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A purpose-built orphanage, mid-20th century UK

Based on childhood recollections of Myton Hamlet Children's Home, Warwick, 1938-1941, probably similar to other orphanages in early to mid 20th century UK

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Extracted from the memoirs of Brenda May Wilson, 1927-2003, courtesy of her son, Kevin Flynn

The site

My orphanage, the council-run Myton Hamlet Children's Home in Warwick was purpose-built and was officially opened in 1938 - my year of arrival - by the then Duke of Kent. It was set well back from the road, and there was a big lawn at the front.

There was also a big yard at the back and an assembly hall.

The gardens and a lot of the grounds were 'out of bounds', partly because of a big stagnant pond there, but there was a field for playing cricket or netball, although our chores left hardly any time to use it.

The buildings

The houses were arranged in a horseshoe shape.

There was a large house for the Master and Matron and their family. This was designated as number 1.

Then there were three blocks of semi-detached houses for the children, numbered 2 to 7: Nos 2 and 3 were for girls; Nos 4 and 5 were for boys; No 6 was for boys and No 7 was for girls.

The rooms

Upstairs, each house had two dormitories sleeping six, with iron bedsteads. There was also a bedroom for the housemother who had her own bathroom and toilet, which was not to be used by us children. There was also a sickroom and a store-room where the clothing was kept.

Downstairs were a kitchen, a dining-room, a bathroom for the children, a 'playroom'-cum-sitting-room, and a boot-room, where coats, shoes and wellingtons were kept. There were two adjoining toilets.

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