Was Bannow Retirement home once called Quarry House?

[teri_willis]

Hi Everyone,
I am trying to do some research on my family history and know that my Grandparents worked at a place called Quarry House Convalescent Home in the 1940's is that now Bannow Retirement home? The address I have on some old documents indicate it could be. I've emailed Bannow asking the question but got no reply. Maybe because I am in Australia they see my email address as spam and don't reply, shame:(

Can anyone help please?
Thanks
Teri

[Insomniac]

Don't think so_ _ _ There's a block of flats called Quarry House and I assumed that they were built on the site that the original Quarry House once stood. In the lobby area of the flats is a picture of the old house.

I may be wrong and no doubt a local history guru will confirm if i'm wrong

[teri_willis]

[quoted]
Insomniac wrote:
Don't think so_ _ _ There's a block of flats called Quarry House and I assumed that they were built on the site that the original Quarry House once stood. In the lobby area of the flats is a picture of the old house.

I may be wrong and no doubt a local history guru will confirm if i'm wrong
[/quoted]

Thanks for the info. Sad but, another dead end:( I was hoping the building still stood so I might be able to find out some more information but if it's gone I should imagine all the admin docs have gone with it.
Thanks again.

[Geoff]

Hi Teri

Don't give up yet. There may well be parish records still available. I'm delving in to history of the local convalescent homes at the moment and if I come across Quarry House I will let you know.

A look at the 1881 census shows there was a Quarry House in Quarry Hill at that time so I should imagine Insomniac was right.

Also found the image below (rather grotty scan) which looks very much to me like the same site as the current Quarry House.

[img://www.hastingsforum.co.uk/forums/sf_attachments/quarry_house_quarry_hill.jpg]

[JJW]

Geoff

Were the big houses in West Hill Road convalescent homes too? Historically
how did it develop that St Leonards was home to so many? Is it to do with the 1st world war? Diseases like lung infections what do you think? The block of flats built on the Quarry Hill site is astonishingly ugly. One last question there is a derelict mansion tucked away nearby do you know if this was a convalescent home also? Thanks

[Geoff]

Hi JJW

Yes, a few of the big houses still in West Hill Road were originally convalescent homes. Some up until the 80's. I have written a bit about Hertfordshire Convalescent Home in the history section if you want to take a look. I found it quite interesting researching it and sourcing the photos.

We ended up with quite a few such homes in St Leonards as the air quality was supposed to be so good, ideal for healing chest and breathing related illness. Living in West Hill Road myself I can vouch for the fine sea air too.

Geoff

[teri_willis]

Hi, Sorry I've been offline for a while, we moved house and i don't have an internet connection at the new place so I have to wait till I come into town to do anything. Thanks again for the info. How would i go about contacting the local parish? That's the local church right? They keep town records??? Sorry to sound dumb but things happen differently here :blush:
Teri

[patrick]

Had look at my Kelly's Directory of Hastings for 1939. This tells me that Quarry House was on the east side of Quarry Road, it was The Service Men's Residential Club and Convalescent Establishment, I presume that the house was demolished and flats built on the site. The Bannow is on the West side of Quarry Hill and in 1939 it was a Home for the Blind.. Why not try Google Maps ? type in Bannow or Quarry House, St.Leonards, East Sussex.

[sammylan]

Bannow was originally built for Rev John White Tottenham who ran St Leonards School in Archery Villas (the old college art buildings). He was born in Bannow, County Wexford hence the name. It has retained its name till the present day.

[teri_willis]

Thanks Everyone for your help I Still haven't found my Grandfather but at least I now know where not to look