Memories Of Margaret Beavan Home

A Memory of Heswall.

I was a poorly child and on two occasions spent time at the Margaret Beavan Home in Lower Heswall around 1956 and 1958.

I remember the house being very large and grand, as it would would be to a small child of around six and eight, the uniforms and not wanting to give them my own clothes. I was taken to my dormitory, they were all called after flowers, Bluebell, Poppy, I think Buttercup and some more that I can't remember at the moment.

We would go on walks along the the shore and sometimes go as far as Parkgate.

On Sundays we would walk to Church and back.
I have memories of receiving letters from home with postal orders inside, we would go to the local Post office and spend the money on sweets.
The feeling of homesickness was with me all my stay and I would quite often have to be consoled by the staff.

On my second stay, I was with a girl from my street which was nice, after about two weeks we decided we wanted to go home because we missed our Mums, so on the Sunday armed with my pocket money, we ran away and actually made it back to our homes in Liverpool, goodness knows how we managed to do it, we were both aged around eight years.

We must have caused a lot of worry at the home when they realised we had gone missing after church.
When we turned up at home, our family took us right back to Heswall to face the music.
I was asked if I wanted to continue with my stay, but I wanted to go back home with my Mum.

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Added 04 May 2012

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Comments & Feedback

Where about was this home?
I have searched without success for days to find out.
My friend stayed there for 6 weeks as a child and I am looking for any info/photos.
Please help!

By cazzy57 on Mon Sep 15th 2014, at 12:43 pm

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I have also searched for years for the exact location of the Margaret Beavan home, I stayed there in 1954 when my doctor decided I needed the care of a convalescent home, being somewhat under weight as I was constantly ill with tonsillitis, which was cured a five years later by the removal of my tonsils, such a simple solution, I have lived on the Wirral for nearly fifty years and in Heswall for over 26 years but I haven't been able to locate the address of the home, it maybe is now demolished but I would still love to visit the site, so I would also be very grateful for help

By Joyce Burden on Wed Sep 16th 2015, at 11:15 am

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Riverbank road Heswall, The house right next to the beach. Look on Google earth street vview
Audrey

By Audrey Hudson on Mon Feb 8th 2016, at 5:02 pm

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It is still there it is a health farm now

By marythornton on Sat Feb 13th 2016, at 11:37 am

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I was there around 1953 not sure of the date only stayed a few days me and my friend ran away and got home to Liverpool a policeman came to our house to check I was okay I locked my self in the bedroom untill he went .it was the worse time of my life
I would like to trace the girl who I ran away with but I can't remember her name ( I think it was I tried to blank it out of my mind for years I'm 73 now I hope she reads this

By marythornton on Sat Feb 13th 2016, at 11:46 am

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I remember staying here 1960/61 ,disco Friday in the robin club .

By Maureen Murphy on Sat Jan 9th 2021, at 11:04 pm

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I remember this home so well. I went there about 1953 after having TB. I remember having to dress up in oversize uniform and hats to go to Church on Sundays. Even as a young child I found t=it very regimental but maybe that was because we were there to rest. The dormitories after lights out were funny.I was not happy because one of the carers I think her name was susan would make me get into the bath and make fun of me and start laughing. I found here very cruel and I desperately wantes to get away from her and go home but I did enjoy the walks and the grandeur of this house.

By Maureen Moule on Wed Apr 13th 2022, at 12:22 pm

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My late wife Sandra was there, with her younger sister, Carol, for 6 weeks in the summer of 1957. Sandra was just turned 11 and Carol was 9.1/2 We went back to have a look about 20 years ago and as some have mentioned, the house is now in private ownership and the beach is overgrown. The rhubarb field was still there, though!
I found this account in an old notebook. Unfortunately, I don't have the photo she mentions.

Margaret Beavan.
My sister and I were there for 6 weeks in the summer of 1957 and we were in Poppy ward, overlooking the beach. The beach was lovely with clean sand and I remember finding half a crown one day. Fields ran down to the beach and in one grew rhubarb which we used to pick and eat raw.
We wore their dresses and on Sundays went to church wearing brown corduroy skirts, jerkins and berets. I remember the Bendix room which held a large washing machine.
We had lots to keep us occupied and on one of our many walks we were entertained by a group of Scottish men. We often walked to Parkgate and were once treated to a meal by a stranger.
Once a week we went to the lower village to buy sweets etc. Popular were small pink vases for our mothers. I remember going to a cafe called Annabelles.
One day the Queen was due to go past by train and we all went to the matron's house as her back garden overlooked the railway. The gardener and his wife had a cottage in the grounds.
The photos; the lady on the left is the matron, lady on the left a nurse. Girls' photo, me on the left. Anyone recognise me?
Sandra Watson (nee Bott).

By Bill Watson on Fri Jan 6th 2023, at 2:57 pm

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