A Personal Perspective on Broadstairs

A Potted History - continued

Local Convalescent Homes, Orphanages & Schools

Many people have contacted me asking for information about schools and convalescent homes in Broadstairs which they or their relatives have stayed at in the past. I will list those here which I have any information about. Some of these homes would not be allowed to exist today with the names listed here! Many of the homes have long since closed although some of the buildings are still in existence, but now used for completely different purposes. If anyone knows anything more about these or other establishments please email me.

A number of people have also contacted me asking where they can find additional information about these homes. Well there is an excellent book available from Michael's Bookshop called The Chidrens Convalescent Homes of Broadstairs by Tony Euden, it contains information on and photos of many of the homes. The homes included in the book which have at least one photo and some information are preceded by an * before their names.

Convalescent Homes

• * St Mary's Convalescent Home and Orphanage opened in 1887 by Nuns from the Community of the Sisters of the Church, this home between Stone Road and the Eastern Esplanade replaced a smaller one in Wrotham Road. This was one of the largest homes in the area and could accommodate about 300 children and had a chapel which could seat over 400. By 1958 changing times meant the old home was too large and was demolished so Thanet Place (Sir Edmund Vestey's old home) was purchased. By 1983 again changing times meant the home could no longer survive and had to close its doors. The building is now a home for elderly with private flats being built in the gardens.
• * The Yarrow Home for Convalescent Children of the Better Classes in Ramsgate Road was a project of Sir Alfred Yarrow from the Yarrow shipbuilding family. It was set up in 1894 and was used as a hospital for Canadian soldiers during the First World War. Again it was returned to use as a childrens home after WWI but during WWII it was again requisitioned for Military use. The home continued in use after WWII until the 1960's when it became a Technical Training School. In 1997 the building was considered too expensive and planning permission was submitted to demolish it, however as there was much local opposition permission was refused. The building is now Grade II Listed and is still in use today as the Thanet Technical College.
• * St David's Convalescent Home was originally located in Hurstpierpoint in Sussex and moved to Stone Road Broadstairs in 1899. In 1915 the Reverend Thomas Turner died and left a substantial legacy to the Broadstairs Home. This was used to build an extension, which doubled the size of the original building and made space for fifteen more children. Because the extension was so large, it was formally opened with a dedication ceremony in 1916, conducted by the Bishop of Dover. The Home also changed its name to the Thomas Turner Convalescent Home in honour of its wealthy benefactor. In 1939 the home in common with all homes in the area was closed and did not reopen until 1946 admitting only children under eight. With the advent of the NHS times were difficult but the Church of England's Children's Society kept it going, renaming it St Davids Nursery for Sick Children. It finally closed in 1974 and the buildings were demolished in 1976 to build houses.
• * The Muller Convalescent Home for Jewish Children in Lanthorne Road.
• * The Convalescent Home of the Victoria Hospital for Children at Chelsea in Stone Road, which was opened in 1892 by the Princess Louise.
• * St Peter's Orphanage & Convalescent Home (Tait Homes for Girls) in Lanthorne Road, was founded by Archibald Tait (Bishop of London) and his wife Catherine who laid the foundation stone on 21st December 1868. In common with all homes in the area it was closed in 1939 at the outbreak of WWII. The buildings suffer bomb damage during the war and were finally demolished in 1953.
• * The Metropolitan Convalescent Home in Lanthorne Road was built in 1895 by the Metropolitan Convalescent Institution and was opened in 1896. Like others it closed in 1939 to reopen in 1947, and was renamed the Lanthorne Home for Children in 1948. It ceased to be a convalescent home in 1970 and the buildings redesinged for use as a psychiatric hospital for children. It finally closed in 1986 and The Foreland School for Disabled Children now stands in the grounds.
• * Wainwright Convalescent Home on the Eastern Esplanade, this building still exists but has been converted to private flats.
• * Whittuck Convalescent Home on the Western Esplanade
• Hearts of Oak Convalescent Home
• * Holy Cross Roman Catholic Covalescent Home, Ramsgate Road
• Kingsdown Orphanage in Granville Road associated with Cuthbert House
• Cuthbert House Home for Afflicted Orphans in Granville Road changed its name to Kingsdown Orphanage in 1901
• Marlborough House North Surrey District School Convalescent Home in Granville Road
• * St Michaels, Stone Road
• * The Warwick Rechabite Convalescent Home, Granville Road
  
  

There are also a number of homes which are less well known and there is scant information on. If you have any information on these please email me or add a message to the Guestbook.

• The David L Jacobs Convalescent Home
• The Coronation Memorial Convalescent Home, Stone Road
• Leon Cottage Homes, North Foreland Parade
• Swainson Convalescent Home, Harbour Street
• The Arica Nursing & Convalescent Home, North Foreland Avenue
• Woodstock Home of Rest & Convalescence, Stone Road
• The National Sunday Schools Holiday Home for Children, Vere Road
• Clevedon House Childrens Convalescent Home, Eastern Esplanade

Schools

These are some that existed in the early to mid 1900's

• Port Regis School at Kingsgate was founded by Sir Milsom Rees, the King George V's ENT specialist, in 1921. The school was evacuated in 1940 after a land mine was dropped close by the school, it never returned to Broadstairs. The building continued to be known as Port Regis School and was owned and run as a convent school for disadvantaged children by The Daughters of the Cross. It is no longer in existence as a school, however there is a Port Regis Care Home still in existence in Convent Road.
• Stone House School in North Foreland Road & Lanthorne Road
• Magdalene Court School which I believe may have been demolished and the land used for private flats called Magdalene Court
• Wellesley House School founded in the late 1800's and still in existence today in Ramsgate Road
• Bartrum Gables School
• Haddon Dene School established by Miss Olive Vyse in 1929 this school is still running today in Gladstone Road
• Cuxton House School, the following was received from Sheena Maynard (nee Turner) a former pupil at the school.

  This was a Kindergarten for girls and boys aged 4 - 7 and a Junior school for children from 7 - 12 years of age. The school was housed in Cuxton House, Bairds Hill and I was a pupil there from 1951-1959. While I was there the large house next door was purchased and used for the Juniors. This house was knocked down in the mid 1960's and a new building put in its place, which I believe is now flats. In the original building there was a tunnel that led down to Joss Bay which was once used by smugglers, and on special occasions we were invited into the cellar to see this tunnel.

  The school was first opened circa 1947 by the owners, Miss Flory and Miss Arnold, and closed 15 years later in about 1962. The uniform was a bottle green skirt and grey shirt with a green tie, a grey great coat and a grey velour hat for winter. In the summer we wore a green gingham dress with a green cardigan, a green blazer with the Cuxton House School badge and a Panama hat. Later the blazer was given a yellow braid around the edges which my grandmother had to sew on. The school was mostly a day school for boys and girls, but there were also a few borders. I lived just across the road from the school, so I was one of the day pupils. Those were very happy times and I made some good friends, one of whom I am still friendly with and she still lives in Broadstairs. I stayed in touch with Miss Flory and we wrote occasionally - the last letter I received from her was in 1991, in which she states that the 15 years that she ran this school were the happiest times of her life.

• Linden Hall School, this was also received from Sheena:-

  Linden Hall School, High Street, St Peters was owned by Miss Fisher for girls from 4 16. It was for day girls and borders, and I went to this school when I was 12 years old in 1959. It was probably about 1 miles from my home and I used to cycle to school in the morning, cycle home for lunch, back in the afternoon and then cycle home in the afternoon. Boarders came from as far flung places such as Hong Kong and Israel, and some even stayed at the school during the holidays. As the school grew the house next door was bought, and used for the older children. The grounds were used for school sports day.

  The uniform had to be strictly adhered to, and anyone deviating slightly from it, would incur a detention. Detentions were given by prefects if cardigan sleeves were pushed up higher that the wrist, or skirts were worn above the knee always a problem for growing children. For winter we wore a grey box pleated skirt, white shirt, Royal blue and grey striped tie, and a Royal blue V-neck jumper or cardigan, black lace up shoes and socks or stockings for outside, and we had to change into black sandals when we went indoors. Unused shoes were kept in a shoe bag on our own peg together with our hats, coats and games kit. In summer we wore Royal blue and white striped dresses with a blue cardigan, socks and sandals, Royal blue blazer and a straw boater.

  The school was in lovely grounds, with a pond surrounded on one side by trees and shrubs. This site became the backdrop for school plays during the summer. One memorable play was Toad of Toad Hall. The school eventually closed around 1969 and was pulled down to make way for a new housing development.

• St George's School (North Foreland) nothing to do with the present school of the same name. Please view the separate page for a brief history of this school.