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Ancestry UK

Hollyshaw Residential Nurse, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

The Hollyshaw Residential Nursery was established by the London County Council in or around 1948 at Camden Park, Tunbridge Wells. The building had previously been used as a military hospital.

An article on the home in October, 1948, reported that:

Hollyshaw is a large, comfortable house; the front door stands open and the first thing visitor notices In the hall is a white rocking-horse, obviously In great use. Outside there are large grounds, complete with swings, see-saw and a sand-pit; inside, thirty small children from two to five sleep, eat, play and learn their first lessons — not only school lessons, but how to brush their hair and wash their hands, button their shoes, fold their clothes and all the many other little things that children of that age learn from their parents. "We try to make Hollyshaw much like a home possible," said Mrs. Winter, the headmistress. "They are happy"; — here two little boys ran down the passage, chasing each other and laughing. They smiled happily at Mrs. Winter and shook hands gravely with the visitors. "Of course, I love them all," continued the headmistress. "But you can't give to 30 children the individual love you give one. Children are affectionate, and they need someone special to love, someone who belongs to them alone. The system of boarding out children has been in force for some time now and the new Children Act lays even more stress on its importance. It is really the best possible thing for the children, if we can only get enough foster-mothers."

In 1958, the superintendent as Mrs F.I.K. Winter, and in 1968, Miss J. Cosham. After 1964, the running of the home was taken over by Southwark Borough Council.

Janet Kelly (née Moran) and her brother Rob were residents of the home in the 1970s. She recalls:

There was one section of the grounds, that felt enchanted. There was a large white staircase, rolling lawn, a tree we used to swing off, frog racing in cardboard boxes, an old garden shed in the bushes, we used to pretend to get married in.

There were crab apples, cob nuts, runners and all sorts of vegetables we were unaware of. An elderly neighbour of the care home used to give us children humbugs on the way to school. We had a foster Gran, and different groups to eat in.

I remember the larder, and washing room complete with mangle. We all called it haunted, through childhood imagination.

My brother was in the dormitory upstairs, and the girls dorms were downstairs.

The garden had to be evacuated and treated for Hornets at one point. There was a small stream at the bottom of the garden, in which we used to pinch raw jelly from the larder, and sit by the stream to eat.

The superintendent, Miss Cosham was really a wonderful and committed woman, that inspired many. When Miss Cosham was off on her yearly Holiday, she sent every single child a greeting card with "To Janet, Love Miss Cosham" we felt special to actually receive mail.

Some really nice times, and other sad ones too. On balance, we were very lucky. All abuse rumours in the newspapers about Hollyshaw, were unknown to us as both children and adults.

Former Hollyshaw Residential Nursery, Tunbridge Wells. © Janet Kelly.

Former Hollyshaw Residential Nursery, Tunbridge Wells. © Janet Kelly.

Former Hollyshaw Residential Nursery, Tunbridge Wells. © Janet Kelly.

Former Hollyshaw Residential Nursery, Tunbridge Wells. © Janet Kelly.

The property has now been converted into flats.

Records

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Bibliography

  • None identified at present.

Except where indicated, this page () © Peter Higginbotham. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.