Ivybank Childrens Home
I thought I would leave a message here also, I was a child at Ivybank Children's Home in Nightingale Lane. Sadly though I don't think it is there any longer. We were an all-girls children's home, with a range of ages from 5 years to 16 years. The home was run by Auntie Bonnie. Ivybank had a massive green front door, and lots of grounds, which ran down literally to the fence by the railway line into Godalming. I remember St. Johns School which I attended, and also the church. Does anyone here remember the Chocolate Box Sweet Shop, or the steam trains, and standing on the iron bridge in Farncombe and holding your breath until the train had passed under...?
I would love to find someone with a photograph of Ivybank.
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Comments
RE: RE: Ivybank Childrens Home
I remember Ivy Bank very well. I lived at Munstead and went to Meadrow Secondary Modern School. I had a friend called Jessica Taylor who lived at Ivy Bank. When I called for her I always went to the side door and knocked. I was never invited in, I used to wait for her outside. I also remember very well the railway bridge. When I was 16 I moved to Farncombe. I now live in Sussex by the sea! Ivy Bank was pulled down and there are flats there now. The son of my friend, who lives down here, lives in one of the flats and it is still called Ivy Bank
Comment from Barbara Blundell on Sunday, 3rd January 2010.
RE: RE: Ivybank Childrens Home
Hi
I lived at Ivybank in the early 1950s. I clearly had a better time than some of you did - the lady in charge during my time there was a Mrs. Dalton or Dyson. She had a daughter - Pauline or Pamela. We had moved together from Tudor Lodge which was in the Redhill area, I think. I do remember my stay there being happy.
Does anyone remember the litte tree house which overlooked the railway line - there was still a bit left when I looked for the home some years ago.
I have also searched for a picture of Ivybank, but no luck. I hope you have better luck David.
Linda
Comment from Linda Smith on Thursday, 29th December 2011.
RE: RE: Ivybank Childrens Home
G'day Patti - I'm doing a bit of digging around to see what I can find & am hopeful that I might be able to turn something up.
I'm pretty certain that somebody will have one - a couple of my neighbours have lived in the development since it was completed and so know the area & the childrens' home very well.
We've spoken about it before but I'll pester them again..
If anything does surface, I'll obviously let you & the others who have an interest in Ivybank know asap.
All the best,
David.
Comment from David Wakefield on Tuesday, 6th July 2010.
RE: RE: Ivybank Childrens Home
G'day David, Unfortunately there don't seem to be any photos of Ivybank when it was a children's home but there is one photo of it but it is an aerial one and you can't see too much of it, and that's why I would love to see any photos if they exist, maybe they got rid of them all with all the bad memories associated with the place... Regards, Patti
Comment from Patricia Laker on Tuesday, 6th July 2010.
RE: RE: Ivybank Childrens Home
Hello, I have lived in one of the houses in Ivybank (they're not all flats!) and have also been trying to find a photo of the former children's home which stood here until the mid 1980s. On a recent heritage day in Godalming I asked someone from the photographic society whether they might have access to one but whilst the bloke remembered Ivybank he said that unfortunately he didn't know of any existing photographs. My next plan is to have a chat with someone at the town museum to see if they might be able to help - I'll keep you posted... Regards, David.
Comment from David Wakefield on Tuesday, 6th July 2010.
RE: RE: Ivybank Childrens Home
G'day Di, I was at 'Ivybank' in the 1960s, I'm not too sure which years. I do remember a Marilyn but not a Sandra, maybe if she was younger I may not have taken any notice as I wasn't the friendliest of kids. The only photo I know of that is still around is an aerial view of the place. I also emigrated to Aussie in 1971 when I married an Aussie and am still here. I would love to hear from anyone who was there in the 1960s, and probably like your mum and aunt have nothing from those years except some not so good memories...
Comment from Patricia Laker on Sunday, 20th June 2010.
RE: RE: Ivybank Childrens Home
Hi Patricia, I live in Farncombe now myself, in one of the oldest cottages in Furze Lane. I have heard many stories from my mother who was one of the kids at Ivybank children's home where she spent many unhappy years, like you she also attended the local schools. At a guess I would say she was there during the sixties where she was known as Marilyn Webb, her sister who also experienced the home was known as Sandra Webb. They are both living, local one in Eashing Lane and the other in Shamley Green. My mother emigrated to Australia shortly after leaving Ivybank around 1969, where we were born and lived until 1986. I can recall the many stories told to us by our mum and have been able to piece story and place together, the children's home itself had already been demolished and the flats were built so it would be great to see a picture if one is found. My mum and aunt I know would like to make contact with others who were in Ivybank too.
Comment from Di Marshall on Sunday, 20th June 2010.
RE: RE: Ivybank Childrens Home
G'day, I was at Ivybank with my sister for a while...and yes who can forget the bridge I jumped off onto the coal hopper on a moving train...yes and the Chocolate Box Sweet Shop where we used to spend our pocket money of which I seemed to miss out a lot through my behaviour...I can't say I was ever happy at Ivybank and as children we had to put up with stuff no child should have to endure. I went to the normal schools which we all went to...if anyone remembers anything or anyone please share it with us {me}.
Comment from Patricia Laker on Tuesday, 13th April 2010.
RE: RE: Ivybank Childrens Home
Can Barbara tell me anything about 'Ivybank' children's home in Nightingale Road. It was for girls rather than boys, but I can find no photographs of the home which, as Barbara says, was demolished, probably in the early 1980s. I research Farncombe as a hobby, but can find little information on 'Ivybank', not on the children themselves but on the way it was run, and how many staff were there, and any details of the house itself. Thanks, Clive
Comment from Clive Downes on Monday, 22nd March 2010.
RE: RE: Ivybank Childrens Home
Hi, My Auntie Violet Stinton was matron at Ivy Bank in the late 1940s. She left there to go to Penistone in the West Riding of Yorkshire. I'll have a look through my mothers photos to see if I can find one. Following Vi there was a matron called Auntie Harding, I know this as I have a letter she sent to my mother when Vi died in 1955.
Comment from John Lomas on Sunday, 15th January 2012.