Nostalgic memories of Fornethy Residential School's local history
Share your own memories of Fornethy Residential School and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 21 - 30 of 33 in total
Sent here early 80's for 3 weeks. I'm now 50. HELL on earth! Forced to eat porridge which made me sick even though I told them this. Watched a monitor at another table forced to eat food from floor that another younger child had dropped. Ten mile walks every day with holes in my shoes. And I was only 11 and had taken my period. That didn't go down well.
Will NEVER forget her telling me I was scum ...see more
I was sent to the school twice, once in 76 and 78. My grandad was ill the first time, I remember the discipline and the punishments, for me it was a place where I could a child. I was warm, clean, well fed and learning. I was in the Islay dormitory. The dormitories were called after islands or rivers. Aye we got dragged out and made tramp the hills for miles. Being a glasga street rat. I loved the ...see more
I can not remember exactly when i was there was 70,s or and 80,s i remember all the chorea we had to do i cant remember what house i was in i was there with my 2 sisters on 1 occasion my sister was ill in 1of the upstairs dorms we where going on 1 of the long long walks she was allowed somebody to stay with he but me or my other sister wasnt allowed
I also remember easter we got the ...see more
Can't believe I've stumbled on this,I'm now 50,got sent here in the 70's for about 3 weeks,when I got there clothes were removed from my case,no trousers to be worn,it was so strict and not fun at all,humiliating getting showered,no privacy,teachers watched which was so not right,went walks for ten miles and remember a teacher using an outside toilet and making all of us pee outside in front of ...see more
My memory and the memory of my 2 sisters was horrendous, it was like consentration camp. They would force you to eat dinners you did not like and if you didn't eat it you would be made to sit all night on the floor no covers nothing. My mother would send clothing and food parcels and we would never get them. There is a lot more we went through and still have nightmares of what happened. I will write more when I ...see more
I was here twice when I was younger..first time I was around 7 second I was 8..my younger sister was with me..she was missing mum terribly ..she wet the bed and got made to stand in a corner all night..following morning was cold showers..I got beating from the nurse for talking..cried for hours..most of the children being sent to residentail school was because problems at home..(my mum was in hospital) ...see more
Would love to talk more about my experience at this place with you lady’s a little further ... how can we all chat safely ? Remember Saturday night movie night ?
My sister and I were talking about the awful memories of this place which in my own case would have been early 1960s. Hellish! , physical and emotional abuse. Eat the food to the point of vomiting. Nothing to be left on a plate. Don’t dare talk. Slapping by certain staff members. Humiliation, I was there on 3 occasions. Supposed to be a holiday. Head teacher by the name of miss Bremner. ...see more
hated Fornethy residential school.The women told us it was haunted and when we were put to bed they pulled the covers over our heads and were told to stay that way until morning . I could not sleep as the wee ones were always crying for their parents . When we were going for our showers we had to all go down this great winding staircase practically naked in front of men etc . We had to ...see more
I was there late 60's and it was terrible cried every night and hated it,during the night I used to think there was a man in a big black cape going on all the beds one by one like Dracula and wasn't till I was an adult thast I thought maybe it was some kind of sexual assault on innocent kids x