National Childrens Home - Malmesbury House

[john]

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

[Lesley]

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

[lee evans]

i was there for about 6 months in 1987 when it was turned into an independance centre for teenagers leaving home or for kids leaving care they turned one half into bedsits for us and helped us make the transition to independant living , they knocked it down in the end as it wasn't safe as it was subsiding and they moved it to 5 brittany road, st leonards where i think nch is now based.it is a shame its gone i cant recall when they actually closed it as a children's home , i think most of the childrens home kids either moved to young concern childrens home in old london rd which is now houses andwas formally fernbank maternity hospital ,,, or they all ended up at Old roar home in old roar rd st leonards if u would like more info on nch and malmesbury house u would probably get some joy out of phoning nch in brittany road 01424 446244

[ewan hobbs]

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

[ewan hobbs]

The Childrens home that your described with the 'nuns' is actually nearer to bexhill and was called Nazareth House.
I was also at this home and a few others from the age of 2.
Nazareth House is now being re-developed into appartments.

Hope this is usefull call me if u like on 07834035802 and ill try to help more if possible.

[Paddy]

malmesbury house didnt stop being a childrens home on any specific date, it kind of evolved. we were fortunate enough to be given a sum of money from the first 'children in need' charity forum on tv. which enabled us to evolve into a teenage unit. it was all very exciting as we would no longer share rooms and we were able to have locks on our bedroom doors.
i left there in 1981 aged 16.
very fond memories.

[Julie blackford]

I was at Malmesbury House from about 1965 - 1969 and was wondering if anybody had any photos of it, I was down at the weekend and was trying to imagine the home on the demolished site, was the old peoples home next door also demolished for the same reasons (subsidence) as the site looks a lot larger than i remember.

[Peggy]

I was at Brookwood House from August 1952 to Christmas 1952. I t was a convalescent home for children -all girls -with heart and asthma problems, be interested to know of anyone else there during that time

[tina hilmi]

hi john i was in the home from 1968 to 1973 the person who looked after me was sister louie she still lives in st leonards do u remeber her i have stayed in touch with her all these years i to have fond memories and happy too

[alfred_g_stacey]

[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]


Hello John,

I was with Sister Mary family (who is actually still alive and we are still in contact she always sends christmas cards), who were you with? Do you know any of the other children who were with us at this time?