Banstead Residential School, 1 Fir Tree Road, Banstead: a Wendy house in a classroom
Banstead Residential School, 1 Fir Tree Road, Banstead: a Wendy house in a classroom
More information
Banstead Residential School, 1 Fir Tree Road, Banstead: a Wendy house in a classroom
SC_PHL_02_0437_B5877 (Collage 206245)
London Metropolitan Archives: LCC Photograph Library
The photograph is of one of the classrooms in the primary school. In 1880, the Kensington and Chelsea School District opened Banstead School. 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, sick bay and church. 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. 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.
Copyright London Metropolitan Archives, all rights reserved. Provided for research purposes only. For commercial and other uses please contact us via support@londonpicturearchive.org.uk
London Metropolitan Archives. Please cite document title, reference and collection.