National Childrens Home - Malmesbury House

[steven_law]

[quoted]
John wrote:
I used to live at St Leonards-on-sea when I was younger at the 'NCH Childrens Home' at 125 West Hill Rd, from 1958-1965. It used to be called 'Malmesbury House'. I have really happy and really fond memories of my time spent there. Have visited Hastings and St Leonards only recently to visit relatives there, and was shocked to find the home had been knocked down! What a shock. Can any locals reading this enlighten me as to when this happened I think the home was still going up until 1985.. Are there any former NCH'ers still living in Hastings/St Leonards who would like to get in touch, staff or children? I still love to visit Hastings and St Leonards as they are both lovely lovely places to visit.

J Barnes From Essex, England

[/quoted]

Hi John. My name is steve and iwas at malmesbury Hse 1956 to 1961 so we must have known each other. i would not rember names to well so i am trying to track down photoes as i would remember faces better. maybe you could e- mail me to talk about old times. steve Law (essex)

[peter_millington]

[quoted]
John wrote:
I used to live at St Leonards-on-sea when I was younger at the 'NCH Childrens Home' at 125 West Hill Rd, from 1958-1965. It used to be called 'Malmesbury House'. I have really happy and really fond memories of my time spent there. Have visited Hastings and St Leonards only recently to visit relatives there, and was shocked to find the home had been knocked down! What a shock. Can any locals reading this enlighten me as to when this happened I think the home was still going up until 1985.. Are there any former NCH'ers still living in Hastings/St Leonards who would like to get in touch, staff or children? I still love to visit Hastings and St Leonards as they are both lovely lovely places to visit.

J Barnes From Essex, England

[/quoted]

Hi John,
I bet we know each other at that time. I went to the Grove school between 1958 and 1963. I lived in Harley-Shute Road and my last form teacher was Mr Barlow.
I formed a pop-group called The Confederates in 1962 with Trevor Ball (now Spears) Tony Goodman and Johnny Conroy who is now in Canada.
I have several Class photos of that time and remember another mate who lived at Marlemsbury House, Andy ? He went into the army and became a PT instructor. A lot of this stuff is on the Friends Re-United web site including the photos of the Grove.
If any of the above rings bells get back to me.
Regards
Peter (Ginger) Millington

[patrickvic]

Phillip Howard has a site WWW.Theirhistory.co.uk in which he writes of his time as a resident of various NCH's.Included are photographs in which one shows the West Hill Home..The site is empty now but for the weeds and various wild flowers,I know this because a friend of mine treats it as a sort of private garden and looks in now and then to see how the flowers are getting on..I think that a few years ago a survey was done to find out if if the site could be rebuilt on but without success_ _ _.

[una_findlay]

[quoted]
ewan hobbs wrote:
John, I too am seeking memories/pictures of a childrens home in that area, possibly the same one, but mine was formerley a convent as we were looked after by nuns. I was there in about 1954/55. Any info at all will be gratedully received. Regs, Lesley
[/quoted]
I believe I was there helping for 1 summer holiday in 1953/54. It was run by the Sisters of Charity (called butterfly nuns because of their big white winpole headgear). It was in St leonards but I was about 14 and can't remember where exactly. They showed films for the children on a big screen - I remember seeing "Call me Madam". There was a chapel. I lived in the East End of London and we were very poor so I believe I was given a free holiday without it being called "charity" so my mum would let me go. My maiden name is Una Bryson. I now live in Canada. My email is findlays@rogers.com if you get any more please let me know as I would like to know if it is still standing.

[marcia_lewis]

Hi, my name is marcia. Perhaps a viewer could help me. I have lived in the US since 1983. I'm from the UK originally. I was at a children's home called "Glenside" at 120 Old London Road in Hastings from around 1970-1973. The governess was named Phyllis Banham and she had a son named John and a daughter named sally. I have made numerous attempts to find out what became of this place. I am really desperate to find out any information. I would appreciate any information anyone could give me. My e-mail address is marcialeacock@yahoo.com. Thank you.

[robert_walker]

My brother Danny and I were also in Malmesbury House from 1960 to 1964, I would be interested to hear from any others who were there at that time. I don't have many happy memories of the time we spent there but am curious to find out about others experiences.
I would also like to hear from anyone who attended Mercatoria school between 1960 and 1964.

[siobhan_dickson]

I lived in Malmesbury House in the early 80's. I have a couple of pics. There are MANY previous 'kids' on my facebook account. So, please feel free to contact me an mention Malmesbury when you do.
I was there in the time of Mr Ramsay and Pete Bellis and Gertraude Merkel. It was a great time and during the transition to the Teenage Unit.
Regards, Siobhan Dickson

[sandra_watkin]

Hi John My sisters Carole and Angela Watkin and I lived at Malmesbury House from 1968 until 1972 Angela and I also lived with Sister Mary and Carole was with Miss Jean Newton. I visited the home in 1979 and it had changed a bit but was most upset as Mr Peckham had just retired and he was the one person I wanted to really see. I have an old photo that was taken outside of all the children and staff but am unable to scan it in.

[logicus]

Hi all, yes the home has vanished, and seems no plans to build on it have been forwarded wandered around the site early may,2012 seemed rather small, managed to navigate my way down the stairs it was well overgrown. There is a group of former children on friends reunited
http://www.friendsreunited.co.uk/malmes ... 152883c954
The convent school opposite (filsham road) also looks very run down as well, not been for a re-wander round there as got boarding al round there, I was there 63-69 so would have attended mercatoria with Robert walker it is now a Mosque, the Methodist church in normans road many of us attended is now been converted to flats..

[sue_humphrey]

Hi I'm looking for Janette Rogers/Rodgers who was in a children's home in St Leonards on Sea in approx 1967. I'm trying to sort out something that happened a very long time ago!