probably daughters of parents abroad.Anyone else go there later? Happy place-kind staff. Learnt how to lace up my shoes in two different ways and put all the colours of the spectrum in order.Retain a colour memory. Remember the beach huts-tar-sailing boats on the pond- the Jubilee procession.Punished for a sleepless night I was locked in Ms Silcocks bedroom, but glimpsed it from high window hanging out dangerously far. Furious being robbed of an historic occasion I put rouge all an ironing board!

Haldane House

posted by Geoff Merritt on 09 Sept 2013 at 5:34 pm

Having just acquired access to my medical records, I noted that I was sent from Hampshire to a children's nursing home in Cooden Drive at the age of 11 in July 1953 after contacting Nephritis. It was called Haldane House and I was there for about six weeks, all I can remember is that the garden at the rear of the building was reached by going down a fairly steep bank, there was also a tiny door round the side of the building which one could crawl through and explore with the aid of a torch, I can only recall one name and that was Diane or Diana, one of the girl patients.
I also recall that the boys and girls patients would be walked down to the beach every day.
Haldane House was turned into a nursing home in 1960, but was closed in 2003 and demolished soon after.

Little Folks Home

posted by Jan walker on 22 Nov 2013 at 9:25 am

Hi Helen and Dave.I have just come back on this site and read your messages.unfortunately I had a massive clear out of all my old photos.i only have a couple of them left of us girls that worked at l f h.i often pass through little common and try to remember where the home was.the site has now been redeveloped now.i worked their from 1967 to 1968 before I worked at the queen Elizabeth hospital in hackney.i have lovely memories of my time their.

Children Of The Manor Of Collington

posted by james lucas on 27 Nov 2013 at 7:22 pm

I was a child that was sent to collington manor . Dates iam not sure of . I remember some staff names miss parr the head misstress. ... Miss eed. teacher . Not a really happy time for me as i was very young and didnt adjust to being there . I can only think of two children and sadly only his first name of george .
We were good friends but i left after 3years or so .
I was sad to seethat the manor was no longer there when i tryed to find it in 2011. I hope by adding my name to this list matbe some old names will come forward.

Haldane House

posted by Fiona Clark formerly Sayers on 15 Dec 2013 at 10:45 am

I believe that my mum worked at the above between 1955 & 1958 when it was a home for sick children who came from away to recover by the seashore.I lived with my mum in the nursing home,and the story I was told that she left me on a door step in Wickham avenue and walked away and left me I was told that a member of the public took me to Haldane house and obviously they took me in and the cook there Betty Sayers took me to live with the sayer's family in Claremont Road,I would love to hear from any body who has any more information,my mum's name was Elizabeth Ann Walker or could have used the name Cameron.

Haldane House,21 Cooden Drive,Bexhill.

posted by Raymond Wheeler on 01 Feb 2014 at 9:49 pm

Hi there ,is there anyone on here looking into Haldane House,as i was sent there with my brother David,as my mother was in darvell hall,robertsbridge,having had a very serious operation.any way i was there 1952/1953 ,any body else got any memories ,please .at the age i was then 6/7 it is now just a blurred memory.many thanks.

Raymond Wheeler

posted by Gary Downs on 08 Feb 2014 at 7:57 pm

Hello Raymond, if you are who I think/hope you are, I'd love to meet you, my name is Gary, born in '67 and my mothers name is Heather, hopefully you understand. Gary.

Metropolitan Convalescence Home

posted by Bill on 10 Feb 2014 at 9:18 pm

Purely out of historical interest, I've been trying to find where some of the big hospitals, hotels and schools were in the area, and I've finally tracked this one down.
It was demolished in 1988 and houses were built on the site. It is now called Osbern Close, Off Cooden Sea Road. The house on the left corner as you turn in was, I think, there originally.
Little Folks Home was, as mentioned elsewhere here, behind the Little Common Surgery and was also demolished in the 1980's and replaced by new homes and flats in what is now Mansell Close, just off Cooden Sea Road. Does anyone have any pictures of the original Little Folks building?
Does anyone know what the name of the school near the Cooden Beach Gof Club - off Clavering Walk - was? Any photos?

My Late Father

posted by sandra symonds field on 20 Feb 2014 at 6:25 pm

I remember my dad being sent to a place to recuperate in Bexhill on sea , he came out of the army and became ill .
I was born in 1945 and there were times when he had to go to rest up , so didn`t see him that often .
So he was there on and off between 1945 to 1952 I would say , would there have been an Army hospital there ?

Remember Me

posted by Anthony norris on 21 Feb 2014 at 10:28 am

Does anyone remember anthonynorris? i was here 1968ish

HALDANE HOUSE BEXHILL

posted by John Brooks on 25 Feb 2014 at 2:57 am

I was at Haldane House, Bexhill in early 1950s - anybody remember me. John Brooks

Little Folks Home

posted by james levy on 28 Feb 2014 at 11:59 pm

Hi everyone my brother henry and myself were sent to the home in the 50s because our dad had tb he was in the lLondon chest hospital for a very long time and because mum had 8 children to look after the two of us were sent to t l f h more to give mum a break I remember walking in the woods and to this day the smell of the fern in the morning dew rates as one of my fondest memories.I believe it was all arranged by the equivalent to today's social services my family lived in bethnal green at this time.Some years later when I lived in Dagenham I think I was about 16 or17 a girl recognised me as she was at the home at the same time as us two I don't know how she remembered my name but I only saw her that once and wish I had spoken in depth about the home however time flies by and my memory at 64 isn'twhat it was if anyone remembers us iI would love to hear from you thanks

Braemar

posted by gail on 01 Mar 2014 at 2:27 pm

David Thurburn Huelin - may have been a convalescent home when you were there as later became a private children' s home. The beds were certainly like the old hospital ones!

Jale - Braemar

posted by gail on 01 Mar 2014 at 2:36 pm

Jale - sounds exactly like braemar - probably a convalescent home in the 50's later became a childrens home - massive grounds with a big boat!

Braemar Childrens Home

posted by Bradley on 18 Mar 2014 at 9:02 am

Message to Gail, was Braemar a private Childrens Home ? I can not find any records of it ever existing even though I stayed there. I remember the boat and a large play area with sand pit. The 3 large dorms I remember, one was called the Noddy Room and the Nursury but can't remember the front room.

Playroom

posted by Rosie Duignan on 07 Apr 2014 at 10:21 pm

Does anyone remember a rocking horse with hair there? So blurry through the mists of time. Was there with my sister in 66/67? My mum had just had a baby, don't know anything about why we went, mum didn't say much about it. For some reason I can remember being on that rocking horse and putting our coats and little wooly hats on our tiny pegs. Can still remember the smell of the place. We were 6 or 7 ish

Children's Home

posted by Jane on 26 Apr 2014 at 6:38 pm

This probably has no relevance to some of the messages I have already read.

I was sent to a children's home and haven't got a clue what the name of it was in the 1970s
All I recall was it had 3 floors and when we all got in to the minibus and came out of the drive there was a field.

Looking for Fatima and Zahara fond memories had.

1979 Iranian

posted by afshin on 28 Apr 2014 at 2:24 pm

Any Iranian still alive from 1979 Wilton House
Afshin

Children's Convalescent Homes

posted by M Marvin on 30 Apr 2014 at 1:56 pm

Dear All,

I have just come across this message board, and I hope that you do not mind me posting this request. I am a Ph.D. student in the Faculty of History at the University of Cambridge. My research aims to explore children's healthcare during the twentieth century, with a specific focus on children's convalescence. As part of my research I am eager to interview people who experienced children's convalescent homes, this could have been as a member of staff, a patient or the close relative of a patient. If anyone would be willing to meet with me to discuss their time in a children's convalescent home please email at: mpm52[AT]cam.ac.uk.

My research has been approved by the University of Cambridge Ethics Committee. I am happy to email you any additional information about my research that you may require.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post and I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Maria
Email - mpm52[AT]cam.ac.uk

Faculty of History
University of Cambridge

Kittiwake Nursing Home, Bexhill

posted by John Elstone on 03 Jun 2014 at 10:06 pm

In the late thirties I broke my leg on a slide at Blackpool and was taken to Bexhill for a few weeks to convalesce at a place called Kittiwake. My vague memories are of good weather and a happy time. I have not visited Bexhill since then. Did the Home morph into another establishment and if so what name did it change to?

Little Folks Home 1963/4

posted by charles short on 17 Aug 2014 at 8:36 pm

I was sent to the little folks home in 1963/4 from Westminster Children's hospital after suffering from phenomena, I was 6/7 at the time, would love some photos of anyone has any from that time

For My Step Daughter

posted by Barry Looker on 23 Sept 2014 at 12:23 pm

I Require Some Imformation For My Step Daughter Who Was In The Little Folks Home In 1953 Christmas Age 10, Is There Anybody There At The Same Time. She Put On A Show In The School Room Were You In That Show, And Do You Remember The Song They Use To Sing About The Home.

Early Homes

posted by James on 17 Oct 2014 at 9:18 am

I am researching my grandmother and it seems she may have worked as a domestic servant in a home or hospital in Bexhill around 1903-6. Does anyone know if any of the homes mentioned here were open in that period? Many thanks.

Childrens Homes In 1970's

posted by jackey kershaw on 05 Nov 2014 at 5:39 pm

In the early 70's a friend of mine's sister ran a childrens home in Bexhill. I remember it being at the top of a hill, and it was an large old victorian house. Can anyone tell me if it is still there, or if the house is still there.

History Of Evans House

posted by dave heasman on 06 Nov 2014 at 1:04 pm

this is taken from UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
MODERN RECORDS CENTRE
In 1916 the NUPPW opened a convalescent home at Carshalton, Surrey, but soon found its
proximity to London disadvantageous to the health of the patients. The Home moved to
Hastings in 1926 and became known as the Alf Evans Memorial Convalescent Home, a title
retained when the Home made its final move in 1958 to purpose built accommodation in
neighbouring Bexhill. By this time the NUPBPW had acquired two other convalescent
homes, in 1925 the Tom Newland Convalescent Home at Filey in Yorkshire and in 1948
Morrison House at Ayr in Scotland. In 1977 changing circumstances and financial pressures
caused the union to close the Filey Home. After amalgamation with NATSOPA in 1982 the
union was once again faced with three homes as NATSOPA brought with it the Rottingdean
Convalescent Home. In 1983 it was decided to maintain Rottingdean and Ayr and to close
Bexhill.

Haldane House

posted by Celia Smith nee Horton on 03 Dec 2014 at 7:43 pm

I remember Haldane House as if it were yesterday.I stayed there in 1955 It is now a block of flats. Just over the road from Collington Halt Station. I can still remember most of the song about Haldane. I can still recall some of the nurses names. I also remember the school hut in the grounds. I will try and remember all of the song.

Little Folks Home - Seeking Karen Franklin

posted by Debi on 19 Dec 2014 at 1:05 pm

I was at Little Folks Home in Bexhill in 1968 or 1969 after a long hospital stay with an eye problem relating to my recent bout of chicken pox and glandular fever. I was very underweight and needed building up. I remember the 3 weeks I spent there very fondly. There was a big firework party that we all went to in another of the big houses nearby and had hot dogs and soup! I remember Nurse Hazel spreading cold cream on our faces before the afternoon walk in the woods so that our skin didn't get chapped, the morning schoolroom, milk shake and bread and butter before bed and tea time with sandwich spread, chocolate spread and cake. Everyone seemed very caring. I used to write to a girl who was there at the same time as me who I would love to catch up with. Karen Franklin, she lived at "Ping Ching" Cuckmere Road, Seaford, Sussex. My maiden name was Deborah Hitchcock. Any leads would be appreciated!

Haldane House

posted by Diana Read on 01 Jan 2015 at 8:13 am

To Geoff Merrit and all who remember being at Haldane House, I think this is the home I was in during the mid 1950s, and I may possibly be the Diana you remember. I know the address was Cooden Drive and the dorms were mixed. The boy in the next bed to me was called Dennis Stone. Does anyone remember him? I also recall being at a home in Broadstairs run by nuns on a different occasion.

Alf Evans Convalescent Home, Bexhill On Sea

posted by joyce lavalle on 22 Feb 2015 at 4:35 am

Does anyone have any information about this convalescent home.

Corbiere Children's Home

posted by Darren on 23 Mar 2015 at 8:07 am

Does anyone have any info on a children's home that was called "CORBIERE" somewhere in or very near to Bexhill-On-Sea ?
I was a there from the mid 60's to mid 1970's.
I have a photo of me with some of the other kids as well as a couple of the staff. Sadly no way of me putting that photo on here.

Bexhill Convalesence

posted by Astrid Amos on 24 Mar 2015 at 4:38 pm

My brother was in the Eversfield Chest Hospital in Hastings, could it be the same one. They slept out on a verandah in all weathers. He suffered from tuberculosis. I used to get the green line bus from Catford and come down to see him on a Saturday afternoon.

Mid Sixties Distant But Happy Memories

posted by Perry Durant on 02 Apr 2015 at 11:50 pm

I stayed here in mid sixties.travelled from Victoria station on train I think with name tag like Paddington bear :) I remember a Nurse Young who used to bathe me she was very kind never forgot her. I was only about 6 so pretty hazy. Someone mentioned a rocking horse in comments that made hairs on myneck stand up for some reason very distant memory of that bit creepy really lol had asthma/eczema

Braema Children's Home 1951

posted by Maggie on 29 Apr 2015 at 7:29 pm

I stayed here in De la ware rd Bexhill with my brother while our mother was in a sanatorium. I remember muffin and Dai. I remember lots of little things but not the other children's names. I have a photo of us children around a table at a party. We had a trip to the beach one day. The house was on a corner and the garden had lots of trees. I think it was a happy place and we were well cared for. Luckily mum recovered and we went home after a year or so.

Postcard Picture

posted by Pauline Fisher on 06 May 2015 at 1:17 pm

I have a black/white postcard of the convalescent home for men in Cooden
it is postmarked 10/11/1947 from someone called Arthur to a Miss A Hyde in Swindon Wilts

Braemar

posted by Jale on 09 Jun 2015 at 8:58 am

Gail,Bradley,David and Maggie,
It was a privately run children's home when I was there in 1958,9, to dec 61. I vaguely remember the rocking horse. Dai and Muffing must have been D Burmester and H J Mumford the proprietresses who managed the home jointly. I also think I can remember the Noddy wall paper and does anybody remember the sick room I had chicken pox and was sent up to the top of the house to the sick room. Remember watching other children in garden.
I remember the number nine on gate but number eleven looked familiar when I visited last Friday. Tried knocking on both doors no one in eleven and number nine young girl said her gran had lived there for years but doesn't seem long enough for time I was there. Who was Mrs Heythorn ? I remember a woman who took me to her house and the beach but don't recall anybody else with us. I remember the fields and the bluebells and wearing boots to the beach. I wonder if there is a way of putting photos up on this board or sending them to the person who set the message board up so that he could pass on the photos . I also remember a photo of a Christmas play at school it got lost . Would be good to see if I have helped to ring any bells .

For Carol Mellowship (nee Poulton)

posted by Caroline on 29 Jun 2015 at 9:19 am

Think you were at the same time I was there to convalesce - would very much like to see your photos as I might be in them!

Change Of Email Address.

posted by Dave edwards on 23 Jul 2015 at 7:25 am

Hi,
Further to my earlier posts. I just wanted to let anyone trying to get in touch with me know that my email address is now Dave.f.edwards[AT]btinternet.com
I was at the LFH in the 1950s.

Photos

posted by David Edwards on 26 Jul 2015 at 7:16 pm

where are all the old photos that people posted in the past (including me). How do you get to see them ?

Serching Old Contacts Ect

posted by jan on 28 Aug 2015 at 11:39 pm

I was placed at Bexhill convent in the 1950s. My name is Jan I left there with other children to live in St Leonards on sea.
There names were Mick, lorina and Clive.

If there is any one out there that might remember us all from that time please free free to email me as it would be lovely to hear from you many thanks jan

Can Any One Help

posted by mrs christine francis nee parkin on 29 Aug 2015 at 12:43 pm

I was born in Nottinghamshire in 1946
I was sent to Bexhill on sea to converlese
I was there six months I am trying to find the name of the home I stayed at I have no more info all I can remember is a nurse walking me on the prom that's all I have

christine

Mother And Baby Home

posted by Marilyn on 04 Oct 2015 at 7:58 pm

All I know is my mother was sent away because she was pregnant. I was born in a home in 1952. Her name was Gladys long,my name is Marilyn,her friend there was Margaret keyword. Just want to know where I came from .xx

Nurse Wilkingson Sister Ranch

posted by victor on 20 Nov 2015 at 12:49 pm

early 50s Bexhill I was sent as a tb patient from Blackheath se3 I was 8yrs old but I soon fell in love with nurse Wilkinson who always deliverd my rolled up comics sent by my mum when it was time to go home there was a train strike and ihad to wait for hospital transport but what convelence home was it?orange

Nurse Wilkinson

posted by john malley on 21 Nov 2015 at 11:56 am

early1950s convalence home in Bexhill I was 8 years old and I fell for nurse wilkiinson but I never got to say thankyou for curing my TB

Braemar Children's Home - Del-a Warr Road

posted by John Culme on 27 Dec 2015 at 1:30 pm

I was fascinated to read these messages about Braemar at Bexhill and the owners, Mumford and Diana Burmester. I was there in the mid 1950s for several years and remember both ladies rather well; we used to call them Mumphy and Di.

Little Folks Home, My Stay.

posted by graham michael mayhew on 29 Mar 2016 at 10:52 pm

i was there twice 56 & 58 i think,the first time i was really out of my depth but the second was cock of the walk & i enjoyed it. I remember a boy called David with red hair who i think had cereble palsey..

Convalescent Hospital Bexhill Kent

posted by Sue Casey on 13 Jun 2016 at 1:44 am

I have an old photo taken in the 1930s showing a large group of 33 men and 6 boys posed on a lawn. One of the men is my grandfather (I think).This means children and adults were all there together at that time. Happy to share photo if anyone may be looking for someone from that time.

Good Memories

posted by shelly gibson on 19 Jun 2016 at 3:07 am

hi
I too was sent to LFH in 1963 and stayed for 3 months as i was recovering from TB.
Have read all correspondence and remember it all so well. sadly i do not have any photos or names of other children.
will try to come back soon.

Metropolotan Convalesent Home

posted by John Martin on 02 Jul 2016 at 8:29 am

Amongst some papers of my Grandfather and his sister are two unwritten postcards of the exterior and interior of this home.
My Grandfather was wounded in WW1 and I wondered if he came here to convalesce but it seems more likely that he or his sister were here before that. They lived in Hackney which seems to tie in with other comments on this site.
Is there any more information about the place around the start of the 20th century?

Bexhill Convalesent Home

posted by Janet Fitch on 10 Jul 2016 at 7:00 pm

I was sent there in Feb 1947 because I was under weight a skinny little thing - I spent my 4th birthday there, I was sent by the Queen Elizabeth's Hospital for children in Hackney Road all I can remember is They nurses took us walks in the fields in frosty weather and that there was a cheeky boy about 9 who when told not to eat the frost from the grass because it may have dog pee on it - he quipped It will give it more flavour - My hero a small cockney boy.

1955

posted by Annewaddington on 11 Jul 2016 at 6:58 pm

I was sent there in 1955 , from Queen Elizabeth hospital hackney rd ,I really liked it there

Sharing Information

posted by Linda harris on 20 Jul 2016 at 1:35 pm

I was 6 years old when I was in the Little folks home in Beckshill in 1953.My sister was 9 years old.I remember the hot coco and remember a the other children there and a nurse with black hair and glasses and I remember the boot hut,where they gave us clothes.does anyone here remember this?Linda :)

Little Folks Home

posted by Linda Harris on 22 Jul 2016 at 5:18 pm

My daughter misspelled bex hill on my other message my sister was there because of her lungs l was there because l was underweight we both liked it there and we was happy to have been sent there l wish you all the best happy we all experienced the place

Photos

posted by Eric Phillips on 14 Aug 2016 at 10:16 pm

Hi all, it's been great reading all the messages you have all sent. Like I have said before I was in the LFH in 1956 I was 12 years old. I have suffered from Dyslexia all my life and I not much better now. The prepose of this message is to say that I have written a book about my life suffering with dyslexia. The book is almost finished, I have mentioned in the book about the time I was in the LFH so it would be nice to put in a photo of the house. If anyone can supply a photo I would be very grateful. Regards to you all Eric.

TFH Approx 1951-1953

posted by lynette kochen on 26 Aug 2016 at 9:36 pm

My twin sister and I were sent to LFH because of asthma. I remember going to the laundry every day to have clothes chosen for us, usually all the little ones were dressed as similar as possible. Matron had a horse and used to give us rides. We used to play on a see-saw on a hill, and went down to the beech. Would like to receive any photos that are around. Remember going out to spend our money when it was time to go home.bought a doll and a balloon that stood on legs

Photos

posted by Anne Dyos on 21 Dec 2016 at 10:59 pm

Reading back through some of these posts, I decided that I needed to get my photo album out. Mrs Blackwell used to take photos regularly & we girls, were able to order the ones we wanted. I was there in 1968 for a year before starting training at a London hospital.
I have quite a few photos & they were all labeled with the children's names. Sadly, the album is falling apart & many of the photos are loose.
If anyone thinks they may have been there while I was Nurse Stewart, please get in touch. I may have a photo of you experiencing the wonderful care that Little Folks Home offered.
annied@talktalk.net

Photos

posted by Sarah Welsh on 16 Apr 2017 at 7:30 pm

My mother Catherine Waite worked at the little folks home Bexhill in the forties. Also her aunty May Toomer ,who also ran a guest house in Bexhill,
Ive heard many stories about the little folks home, the fond memories my mother had of working there, helping to look after the children. My mother loved Bexhill on sea. I would very much like to see any photos that anyone has of the forties. sarahwelsh35@icloud.com

Little Folks Home

posted by Christine (ne Young) on 10 Jul 2017 at 9:14 pm

After a trip to Pevensey at the week end and seeing signs for Bexhill it prompted old memories. I was a cadet nurse there 1969/70. I googled LFH and this popped up. Thanks for your comment Perry. I was that nurse Young and am glad I was able to help look after you. I remember taking children for walks to the beach hut that belonged to the home and playing on the hill. I worked with other cadet nurses. Annette Robertshaw , Barbara Crowley, ? Whittle are the names I remember. Also the trained staff. Mrs Eastoe and Morris. Such memories.

LFH

posted by Laurence ferrari on 16 Apr 2020 at 10:21 pm

I was in the l f h 1953 to1954 age 11i don’t remember much I remember the hot chocolat and a girl who was in there bedridden and a boy called christerfer oldroid had a older brother called robin I was sent from Hackney I was in there 10 months had TB