The material below is taken from the web page Unless otherwise indicated, content is copyright Peter Higginbotham and may not be re-published without permission.
Ancestry UK

St Joseph's / Eagle House Approved School, Bathford, Somerset

In 1941, after suffering severe damage from wartime air raids, the St Joseph's Approved School for Roman Catholic Girls at Arno's Vale in Bristol was evacuated to temporary premises at Eagle House, 23 Church Street, Bathford. In 1946, St Joseph's moved to a new permanent home at Ashwicke Hall, Marshfield.

In 1949, an Approved School for Junior Boys was certified to operate at the Eagle House. The School could accommodate 28 boys who were below the age of 13.

Eagle House, Bathford, 2013. © Peter Higginbotham

Eagle House, Bathford, 2013. © Peter Higginbotham

In 1973, the School became a Community Home with Education (CHE) under the control of Somerset County Council.

The School closed in around 1982. The property is now a bed and breakfast establishment.

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

  • Higginbotham, Peter Children's Homes: A History of Institutional Care for Britain's Young (2017, Pen & Sword)
  • Hyland,Jim Yesterday's Answers: Yesterday's Answers: Development and Decline of Schools for Young Offenders (1993, Whiting and Birch)
  • Millham, S, Bullock, R, and Cherrett, P After Grace — Teeth: a comparative study of the residential experience of boys in Approved Schools (1975, Chaucer Publishing)

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