Beechholme Children's Home, 1 Fir Tree Road, Banstead: The Church of the Good Shepherd
Beechholme Children's Home, 1 Fir Tree Road, Banstead: The Church of the Good Shepherd
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Beechholme Children's Home, 1 Fir Tree Road, Banstead: The Church of the Good Shepherd
SC_PHL_02_0162_63_1352 (Collage 172935)
London Metropolitan Archives: LCC Photograph Library
The Church of the Good Shepherd was located within the grounds of the children’s home. Sadly, in 1968 the church was destroyed by fire but thankfully there were no casualties. In 1880, the Kensington and Chelsea School District opened Banstead School. In 1930, the London County Council (L.C.C.) acquired the school and in 1951 renamed it Beechholme. It accommodated 464 children, aged 2 to 15 years old. It was built in the cottage homes model, where children were looked after in family sized group homes run by house parents. There were 23 children’s houses, on both sides of a long tree lined avenue. The children’s houses were named after trees and shrubs. There were also staff houses, primary school, nursery play area, library, swimming pool, workshops, shops, administrative buildings and sick bay as well as the church. In 1965, Wandsworth Borough Council took over the management of the home, until Beechholme closed in 1974. It has since been demolished and replaced with High Beeches housing estate.
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