Francis Frith logo

The Francis Frith Collection Francis Frith

An Historical Photographic Archive of National Importance

Call: +44 (0)1722 716 376
Sign-in or Register
Contact Us
Trustpilot
Sign-in or Register
Delivery Info Help Contact Us
US ($)
Choose A Francis Frith Shop
 UK (£) For UK & International delivery US ($) For US/Canada delivery
Call +44 (0)1722 716376
0 Items: View Basket
Shopping Basket
Trustpilot
  1. Home
  2. Salisbury
  3. Memories
  4. Home For Girls And Young Women In Churchfields Road

Home For Girls And Young Women In Churchfields Road

A Memory of Salisbury.

During the late 1960s I lived in Mill Road just down from the railway station. Our house was opposite Churchfields Road. Some way up this road on the left hand side was some kind of institution where teenage girls and young women lived. This was close to Grosvenor House, I believe. Every Sunday, a procession of these female residents would walk in pairs presumably to church. I was told that the place was a home for unmarried mothers but I am uncertain of this. The girls walked in silence and were dowdily-dressed, this at a time when mini-sklirts, etc, were all the fashion, it being the Swinging Sixties. It was a sad sight. Does anyone reading this know more?
(Alaric Birkett)

Contact Contributor
Added 28 January 2021

#688987

Comments & Feedback

I do not think this was a home for unmarried mothers but a reform style school. Its exact purpose has been lost to me but I worked there as an apprentice and the girls had been sent there by the courts and police.
By Chris Read on Sat Oct 9th 2021, at 6:54 pm
Contact User
Report
Thanks, Chris. Do you know any more about this place? Your memories would be of great interest to those researching the treatment of juvelines under the judicial system after the last War. The subject is a huge area these days.
By al.birkett on Sat Oct 9th 2021, at 7:57 pm
Contact User
Report
The home for unmarried Mothers was Beckingsale House, which I think was in St Ann's Street Salisbury. I remember that the girls were marched to St Thomas's church on Sunday mornings and sat in the back row of pews. Sometimes they could be heard sobbing during the service and as a twelve year old, I found this very upsetting. I think the home was run by the Diocesan Board for Moral Welfare. This was in 1955. The memory still haunts me.
By Pamela Thomson on Mon Apr 4th 2022, at 3:39 pm
Contact User
Report
Pamela, Than you for commenting. I've just brought up Beckingsale House online and apparently it was demolished to make way for Churchill Way, part of the Salisbury 'Ring Road'. This would have been around 1965. I attended Bishop Wordsworth's School at the time and remember it being constructed. The girls' institution would have been relocated and may have been in Churchfields Road. That would tally with my memories.
By al.birkett on Mon Apr 4th 2022, at 5:48 pm
Contact User
Report
Thanks, yes, I think Beckingsale House was demolished to make way for the ring road. The 'home' then moved to Hillview, which was accessed off Rampart Rd. I am not sure when it closed but I suppose by the 1970s, times gradually changed. The local authority home in Churchfields was for teenagers 'in need of care and protection'. I think the girls were mainly sent there by the courts, or were thought to be 'out of control'.
By Pamela Thomson on Mon Apr 4th 2022, at 7:09 pm
Contact User
Report

Add your comment

You must be signed-in to your Frith account to post a comment.

Sign-in or Register to post a Comment.

Add to Album
What's an Album? Info

Sparked a Memory for you?

If this has sparked a memory, why not share it here?

Add a memory of Salisbury