Nostalgic memories of Horncastle's local history
Share your own memories of Horncastle 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 1 - 10 of 17 in total
I’m Don Spencer.
I entered homeleigh orphanage in 1954 at the age of 7.
After a period in reception, I was transferred to home 10, a house for boys, run by miss Shaw as our mother.
A ginger haired bad tempered woman, who took delight in punishing us at every opportunity.
Outside activities kept me sane, school and football mainly.
I did run away a couple of times and the feeling of relief was ...see more
my brothers and I were sent to homeleigh in 1958 after our father was demobbed from the RAF and our mother became ill . Iremember arriving at the recieving home under the watchful eye of the Vardy's and after a few days moving to home 4 which was being run by MR&MRS Blades who were very nice.Iremember being invited into their living room whenever RUSS CONWAY was on there tv (I think she had a thing for him) ...see more
I was at the home in 1950 I was a baby taken there from my birth I believe my sister Hilda Boswell was there as well. We came from Gainsborough. I have only recently discovered this and am trying to.get any info out there
Comment please if you remember either Hilda or John
Does anyone know where Wragby home was I had a sister there.
I spent ten years of my life at the Holmeliegh from 1939-1949. I was known to everyone there,
children & staff as BUNNY and I can honestly say that although things where hard I was never mistreated in any way. We were looked after well and really wanted for nothing except maybe real Mother love. I was a bit of a rebel and often got punished but never violent
I read the article by Michael ...see more
I've just received an e-mail from Ray Cooke today 29/2/2016, i have been in touch with him before and we did remember more or less the same things and people in the home, so after his e-mail i decided to have another look at this site, it certainly jogged my memory, however after reading some other people's memories i started to wonder if i was in the same home or maybe the fact that i was happy there and knew no other ...see more
RE: Holmeleigh Horncastle Childrens Homes and School Years
I was in the "Homleigh" from 1939 to 1949. For anyone there at that time I was always known as 'Bunny'. Someone mentioned about two boys getting to London; well, I was one of the boys and we did not go for any particular reason but the Lincolnshire Echo picked up on it and said we tried to get to the Palace to plead for Mr Vardy who was about to loose his ...see more
I have also remembered Barry Wilford.
I have remembered some of my old mates from the homes, in home 8 they were: Frederic Smith, Ray Cooke, Tim Farrow, Philip and Eddy Atter, John and Willy Dobbs, Raymond Boucher who was deaf and dumb, Cedric Harrison, Pete Hewson, John Leake and Charlie Lack. From other homes there was Willy Marsh, Bernard Atkins, John or David Walker, Barry Tune, Monica Dickson, Sandra Fowler, Peggy Chapman, Jean Hanson, Kathleen ...see more
I was in home 8 for over 5 years. Many memories, some good, some bad bad bad. Had the cane off Vardy (the super ) many times. Had a few good friends, if anyone remembers me please get in touch, cheers.
Holmeleigh Children's Home had routines, each cottage home operated supervised by housemothers and assistant housemother who were responsible for daily care needs of children under their care which could be up to 14 children at one time.
Mr Norman Vardy and Matron Elizabeth Vardy over saw that the homes were running smoothly and behaviour of children acceptable. They enforced discipline when ...see more