Hidden Lives Revealed. A virtual archive - children in care 1881-1981 * Image of handwritten text

St Mary's Home For Babies, Great Maplestead

Photograph of St Mary's Home For Babies, Great Maplestead

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St Mary's Home For Babies, Great Maplestead

Great Maplestead, Halstead, Essex

(1943 - 1957)

'Internal management' of St Mary's was transferred to the Society in 1943 and the Home itself remained a Diocesan institution controlled by the Diocesan Council and their Warden the Revd F Kennedy. The sisters of the Clewer Community had been responsible for the day-to-day management of the Home up until this point. After the transfer the Home continued as a Training Home, providing training for older girls before they left the Society's care. However, after 1943 it was also adapted to accommodate younger girls as well as babies. Nursery nurses were also trained at the Home.

The Home was formally opened on 19 October 1944 by the Bishop of Chelmsford. The residents of St Mary's Home for Girls, Frant were evacuated because of the Second World War to St Mary's, Great Maplestead briefly in 1944 to avoid the V2 flying bombs.

In 1953 the Home had become a babies unit only, accommodating infants up to five years old.

In 1957 the Great Maplestead Home was vacated as the property was now too large for its purpose.



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