Balcary, Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland
Opened in August 1944, Balcary, on Buccleuch Road, Hawick, was one of the dozen or so wartime evacuation centres that Barnardo's established in Scotland. Unlike many of these properties, however, Balcary was purchased by Barnardo's rather than being used on loan. The home was initially used to house girls evacuated from the Kenward home in Yalding in Kent.
Barnardo's Home, Balcary, Hawick.
In 1945, the Kenward girls returned to Yalding but Balcary continued in use, now as a mixed home. In the 1950s, it saw some use as a holiday home for other Barnardo children.
Balcary was finally closed in May 1974. The property is now a Christian residential centre.
Records
Note: many repositories impose a closure period of up to 100 years for records identifying individuals. Before travelling a long distance, always check that the records you want to consult will be available.
- Barnardo's 'Making Connections' and Family History Services — for enquiries relating the records of children formerly in the care of Barnardo's and those of other organisations absorbed by them.
Bibliography
- Barnardo, Syrie Louise, and Marchant, James Memoirs of the Late Dr Barnardo (Hodder & Stoughton, 1907)
- Batt, J.H. Dr. Barnardo: The Foster-Father of "Nobody's Children" (S.W. Partridge, 1904)
- Bready, J. Wesley Doctor Barnardo (Allen & Unwin, 1930)
- Higginbotham, Peter Children's Homes: A History of Institutional Care for Britain's Young (2017, Pen & Sword)
- Rose, June For the Sake of the Children: Inside Dr. Barnardo's: 120 years of caring for children (Hodder & Stoughton, 1987)
- Wagner, Gillian Barnardo (Weidenfeld & Nicholson, 1979)
Links
- The Barnardo's website.
- The Goldonian Website — memories and information from former Barnardo's children.
Except where indicated, this page () © Peter Higginbotham. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.
