Gravesend, Milton Mount College 1902

Photo ref: 49048

I was at the Milton Mount College building when it was renamed St Mary's School . It was built to be a school to educate daughters of Congregational Ministers and Missionaries . It may have opened in 1871 and officially closed in 1971 . It was demolished in 1972 and the lovely building , land and gardens became a much needed housing estate .

My name is Richard Canham and I spent the first four years of my life here at the Gravesend Orphanage in Kent with my older brother Gary. Despite being very young I still have vivid memory's of this place. We were there from late 1959 to about 1963 I have some photos which I will post shortly. I live in Australia now and plan to visit the UK in 2016 I am very much hoping to visit this place as I have been told it is still standing today.

I too, was a resident at St Mary's. I went there from St Anne's, Brighton when I was about 6 in 1949 and I left in 1956/57. At that time I was known as Michael Murray. I remember playing in the Shed, it was very cold in winter, or going up to the Squares to play. The long Borstal Walks with Father Baker, god help you if you got behind him, he whacked you with his walking stick. Remember actually ...see more

I remember St. Mary's. As an eight year old Londoner, I had travelled a bit to different parts of England during the evacuation. Whilst at St. Mary's, I attended school there, played soccer for the junior team, was confirmed as a Catholic. I remember Father Baker well. In 1948 I remember that he had a television set, which was quite astonishing at the time. I remember long walks to the Kent ...see more