St Clare's Convent c1940, Pantasaph
St Clare's Convent c1940, Pantasaph Ref: P193047
Memories of St Clare's Convent c1940, Pantasaph
Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy
The above order of psychological sadists ran St Clare's orphanage where small children suffered dreadfully (see BBC Wales website 2009). The order also owned a private boarding and day school on West Hill in Dartford where I was sent at the age of four; Our Lady's High School was run like a young offenders' institution. One teenage boarder (Josephine), and a four-year-old day girl (Ann Smith) ran away. And, like many institutions where there is repression by those in authority, bullying by the inmates was rife. But the big boarders and day students only picked on the little kids, of course.
When Sister Immaculate bought me an ice cream after a doctor's visit, I wasn't allowed to eat it until I returned to the school. So I didn't enjoy this unimaginable treat because I was forced to eat it in front of a five-year-old boarder (Frances Tucker) to make her feel jealous. Poor Frances had no father, and constantly had nose bleeds. But Immaculate ignored children who were... Read more
Genealogical Research
Michelle, try Hawarden (Flintshire Archive), and good luck! You could also go to the BBC Wales website for the names of people who would be around your uncle's age; then check if they are on the social networking sites.
Note to Elaine
Goodaye Elaine, and greetings from the old country. There's a book about the order called "We agreed to be different" which has been posted on the web, and mentions your old school on P36. This story about the nuns has been written in a positive vein, of course, as the truth would be TOO shameful to reveal! But the former orphans at St Clare's and St Joseph's have spoken out. And I believe them.
I think you were lucky, and that the orphans in Pantasaph were not. And I think it was the uneducated nuns who acted as housemothers who were the main problem within the order, rather than the teachers. Like you, I attended a private boarding school, and I never had a problem with a teacher within the order. Indeed, the nun who taught me at the infants' school in Dartford was the sweetest teacher I would ever know. But the two nuns who were in charge of the boarders - Sisters Immaculate and Teresa - were... Read more
School
Hi, my name is Adrian Roberts and I went to the school in Pantasaph, the headmistress was Miss Swarbrick, I think she is still alive. My parents are David and Maureen (Lyn) Roberts. My dad owned his owned his own haulage firm. If any one has other photos could you send them to my email - jashton2009@live.co.uk - or can call me on 07889881585 if you were in school with me.
1965 - 1974
I was placed with Sister Catherine from six weeks of age then boarded out prior to my ninth birthday to a newly married couple. Although I had a good time at the convent my placement wasn't a good one. I have tried over the past 16 years to find my records, has anybody else got any ideas as I have had no joy locating my records? Maybe as I was not adopted there seems to be less avenues to go down.
Pantasaph & local memories
Read and share memories of Pantasaph and Clwyd inspired by Frith photos.
Pantasaph Convent
Hi Tony Rowley here. I think it was late 50's, mid 60's. I had one brother, Jimmy and two sisters, Anglea and Pauline. If anyone remembers meplease get in touch by email or telephone. rowley2437@hotmail.co.uk - 01686670115. Look forward to hearing from anybody who remembers me.
Sr Catherine
Hi, if anyone remembers me I am Christopher Potts and I was in Sr Catherine's flat from around 1963 till I left in 1973. I have been reading some of the messages and have really happy memries of my time there. Like the time me and Derek Owens sneaked into the tractor garage and I fell over and cut my knee and still have the scar to prove it LOL. I remember Anthony Williams as well also Linda and Claire in the nursary school and Miss Swarbrick
Sister Catherine
I was at Pantasaph 1961 - 1963. Sister Catherine was in charge of the group next door to ours. Sister Xavier was in charge of our group. We used to think those in Sister Catherine`s group were lucky as she really was kind and gentle, although very small had a big, caring heart. The other nuns, unfortunately, were not really suited to caring for children but were probably given this role by their superiors. Can you ever remember Sister Anne or Sister Teresa smiling. They must have been so unhappy in their jobs, it would inevitably affect those they looked after. I`m not complaining or wish to sound negative as during my years there, although there was no love, I did survive. Does anyone remember the 4 Fentons in Sr Catherine`s group, or the Johns Family, the Griffins and Johnsons, the Rowleys, McCabes, Busbys and 4 Davies Family.(Early 60`s)
Incidently, Sister Catherine was still alive in 2008 and living in the nun`s residence at the Monaster,
Message to Dora Murphy
I've read your harrowing account of the abuse inflicted on you, and your siblings, by THE SISTERS OF CHARITY OF OUR LADY OF MERCY with immense sadness. Please read my email message on your Francis Frith personal account.
1946-1951 Age 2 Years to 7 Years
I was in St Claire's Orphanage with my two sisters after my father died in 1945. The Rev Mother Sister Phillomina had been a childhood friend of my mother's. This fact did not give us any added privileges. I remember Sister Anne and was terrified of her. She should never have been allowed to be in charge of children. She used to go into rages and I remember to this day her red distorted face towering above me. She was a bully in the true scene of the word. On one occasion I remember her throwing me against the wall and threatening to squash me, because I had been too near the 'play house' - where they kept the toys. I could have been 4, or 5 or younger. At a certain time we were allowed to get a toy and I had intended to get the new toy sewing machine that an uncle had sent us and that the nuns had been playing with earlier. Needless to say,... Read more
Being Looked After by Sister Catherine
I don't know if anyone remenbers me, perhaps Christopher Potts or Robert Tayor? I was looked after by Sister Catherine, if anyone remenbers me please get in touch.
Primary School
Hi, does anyone recall the school that was in Pantasaph which closed, I think it was either 1981 or 1982? I was one of those who left that year. If so, contact me on my email which is: adrian.roberts162@btinternet.com
St Claire's Convent
I am not sure if anyone will remember me, my name was Maureen Nolan. I was at St Claire's from about 1952 ro 1959 then I was sent to St Edmund's Home on The Wirral because I had a brother there who I did not know.
St Clare's Convent - Groups 1, 2, 3 & 4
Hi to anyone who remembers St Clare's Convent in the 1960s. I was there at this time with my sister and two brothers. We were the Davies family in Sister Xaviers group. Other groups were cared for by Sister Catherine (who is still alive and living in the nuns' home in the monastery), Sister Theresa and Sister Anne. I'm not going to be negative in my memoirs - we had good happy, fun times and also some sad memories whilst we were in the orphanage - some children had really sad times - which I am not going to mention but will of course be with me for ever. Does anyone remember the Rowleys, McCabes, Griffin sisters, Johnson family from near Rhyl, the Johns family, the Busbys and the Butterworths, and the Fentons? I remember so many whose personal names I won't mention at this point, but my sister Sylvia remembers almost everyone, even all the staff names. I have recently revisited Pantasaph which has now been made into flats, but the old structure... Read more
ST CLARE''S CONVENT
Anne, did you know that the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy also had an orphanage in Preston - St Joseph's - which would appear to have been even worse than St Clare's? And there's an exceedingly boring book about this order - "We agreed to be different" - which is published online and contains a photo of the Pantasaph orphans with the Reverend Mother. She looks stern and ugly, while all the kiddies look unhappy. And if any of those kids, or their relatatives, want genealogical details, I believe that these may be obtained at Hawarden [Flintshire Archive].
Saint Clare's Convent
I was in this horrendous place from 1942-1950. I saw a lot of cruelty from the nuns. My name then was Anne Coppola. I remember Betty Mulgrew, Doreen Evans, and Betty Everisto.
Sister Immaculate et al
I read the last three comments on the BBC Wales website about the orphanage at Bryn Mair which was run by the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy. And my heart bleeds for the innocent kiddies who were abused by those perishing nuns. I attended Our Lady's High School in Dartford which was run by the same order and, with a couple of saintly exceptions, I remember the nuns with hatred. They were mean, deceitful and cruel. They were also very ugly and had obviously become the brides of Christ because they knew they would never become the brides of anyone else. I was a boarder at Our Lady's from the age of four until I was eighdt and was treated dreadfully.
I would subsequently attend four more schools - one in Australia - and Our Lady's was was the only school where children ran away because they were so unhappy. I'm now proud to be a devout atheist - especially after all the publicity about... Read more
Schools And Church
Pantasaph holds many memories for me. I remember travelling from Lixwm with my Mother, brother and sister and going to Sunday Mass at church, also travelling in a pony and trap to attend Midnight Mass. I loved these services, loved to listen to the monks as they chanted before each mass.
I also attended Sy Aloysious High School, then when that closed I went to the local catholic school. I would get a bus from Lixwm to Brynford and then if I was lucky catch another bus in Brynford to Pantasaph. It was a long walk if we missed it, sometimes walking in the rain.
If anyone else went to St Aloyious, my name then was Veronica Hard.
