Farley Croft Westerham
A Memory of Westerham.
Farley Croft was a beautiful house, in Westerham, converted for use as a Dr. Barnardo's Home when I was there in 1953/54. It was a wonderful place to be living. We junior Nursery Nurses were paid £4 a month while we trained. We mostly spent it on chocolate and sweets in the village on our off duty periods. I spent 10/- (50p) a month on riding lessons in nearby Limpsfield. We attended the church which was situated just off the green. We also visited General Wolfe's House and on one of our many walks we passed Chartwell, Churchill's home. We were lucky enough, once, to see Winston Churchill on his way through Westerham. The area was lovely for walks and we got out in the countryside as much as possible. To go home for a visit meant catching the steam train to Dunton Green where I picked up the mainline train to London and from there to the South Coast. Sometimes I did the journey from London by Green Line coach to Westerham. I remember Westerham as a charming little town (or village we called it) and keep promising myself a trip back there but so far have not done so. One day...
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Comments & Feedback
It was good to hear from you and to share a lovely memory.
I’m not sure if yo can help me . I was a resident at Farley Croft from 1949- 1953.
I trying to piece together some of my history to make sense of it all , before I die.
Any information would be much appreciated.
Desmond.
1) Having a bath with 1 or 2 other kids at the same time on the top floor of the building
2) Standing in the vegetable gardens in the evening before sundown (all the other kids had gone inside) and hearing the soft drone of a propeller driven plane for 5 minutes slowly getting softer and softer as it went off into the distance. It felt like a magical peaceful moment of stillness that only I had witnessed. If anyone has a photo please share as the building was demolished and redeveloped.
I left Farley Croft in late Summer 1955 so I wouldn’t have known you. Sorry. Y memories are the same as yours though. I loved the gardens, the formal rose garden and the large veg garden. Remember the peach tree Espalier against the back wall. If I was on kitchen duty it was my job to mash peelings with some sort of powdered stuff to feed the chickens. Regards
Gaynor
Barnardo’s home
Mrs Gunne was Matron
She kept her pet terrier dogs Susie and Tweasle and Honey the Golden cocker
Mr Bateman was the Gardner
Mrs Elliot and Mrs Gibbs were cooks
I was a trainee Nursery Nurse here 1954 to 1956
I remember many many children I cared for here.
I am still in touch with 2 other staff members that I shared a room with.
I have some photos of myself and some children that I cared for.
I loved my time at Farley Croft and the children were very much loved by us all, I often think about them and wonder what they did with their life.
I remember Philip Bailey who has posted on here, he was such an enchanting child.
You will remember me as Jean Turner ( red hair) who are you in touch with? I know you shared a room with Cynthia and Elizabeth. I am in touch with Valerie and Wendy. There are other staff members that I would love to chat to.
Jean Boon