Ancestry UK

Court Lodge Home, Knockholt, Sevenoaks, Kent

The Court Lodge Home was opened by the Children's Society (formerly the Waifs and Strays Society) in 1964 in a large house on Main Road, Knockholt, near Sevenoaks. From 1951 until 1963, the property had been known as John Howard Mitchell House and used by the Fairbridge Society as reception centre for child migrants being sent to Australia.

Court Lodge was one of the Society's first 'all-range' homes, with a nursery of three babies plus 16 older boys and girls.

The home closed in 1976 and was then used for a scheme to provide short-stay accommodation for children with disabilities or with difficult home backgrounds.

The property is now privately owned.

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.

Bibliography