Have Your Say
Watford Orphanage
Post a Reply to this topic.
Can you help? - Orphanage, Watford Junction.
Does anyone know anything about the Orphange that was in Watford in the early 1900's on Orphanage Road? I would like to know more about the history of this building which is now luxury flats called the Reed Complex. Hope you can help.
-
Hi Mo
Watford Orphan School and Asylum
The London Orphan Asylum was opened in 1871 originally housing 450 children. The Asylum was originally based in Clapton, east London and, after an outbreak of typhoid fever, moved to Watford for more space and a cleaner environment. The building cost £63,000 to erect and the foundation stone was laid in July 1869 by the Prince and Princess of Wales. The buildings are Grade II listed and the complex was sympathetically converted into residential apartments in the 1980s.
Best Regards
M.Pritchard -
can u help me please i am trying to find a relative who was a border at the asylum he was there in 1911 aged 12 but on his death certificate at23 it states his occupation as mental nurse.his name was George William Arthur Hille thank you
-
Hi Mo
I am an ex student from LOndon Orphan School/ Reed's School.Watford. IAt the age of ten entered the school on Septamber 15th 1939.
Iam getting pretty old now bit I have only just discovered information on Google.
Idon't think much had changed from early days when I started but things changed dramatically during the war years when we were evacuated.
There was an unique way of getting a position in the school, which involved an interview and then if successfulone had to get votes from subscribers.
If any of this interests you I would be happy to fill you in.
I have been trying to find out where the remaining girls went when the girls' section of the school sadly closed in 1955.
hoping for a reply
Regards Kath George nee Elphick -
I have also tried to find information on orphanage in Watford, My father was there about 1920 and I thought the orphange was in Leavesden Road. He left there for another orphange which I believe to be in called 'Hocketts" at New Barnet. If anyone can help I would appreciate it
-
I believe my father, along with his younger sister, may have been student's at the London Orphanage from about 1916 (when their father died) to 1924. In those days Army recruiters used to visit these establishments to recruit boys for the army. When my Dad was shown a picture of a Scottish soldier in full Highland Dress, he decided he wanted to look like that, although he wasn't Scottish! He went on to serve over 28 years in the forces.
Considering the circumstance he think he had a reasonably happy life at the school. He learnt deaf & dumb sign language as quite a few of the children were deaf, he was also very good at darning socks! One of the deaf boys later became an assistant to Logie Baird the pioneer of television and became one of the first people to have his image displayed on a TV screen.
I remember him telling me he saw, from the school grounds, the first German Zeppallin shot down near Watford, in September 1916 by Leefe Robinson VC.
Does anyone know if there any school records still available which can be examined?
