Memories of Stanhope

The Castle School for Boys

I was in Castle School from 1961 to 1964. It was good at times and also bad. Mr Bowls was the head, and didn't we know it. I had the walking stick on many a Friday morning after assembly. I cannot remember any names from people there. 12 months after leaving I went in the Merchant Navy on the catering side, but had a car crash in 1969 which ended my career. It must have all changed now, being flats and all.

Merry old Stanhope

Ok 'anon', who are you? I think I know but can't remember the name. I was in Bewdley House from 1975-77, a lot should remember me, the best keeper in the school for 2 years, the last match I played was in 1977 when the Bewdley B side won that year's tournement, there was a protest because I played in that match from playing in the senior side, Bewdley had to win against Crawley to win the title, guess what, Bewdley beat Crawley 3-2. The last 10-15 minutes I was bombarded and had to pull off a lot of saves for Bewdley to win, does anyone remember this?
Ian Lambert.

The Castle School, Stanhope.

I think I must have talked to about three ex-Castle School kids since I wrote my memories about the the school. It was opened by an Act of Government during the Second World War in 1942. I can remember one of the teachers telling me it was also partly used as a hospital as well for injured troops. I'll give credit to a lot of the teachers and staff and say they had a difficult job to deal with all these problem kids from all over the UK at one time. When I went there it was mainly local north-east kids that went there. I will say there were some horrible teachers there, and it made me wonder just why some of them  decided to work with children in the first place. Mainly, most of the teachers seemed pretty fair I think. Something like the Castle School is well needed to sort out the type of kids that cause havoc now. There are some awful kids around. It would be nice to hear from any of the teachers and staff that taught there as well though. I would really like to hear their viewpoint on the way the school was run.
Michael Purves.

Merry old Stanhope (what a place)

Now then, what year was Stanhope cut off on all sides, Crawley had snow almost up to the telephone line, going to Frostley was impossible, in fact it was about 6 days that we were stuck in for, latest jobs were snow clearing from most footpaths. I remember Mr Fleaming and Mr Corner and oh yes Mr Pervis from Hartlepool (are you still in Hartlepool?). You know me, I was a small kid, I was in Crawley House and lived on the top dorm. Shall I tell you who I am? No, not yet , but I will give you one more clue, I used to live in Sunderland (but not now, I'm in York).

stanhope

ok you loti do remmber some ofyou stanhope was not that bad their were places that you could not get out like acliffe near darlington {mr corner}and if i remmber 1 in middelsboro }mr pervis} you no me but you dont know wereim at i also know a few facts like who stole cars in stanhope if i remmber at least 2 cars bet the locals were happy when it closed down wish you would meet up some day you know scare stanhope day 300 ex residents of the school in 1 place theyed probely shut stanhope village down oh forgot to tell you who i am ok afew clues no ha ha gotto go

The Last Laugh

So what, you got the cane, you deserved it, you were a baben. The locals semed to hate us, the school was hated by most of the local villagers, we brought them crime, burglary, theft, the lot. Was I glad when I left, too right. Bye bye Stanhope, hello freedom. How many of the lads who were in Stanhope re-offended, I bet you there are loads locked up right now, in HMP Durham or other prisons in the UK. I think Stanhope was a training place, you got told about other things like burglary, shoplifting, TWOC, and you were told how not to do, say, robbery, because other people told you how they got caught, so you did not do the same mistakes. The ones who went on to do Borstal and YP were the really bad crooks because they got caught, and if you did any of the prisons, ie Durham home house, you were just a mug for getting caught. Oh yes, I mean me too, but not now, I don't get caught because I don't do any crime. I'm not saying I'mi a goodie gumshoe because I'm not, well not yet anyway. Got to go now, hope you read this soon. Oh yes, shall I put my name on this article? (Answers on a postcard to .. oh dear not telling you nowt yet! If you know who I am, send an email to the page by the 16th December).

That hell-hole of Stanhope School

Hi, I'm Kenny Melvin, nickname by the school 'nimble Nat'. I was in there from 1962 until 1967 in the house called Horsley. I remember my first day I got there, one lad would look after you for a few weeks till you got settled in, he told me if I came across the headmaster, then called a Mr Bowles, look him in the eye and open your mouth when talking to him. I was unlucky to meet him on the stairs by I looked him in the eyes, and opened my mouth and got away with it, not like the lad next to me. You had to have your wits about you in there. Yes, there were the walks, God, you would all go into the assembly hall on a morning before, you would start school, sing a few songs around a big piano played my a Mr Wheeler the woodwork teacher. Then you would get someone who would put his hand up and say 'Can we walk to the elephant trees' which were miles away. It kept you fit I suppose, but if you did not keep up you were beaten. I hope to hear from some of the lads in Horsley House around the time I was in, a Robert Hat and his brother, a Raymond Simpson, a George Forman, Allen Woods, Jimmy Bywaters and any of the lads whose names I have forgotten, they will remember me, we used to have a long-distance run every year, I won it for the years I was there - bighead LOL! I was looking around the school last night, a nice couple came out to talk to me who now live in the old headmaster's house. It was really nice to talk to you.
Take care too, you nice couple, and all the lads who were in there, take care too.

  

Castle School, Stanhope

Well, I have been reading some articles posted on this website, about Castle School in Stanhope from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. Well, I was in Castle School from 1958 - 1962. I was in because I was a badden, lol, just like those who have posted messages on here. When I was driven up the driveway to the main entrance, I looked, and thought "This is not a school, it's Colditz". Reading some of the letters posted on here from various people, it sounds as though it was a tough place, well believe me it hasn't changed since I was in. I was in Crawley House, all the houses were named after hills around Stanhope. I did 3 and a half years before I got to go home back to Doncaster, but don't think i could have coped with 6 years, as someone had said in their letter they posted.
I did do a great escape once from the school, didn't get far, ended up in a back street, and one of the cooks saw me, so I went back. I got into trouble for that. Back then, if you got into trouble, you were made to polish the wooden floors on your hands and knees, I was dong that one time, and I stopped for a rest. When one of the teachers caught me, he told the head, who hit me with a walking stick. So yes, I agree with some of you, they would have been prosecuted if it wasn't in back then. Yes we went camping to Whitby back then, we were in a field just up from the cemetery, and when it was foggy, you got the foghorn going off.
My parents only visited me once whilst I was there. My Uncle John came with them, he brought me a fishng rod and we went into the River Wear, trying to catch little fish. The day came when I was sent home, and a Mr McTavish, one of the teachers, took me home to Doncaster.
Well I went to see Castle School today, Saturday 20 June 2009. It's all flats now, and you can't see the big field from the top, because all of the trees and shrubbery have grown to a great height. I looked into the courtyard where we played, and it brought back memories straight away. The toilet block burnt down last year, but Stanhope hasn't changed much, except for the tourist information centre and cafe across the road from the school. But I must admit, my time in there changed me. I had a few jobs when I got back home, then joined the Army in 1968 for 12 years. But it was nice to see the old school again. If anyone was in Castle school way, way, way back then and would like to share messages on-line feel free to email me at  dave2948h@hotmail.com.

Stanhope Castle School

1975-1979
Yes it was hell. But at the end of the day I did wrong. But I was only a kid, and I think it was only petty. You'd think I did murder to what went on at Stanhope Castle. It was all true. I would to get in contact with anyone else who experienced Stanhope Castle like I did, in particular Jeffrey Hall.

The Castle School, Stanhope 1977-1980

I went to Castle School in 1977 till about 1980 and have some happy memories of the place. I was sent there because I was a handful at 11 years old, and no local school would take me! Some of the kids there came from really terrible family backgrounds, through no fault of their own, while some kids were just bad.
I wasn't happy being there at the time, but it got me an education, and got me away from the bad kids I knocked around with at home in Hartlepool. I was in Bewdley House, and the housemaster was called Mr O'Donavan. He was strict but fair, and knew and understood his kids. I talked to him in later years and he said I took to the countryside there like a duck to water, while some kids didn't like the area. True, there were some bad teachers there, but there were also some good ones as well. The school headmaster was called Mr Proud. He was strict, but could see a lot in kids that other teachers couldn't see. I liked him. When I first went there, it was run like an old 1950's private school. You had to march everywhere in twos while out walking, polish your boots and shoes first thing in the morning before breakfast, say grace at meal times and eat in silence. You had to go to church on a Sunday morning, and got home-leave every three weeks. They had a tuck shop on a Saturday night, and I used to get 10p pocket money (it didn't go very far!). I learnt to love the countryside while I was there and fell in love with the area. We used to go out and do a lot of walking in the surrounding countryside. It shaped my life and gave me a love of the countryside, wildlife and nature I have to this day.
We used to go camping every summer to Whitby, the money used to fund the trip was supposed to be from the tattie picking we did on the farms in September. One of the teachers later admitted to me, that an inspector ruled the camping inhumane. This was because they only allowed us to wear t shirts and shorts in camp, and it could be freezing camping sometimes! The Whitby camp trip was always looked forward to. The only time we really had any real freedom was when we went down to the arcades on an evening. The teachers and staff used to patrol the seafront from the bridge to pier, and we were not allowed out of this area. Of course we always managed to sneak to the newsagents for a packet of fags still, when the teachers were not looking! Part of the fun was sneaking away somewhere and having a smoke! We were allowed out in September on our own when the fairground visited Stanhope market place as well.
One of the worst things I can remember, was hearing the school leave list called out on a Friday. I never forget one kid sobbing his heart out in the schoolyard as he wasn't allowed home because of his bad behaviour. It was awful. The school later brought a grading system in for behaviour. The grades were set from one to five. It was worked out by staff giving the kids either a plus or a minus, depending on our behaviour. You could get up to five minus or plus points per member of staff. I used to average a grade three normally, but if you got grade one, you got additional home-leave that week. If you got grade five, you got no home-leave and had to scrub out the house washroom and toilets every night. It seemed to me that the same kids were either on grade one or five at the time.
The school and kids were not really liked in the village, but we did do things for the local area. We always had a bonfire and firework display every November on the school playing field, where the locals would come along (no doubt paid for by the lads tattie picking!). The school had its own garden, and grew a lot of its own food too. The food was always decent, but we had to eat everything given to us, even if we didn't like the food! We had to clear our plates and got one slice of white bread and one slice of brown bread with our meal. The food was healthy, but I always used to wonder why we never got toast on a morning. It was mainly bread and cereals.
They still used the cane when I first went there. Most schools in the 1970s would give you the cane across your hands (six of the best at the worst!), at the Castle School, you were caned on your bare buttocks if you were really bad. I remember one lad not being allowed to go home till the bruises had gone down, from being given six of the best. The cane got used less and less while I was there, and I think they stopped it. One of my class teachers hated me and used to beat me up now and again. I never used to complain though. I didn't dare say anything, but luckily I was moved out of his class. That teacher has a lot to answer for for the way he treated me, always putting me down! No wonder some of the kids would do a bunk from the place!
Being honest, it did me a lot of good being there in the end. I would say that schools like the Castle School are needed with the way some kids are now. I was one of the lucky ones and never had a criminal record thanks to the school. I now work in the Civil Service and have not been in trouble since then.

RE: My 6 years at Stanhope Castle

Hello Michael ,

I read your sad and disturbing memories of your period at the Stanhope School, sadly I have to say that what appears to be a chapter from a Dickens novel  is all too true and witnessed by myself during at stay at the school in 1967.

I was a student attending a Home Office Training Course for residential Social  Workers on placement at the Stanhope. The Headmaster being Mr Bowls ran a regime of mature bullies that gave cruelty preferance over care to children and at times young members of staff.

Unlike you Michael, I was in a position to report my views to a higher authority which I was assured would investigate and deal with the matters  of mental  and physical abuse that affected the school population. Mr Bowls and the 'Tiger' got their deserts.

Stanhope Boys Home.. a horrible place to be.

I was in Crawly House in Stanhope Castle School from 1978-1981. My memories were not too good, it was a horrible place to be when you were 11 years old.
I visited Stanhope Home a year ago and it has been turned into flats, the school block looks like it had fallen down and is overgrown with weeds... which is probably the best thing for it!
I went on to Richmond Hill as Stanhope Home closed down. Richmond Hill was a really good home, a lot of activities and the food was good. The staff were ok, unlike Stanhope.

THE CASTLE SCHOOL

I was at the Castle School in Stanhope from 1975-77, I was in Bewdley House and in Big Raby dorm, to me I have no good memories about the place to be honest. I thought it was an evil place, if the law was then as it is today many of the staff would have got a prison sentence after the violence went on there, I am only being honest. At the age of 14 I arrived at the Castle School at about 6pm, had some food, I think it was food, and then I was put straight to work polishing floors, the floor polish was put on so thick it was difficult to polish as you would be on hands and knees, if you stopped the staff would walkacross the front line and stand on your fingers. I remember one boy who hated Cauliflower Cheese and was made to eat it and he was sick, then he was made to eat his own vomit. I was feeling unwell and finding it difficult to move, I was clouted across my head and ended up with a perforated eardrum. I remember a freezing January evening, getting a shower before bed, the shower water was freezing and I found it difficult to get in the shower, I was hit several times across my back with carbolic soap wrapped up in a towel until I was in the shower. I was at this school for my own protection from my step-father's abuse by Social Services and this is what I had to face. Today the memories are still there and I feel anger over this place. I recieved split head stitches in my head, broken nose, black eyes, cracked ribs and this was done just from the staff there,  , and what really went on there when there were young boys from the age of 9 years old up to 16 years old. not mension staff names those who were there will remember. (NOT A GOOD PLACE TO BE.)
Ian Lambert.

The Castle School for boys.

I was actually born in Middlesbrough in 1953, but being a bit of a handful in my life early life I was placed in certain boys' schools, one being The Castle School at Stanhope. My memories of my 3 yrs there are full of happiness and adventure.

I now try to recall some of the places that I remember but am finding it very hard to locate pictures. Has anyone out there got old pictures of the Wear Bridge that I seem to remember just behind the school, perhaps pictures of the old school itself, the cobble market place that I remember so clearly that used to host the small fun fair yearly, the old church on the hill? I would be so happy to hear from anyone with any info on these things, because Stanhope was a big part of my early life. I was there around 1963 to 1966.

going to school

I suppose it was round about 1955 not sure. I remember going to school and often the headmistress used to pick us up, and we used to sit in the dicky seat. I remember picking rose hips. I remember we had lots of friends. My name was Sandra Taylor does anyone remember me?? I lived next door to a pub and our friends owned it so we had good times there. Our friends the Waltons also owned the petrol station. oh those were the good old days. Any one else remember them?