greenfeild orphanage

hi I was wondering if anyboy had any information on Greenfeild Orphange in Billinge it is now Nugent House School on Carr Mill Road

Hi Laura

Greenfiels Orphanage is of great interest to me also, for I believe that is where both of my brothers Terry & Francis John Rafferty were placed before they were fostered.

I have wondered where the records would be kept.

Frances (Rafferty)

my mom was raised there her name was Katheen Gizzie she might of gone under Mary gizzie in the 1940's

Does your mum have any memories of the orphanage. I am not sure of the exact year that my brothers were placed there. Terry was born in 1941 & Francis John 1944, I believe Francis was fostered when he was nine so he must have left Greenfield around 1953 Francis has memories of Terry leaving a little before him.

my mom said the nuns were very mean and cruel they used to beat the children there. she left in 54 /55 when she was 12 or 13 she can only remember a few people from there.

Frances can you send me your email if not email me at L795@hotmail.com ( no capitol L though )

I have tried to find the lady that was looking for a brother on this site she told the story that her mother had a child at the age of 13yrs and the baby was taken away and she was trying to find him perhaps if she sees this , could make n=enquiries perhaps he was taken there , I never knew of this orphanage . If you could find it perhaps you could tell her of this place .I will carry on looking

hi elizabeth it was me looking for my brother im still looking.

Have you tried any of these sites? They might be of help to you.

Adoption Match

Adoption Trace

After Adoption

UK Adoption Register

ya ive tried them and cant find anything.
my mom cant remember what month or date she had him just the year and he was born in Wigan Infermary

Have you tried this site for the Birth.

Lancashire BMD

I remember going to the orphanage with my mother to see a young woman who became a housekeeper for a priest. It didn`t look like a nice place to live.

Does anyone know who would hold the records for Greenfield Orphanage or of anywhere or anyone who could have some information?

Thanks - Frances

Greenfield orphange was not a very nice place to stay from what I hear the nuns were very mean

Greenfield Orphanage is mentioned in this site I have found on the net, it may be of interest to you.

Greenfield

I went to the Notre Dame Convent with the Damien and the Kathleen McCurdy mentioned in the story of Greenfield orphanage.

Nugent Care Society run Nugent House School and would hold the records. Their address is 99 Edge Lane Liverpool and they have a website www.nugentcare.org
Good Luck searching.

Thank you for that information Ashfield

thank you for the information

Well well well..after all these years. I was at Billinge from an early age..(1952/3-58ish) and remember it well. I remember being there quite some time before I was told that my brother Brian was also in the convent. As he was a few years older we were kept apart and saw each other only on visiting Sunday. Having family members in that convent did not mean sibling were kept together..quite the opposite.

And who does not remember Sister Mary-Claire??? the only nuns' name I have remembered for almost 60 years. If there was one person in the World that should never have been a nun then this was the one. Even today I remember her using a cane with boot laces on us kids. She was a thug in a Habit.

I remember walking to school in all weathers. Doing my Holy Communion at St Marys Church and even doing the May Pole Dance..although I don't tell the kids or grandkids about that.

Does anyone remember the Lee brothers, three Chinese kids who my mother took under her wing as they never had any visitors. I, like most of us are terrible at names but the one kid I remember was a lad called Joseph Oxley. Joseph had 'sticky-out' ears and the nuns made sure he never forgot it. He was made to stand in the middle of the room and us kids were made to laugh at him..most did ..I never, and that is probably why I remember his name to this day, the only name.

It's great to hear from so many people who remember their time there, or their parents time there. Some good, mostly Bad with a capital B.

Does anyone out there remember Mary Gizzie, Alice Roberts, Claire Jordan, Catherine, Anne, Maria, and Patsy Molloy, my sisters? I was in Greenfield from early 1944 until early 1954. I was two years of age on entry into Greenfield and nearly thirteen when I left I was completely institutionalised like any prisoner. Yes they were years stuffed full of utter violence I could choke on it and fear, terror, grief, loss and absolute shame that the only way to survive it was to detach from it otherwise it was to painful.
I also remember Eileen and Sheila Casey, the Tickle twins, Nora Flanagan, Margaret Murphy, Kathleen and Mary Donald, Athony Grogan and many more. If any of you read this I would really love to hear from you. Looking forward to some contact. Brenda Molloy
PS I inquired about our records from those years to 'The Catholic Childrens' Rescue Society' they explained that the only records they held were the date my sisters and self entered the orphanage and the date we all left. I also visited the Mother House of the Sisters of Charity Nuns in Selly Oak Birmingham and got in touch with Sister Isabelle we met up and after an awkward half hour we started talking and listening to each other and it was very interesting. I hope this is of interest maybe you could call there or phone them to arrange to meet.

brenda, laura who started this topic said her mother might have been known as Mary Gizzie. See the third post.

Hi brenda my was called Mary Gizze when she was in the orphange you where the same time she was I will ask her if she remembers you

Laura if your mum is the Mary Gizzie I remember, I would love to hear from her and to hear how she has coped with life post Greenfield. Does she live with you? I'm not sure if she is the same age as me I always thought she was of similar age. I think she left Greenfield before I did.
I will be thrilled if I can make some contact however limited, because my life as a child and teenager can never be fully shared with others who didn't experience the same. Look forward to your next message and thanks for getting in touch. Brenda

Hi Brenda no my mom doesnt live with me live about 5 minutes away though she lives in Canada now shes 68yrs old now.
she still has her days I know she never liked talking about the orphanage she said she used to get beat all time. To this day she is still scared of nuns if she sees one she'll run the other way.
if you want email me L795@hotmail.com ( no capitol L though )

Brenda Molloy
Hi Brenda I remember Mary Donald red hair also Maria Molloy also with red hair are you related I would like to get in touch with sister Isabelle could you give any information that would help I really would appreciate your assistance
Take care Brian

Briansmith

Hi Brian yes, Maria Molloy with red curly hair is my sister, she was just a year older than me. There were five siblings all girls. Rather than leave Greenfield when I did in January '54 she stayed on to study for exams at Notre Dame Grammer school in Wigan until 1958.

I met Sister Isabelle some years ago. I went to the "Mother House" as we knew it as children. I had remembered it was in Selly Oak in Birmingham. If you ask for Sister Isabelle they will tell you that they are only known by their personal names, I believe that is to stem them tide of people who would like to contact the nuns now. Anyway I remembered she told a couple of us that her personal name was Catherine/Kathleen O'Brien. I left my phone number because they said she was out of the country and she phoned and we met up. It was a fruitful meeting because she confirmed much of what I had remembered. I am going to Birmingham later in the month if you like I can get the phone number for you, do let me know. I have to say that Sister Isabelle was one of better nuns in my time. There were far more vicious ones there during the 40s-early 50s.

I take it you were resident in Greenfield. what years were you there? What was your name there. Did you know Anthony Grogan? So many people seem to have just vanished into the ether. I would love to be in contact with some of them. It was Kathleen Donald, Mary sister that I was friends with. Do you know any of them now.?

Best wishes
Brenda

Brenda Molloy

Hi Brenda
I arrived at Greenfield 55/56 left 58/59 Mother Gerard was Mother Superior and later Mother Benedict I do remember Anthony Grogan I think if not Anthony I knew someone with that surname. Brenda it is fantastic hearing from you and that you were Marias sister we were good friends in fact I probably arranged Marias first kiss at her request to Paddy Mcnulty. I hope Maria is O.K, I would love to hear from her. My name in Greenfields was as is now Brian Smith. I would be very grateful if you could get Sister Isabelles number, can you remember what we used to say Isabelle necessary on a bike. I thought Sister Isabelle was very good. I pass through Billinge every day going to work as I live in Wigan, what part of the country or world do you live in? Brenda it was great to get your response your Sister will remember me, do you remember the Atherton Sisters? perhaps we could jog each others memories.
Brian.

Merry Christmas Brenda & All
I have warm feelings to the Christmas in Greenfield it is very vivid in my mind I recall going out with your Maria & other girls Christmas carolling around the Village & Maria singing Ave Maria. I was collecting the money of course being invited into the homes of the villagers & made a fuss off & being given goodies while the girls were out in the cold singing & got nothing, like to hear from you Brenda.
Brian

Brenda

I attended Notre Dame Convent in Wigan and Maria Molloy was in my class. Can you tell me what she did after. I can remember her red curly hair and she was good fun

Hi mswigan
I also would like to know more about Maria you are right she was a very nice person and good fun
Brian

Hi
I also was in the same class as Maria Molloy at the Notre Dame.I would love to know how life treated her.

I wish Brenda Molloy would post another message to let us know what happened to Maria.

She last posted a message on the 4th November.

Hi Brenda
I hope you are in good health concerned with not hearing from you, like the others above I would like to know that you are OK please make contact
Brian

Hi Dave n All
Nicky Cunningham is coming from Cyprus on the 26th would you like to meet up with us? also any Greenfielders who would like to meet with us would be welcome, if there is any interest, I'll post details.
Brian Smith

Hi mswigan
This is Brenda, Maria (Molloy's) sister. When Maria left Greenfield and Notra Dame Grammar School she went on to successfully train as a nurse to the Chelmsford and Essex Hospital. She did very well in her career. However she died, December 2000.

I have been moving house and country so I have been busy with the move and visiting family. I have only just seen your mesages so my apologies.

I know Maria would have loved to have heard from you she did enjoy her years at Notra Dame.

My best wishes to you for 2011

Brenda (Molloy)

Hi Brian
Sorry for not replying to your messages but I have been moving from abroad to the UK and have been extremely busy with the move and visiting family.
Maria died December 2000. After leaving Greenfield she went on to train as a nurse and was successful in her career. I am sure she would have enjoyed meeting you again after all these years. I was talking to my other sister Patsy about your message she also remembers you. She also remembers John McConville and a whole host of others.
I'll be in the Wigan area for a while so if you would like to meet then we could arrange it sommetime. I'm just visiting friends in the area.
Best wishes for a peaceful New Year

Brenda (Molloy)

Brenda

Good to hear from you even though it was with sad news about Maria who died so young. Where did she live and did she have any family. I'm so sad.

Hi Brenda
I am so very sad to hear that Maria passed away, I can assure you she left behind happy memories of which I cherish, Every time I bumped into or met Maria in Greenfields she generated good feeling cheering the day up, she was well loved by us all, I would love to meet up with yourself & sister anytime you would like, you may know Nicholas Cunningham from Greenfields he is coming to Wigan on the 26th Jan on a four day visit & staying at my home, I'm sure he would like to meet with you to, It would be great if you could meet up with us or any time of your choice, If I can be of some assistance in your move back to the U.K it would give me great pleasure, My wife & I do have an additional house by Leigh Infirmary you & any member of your Family would be most welcome to stay whilst visiting Wigan for as long as you like, My email address is briansmith176@yahoo.co.uk, I am feeling low at the moment with the sad news, Maria was everyones sister in Greenfields she had time for us all, allthough never had contact I always used to think of her, very sorry Brenda & my condolences to the rest of the Family
Brian.

Hi Brenda,
I was very sorry to hear about your loss in which it feels like my loss now as in one respect we were one big family.
I was baptised 11/1/1946 and my godmother was Mary Malloy. When I got all my documents from the catholic children's protection society I asked the priest, Fr. Donnelly, who was head of the catholic children's services, who is this person Mary Malloy, he told me that they would always pick one of the older girls from the home as it legalised the baptism certificate. I still have the document with her name on and the name of the priest on the certificate was a rev. H. Turner. Could this have been one of your sisters? I remember Maria and we all thought she was dead posh as she went to school with something like a brief case and she was allowed to walk anywhere without getting a pull. There was also a Mary Cunningham, no relation to me, and another girl called theresa broughton, i used to get lots of sweets from theresa.
Hope your move goes ok. p.s. welcome home.
P.p.s. I've just realised that we must have been in the nursery together as I was 2 yrs old when I arrived at greenfields in 1945 and sister lawrence looked after us.
Nicky Cunningham.

It's just heartbreaking reading some of these posts on here. Glad you all seem to be happy now. So sorry about Maria Molloy.

Hi mswigan
Nicky Cunningham is coming to the UK on the 26th of Jan I hope Brenda gets in touch and can meet up with us if she does you would be welcome to meet with us I would organise pay for A meal for all with pleasure also for anyone else who would like to meet Brenda I'll provide transport if required Maria touched alot of us if not all very sad
BRIAN

Hi mwigan
Iwas very happy in GREENFIELD it was the best home Iwas in as i was in six homes in all some homes were very bad but not this one
Brian

Brian

It just breaks my heart to think of you in all these homes. Why were you there. How did it not affect you in later life.

How on earth did all these children end up in a home in the 40's / 50's.

I think this fella called Adolf had something to do with it

Hi mswigan
I Was put into care as my mother was very ill and died whilst I Was in care one of the homes i was in Nazareth house Ditton hated it and ran away at the age of ten so badly beaten my body was full bruises they kept me in and out of sight as we were on holiday camping,the last home I was in prior to Greenfield was ST Edward's that was OK except like all the homes sad to say even Greenfield at the end the day they moved you just as if you were a piece of meat without rights feelings or consent.The truth is it has an affect to this day,my hope is change and future care takes on the human need of a sense of belonging and before the person making decisions imagine a close member of there family in that position and what they would want for them, to me Sister Mary Clare did her best on this score I am working to this end today.In the past care professionals came into your life gained you trust and then walked out of your life the care system destroys your self worth back to the meat trade that can have a lasting affect on your life the safe friends are those you were in care with sadly they were scattered upon leaving care with with no atempt from the professionals to keep us in contact with each other or indeed them sorry for going on not all bad I have memories like you [Maria ]
brian

Hi mswigan
I hve good memories like you[ Maria]
Brian

Just to say a big thank you to briansmith for getting us together a couple of weeks ago. I and my family were in greenfield from 1954 to 1961 we were the Kearns family, Mary, John, Margaret, Norah, Thomas and Peter. Thanks to Brian, we met up with Nicky Cunningham, that is my sister Mary and me, Margaret. Our John has been on the wigan site, he joined a band in the 60s called the Vaqueros, he also played with Kenny Filligham and others from the Beat Boys group. Anyone remember us. Sister Isobelle was over us senior girls and I met her and Sister Jean, who was lovely, when I was in my early 30s. They came to see me in Walton Hospital when I was very ill.

Hi Margaret. I used to live in Billinge and was in the same class as your brother John. (Polly Liptrots class!) I later worked with your brother Peter at Parkside Colliery. How are they? You may remember my sister Pauline Williams.

I don't know why I keep reading this site. It just breaks my heart to think how people have suffered but they all seem to have turned out OK.

Hi mswigan
yep

MaryB .Hi Brian hope your op went well.Both Frank,Margaret and myself really enjoyed our meal / drinks and chat, with you and Nicky. I see Nicky got back to Cyprus ok. Tell him i don't remember the singing on the way home, mind you i had a few drinks.Thanks for taking us all out it was lovely. mary b

Hi Mary Frank Margret
Op ok plaster may come off 22/3 I hope.Will get in touch when I am more mobile to meet up I have invited Dave to join if he would like to, Iam sure he would enjoy meeting you and Margret having alot to chat about,Nicky has hurt his fingers tending to his horses Claire is looking after him and doing all the work it's good to know she is aware of her position and to have a concideret partner in Nicky he feeds her once aday providing she does a reasonable days work, you would think Nicky would use them horses to plough the fields but Ifeel he does not want to break Claire routien after all thers only 40 acres.Look forward to seeing all soon
Brian

Thank you Brian and friends for your interesting posts which are so sad yet compelling reading It makes me feel so lucky I was brought up by two loving parents and realise how much heartache was had by so many less fortunate children. Bless you all. " suffer little children".

Hi Phyllis
it was not all bad we had good times but no one wants to talk about them you have to play the game of life with the cards you are dealt with, thank you for taking an interest.I feel for people in care today and there rights and not to be treated as political pawns by personality's
Brian

Hi Brian, good to get your message, glad the op went well and you are doing ok. Sorry to here Nicky has hurt his finger , poor Claire tell him she's not a pack horse, ithink she will need more than one meal a day as long as it 's not hay tell him. We are all keeping fine.I am looking foward to 8 April as our son is coming home for a visit, as you know he lives in Zurich Switzerland now for his job.Hope to here from you soon . Best of luck Mary.PS Frank an Mag says hello.

Hi Mary,Mag And Frank
still not mobile yet got to go back to hospital in six weeks hopefully then I will be able to drive and maybe we could get together

Hello Laura.

Not sure if you were able to connect with the Greenfield Orphanage Archives or not, but wanted to let you know the records are alive and well. I just received a response to my inquiry about two uncles who were placed there in 1929. Hope to get copies of the paperwork in the next week or two.

They only have one part-time archivist and requests are processed in incoming order, so it can take a while to get feedback.



Best regards


David

Hi Dave I emailed the Nugent house school( former Greenfeild orphanage )they told me that there are no records but for not having any records they told me when my mom was there and when she left they said thats all they have do you happen to have the email?
thank you for that information or you can email it to my email is on this page thanks again

Hello Laura.

I started my inquiry by emailing info@nugentcare.org

I gave them the possible month and year my two uncles would have been admitted, along with thei full names and birth dates, the names of both parents and their last known address. They get a lot of queries so an acknowledgement will take a while and the request gets passed along to their archivist. She only works part time and I think it went about 4 to 5 weeks before she was able to confirm they had found the records. Just waiting for a copy to arrive on the post, now.

Hope this helps, Laura. Good luck with your quest!!!

David

Hi David \
thats the email I have too and they forward it to a lady named Pat I belive
mabie I will try again and see what happens
thank you
Laura

Hello again, Laura

I just received the package of documents from Pat regarding my Mom and her siblings. Most interesting read as it included the paperwork for three of the children who were placed in Moorfields in Preston as well as the youngest brother who was placed at Greenfield's in Billinge. I was not expecting that.

In my family's case, the children were voluntarily placed by my Grandfather and the agency that he went through was the Liverpool Catholic Children's Protection Society, which in 1928 was located at 1a, Trueman Street, Dale Street, Liverpool.

The Application is an active document in that it also included Discharge Information regarding when the children were returned to their father in 1933, once he had secured a suitable home for them. In the interim, he was earning 3 Pounds a month as a Master Plumber and was contributing 25 Shillings a month towards the upkeep of the children. There were also copies of birth certificates, Baptismal Certificates and letters of reference and communication between a Sister M. Theresa at Greenfields and the Society.

Perhaps it might be helpful for you to research the above noted protection society to see if they might have surviving archives somewhere.

I now have to track down the Domestic Plumber's Society of Great Britain and Ireland to see if their Union Records might survive.

Best regards,

David

Hi David thanks I sent another email off to them so jusrt waiting to see if I hear back and I will look into the other info you gave me.
thanks again

hi my name is maureen awhile back i recived a visit from a firm called kin who research for lost relutives of people who hav passed away well they informed me that my mother had 2 babies before she married my dad one died in childbirth and eddie wos putin to the care of ditton nazareth house it seems his number wos1440 he wos put there when he wos 18 months old eddie mc donald remained there untill 22 april1953 and thenwos moved to aschool stone cross ulverston i never knew eddie as my mother for reasons of her own di d not tell me about him so you can imagine it came as a great shock to me and i have been devistated to find out i had a brother i never knew and could have loved so much my mother and i were very close but she could not tell me about eddie it hurt me so much i cant under stand why so then i find eddie wos only in manchester and i wos in lpool and he could of been part of my growing family instead he wos on his own had never married i am srry if i am going on too much but i cant stop crying every time i think of him missing out and all his lonely christmases and birthdays when he could have been with us so if any body could tell me if they knew him and what he wos like i am so wanting to know my brother some how i would be greatful for any information anyone could give pleasehelp if you can thank you in advance maureen

Hi mveido
Maureen Iwas in N/house Ditton around 1953 but i was ten at that time sory Ican't rember to much Ithink I rember somone with that name did he have fair and was he about 13/14 at that time if he is the same person Irember him being in charge taking us on the runcorn transporter
Brian

hi brian eddie wos born on the 3 sept 1939 and from the photo i have he is fair and that would be about right 13 to 14 o i would be so happy to no any thing you could tell me about him what wos he like as a person were you in the same place as him were you treated properly wos it a good place to be as my mother wos brought up in care with nuns and she wos very badly treated thas why i wos heart broken when i wos told eddie wos in care my thoughts were how could she do that to her own baby but it seems it wos a relitive who wos soposed to take care of eddie that had him put in care i would have lovedto have had a big brother as the wos myself and a younger brother who has also passed away thank you ever so much for answering my message please excuse my spelling its not something i am good at and i have only just started to use a computor so i could find out about eddie hope to hear from you soon thanks again maureen

hi brian eddie wos born on the 3 sept 1939 and from the photo i have he is fair and that would be about right 13 to 14 o i would be so happy to no any thing you could tell me about him what wos he like as a person were you in the same place as him were you treated properly wos it a good place to be as my mother wos brought up in care with nuns and she wos very badly treated thas why i wos heart broken when i wos told eddie wos in care my thoughts were how could she do that to her own baby but it seems it wos a relitive who wos soposed to take care of eddie that had him put in care i would have lovedto have had a big brother as the wos myself and a younger brother who has also passed away thank you ever so much for answering my message please excuse my spelling its not something i am good at and i have only just started to use a computor so i could find out about eddie hope to hear from you soon thanks again maureen

Hi
Maureen I wished I Had alot to tell you about your brother all that I can rember, if that were he, is that he was a happy person within him self,one of the big boys as I mentioned he took us smaller lads to widnes and member of the public gave him some money for us to go on the transporter I have personal memories of N/House I will share but you have apreciat N/House and indeed all homes had differant impacts on individuals somtimes the memories you have are the best.I live in Wigan with my good wife and you would be welcome to visit my home if I could of any help take care Mo the same name as my wife
Brian

hi brian thanks for the information you havegive me i wos wondering do you no of a school called stonecross in ulverston eddie wos sent there it is classed as a special school i dont no why he wos sent there from there i belive a church in denton manchester wos asked if any one would take a boy with veiw to addoption and a lady did take eddie but wos unable to addopt him because at that time they could not trace my mother as she had moved to holyhead if any body knows of any information in regards to eddie or this special school i would be most greatful and thank you for your very kind offer to vist you and your wife i would love to hear about greenfeilds and of course to meet you both as you seem a very careing man but i am sorry to say i have no transport and im not too good on my legs i hope you and your wife are well and thanks again i just hope someone can tell me about the school my best wishes to you both maureen

Hi Maureen
have you been to N/house they may have more information or Lpool social service may be able to help I am just recovering from an op and will be mobile in A few weeks I wiil take you to N/house if that would give you some comfort but I would'nt want it to upset you I have tansport
Bian

hi brian no i havent been to n- house and i never thought of social services i will try to contact them im sorry to hear you have been poorly i hope you are feeling better now i would love to go to n-house i dare say iwould be upset but i have been anyway since i heard about eddie but i would not want to put you to any trouble on my account its very good of you to offer i appreate it you are very kind i hope you are feeling much better now give my regards to your maureen thanks again maureen

Hi Maureen, I have just read your story and feel very sorry that you never met your brother. I'm sure your mother never ever meant to deceive you in any way and it must have been a tremendous strain in her life keeping it a secret from her family...

I was in Greenfield for years before I knew that I had a brother at Greenfield at the same time. Many families were 'split up' at that time and some probably never met again. Thankfully that does not happen anymore...

I'm sure your brother is looking down from high and hoping his little sister finds peace in the knowledge that he knows that someone cares and loves him.

Hi to Brian and Nicky and all Greenfield ex pats. Sorry it has been awhile since I posted anything here. How are you doing Brian after your op? Hope you are mobile again and in good health, and also that Nicky's finger is better. Our Mary told me she has been on the blog. I have been very busy with two grandsons and another due in 2 weeks. My eldest daughter is having her first baby boy at the grand old age of 43. We were all amazed when she told us at Christmas. Can't wait now for him to come and meet him. Our John has not been too well with his chest. He has packed in smoking about a year now, but is still having probs. Hope everyone else is well. Again sorry it's been so long.

Sorry to hear John has not been so good, kearns:
I wish him a speedy recovery. Tell him to stay well clear of those German beansprouts.

Maureen I have found a little information on Stonecross. It was indeed a special school but special in the way that it was a country mansion in its day and by all accounts a school well worth going to.

If you type into Google..stonecross school Ulverston... you will see pictures of it in its hey-day and as a school. It looks fantastic. There is even a members forum for ex pupils.

Hope this helps a little.

HI DAVE
thanks for your concern i know my mother would not mean to hurt usand it must have been devorstating for her to keep it secret all those years
But i wos so hurt she could not tell i would have helped her find eddie
I wos heart broken when we found out because it wos to late
he grew up in care and never married when he could have been part of a big family as i have 6 children and 14 grandchildren and he wos all alone
if only we could have met him and known how he grew up to be the good man his neighbores tell me he wos
I would just like to know somebody at the homes he wos in
who could tell me more about him
but it seems its noy meant to be i do hope your brother and yourself were reunited and got to know each other that would be so good to know
AND i hope you are right that eddie is looking down on me and knows i would have loved him very much
And one day i will find peace
thanks again i do hope you had a happy reunion with your brother maureen

Hi again dave thanks for the information about stonecross school i will look it up
do you know if anybody else went from greenfeilds there i wonder what they mean by special school i wos told it wos run by monksi dont no if that wos true or not but mostly i want to know what happend once he left ther who looked after him
Still i dont sopose ill ever find out
thanks again and if you or anybody can help me with any information i will truely greatfull maureen

Maureen..somebody must have the records from the period your brother was there. It may be worth writing to the Cumbrian County Council. I think in those days if you were in care then you terminated from the system when you reached 15...he must have gone somewhere and them detail should be in the school records or the council records.

Later in life he must have lived somewhere and the electoral records will tell you when and where. Someone also has his work records that you may be able to get hold of...it's worth a try. There is a lot to be found on the computer and maybe one of your grandkids can show you how to do it ..(just like mine)

As for being run by monks, I can't find anything about monks being there. Anyway lets hope he had a good time there, went on to become a decent member of society and lived a rich and happy life.

As for myself: Yes, me and my brother did meet in Billinge, eventually, and have been close ever since.

Just found this for you Maureen:

"The Kennedy family was living at Stone Cross to about 1950. The mansions more recently use has been as a special school owned by Lancashire County Council. In the main hall a beautiful oak staircase was demolished in order to facilitate the playing of indoor football. In the early 1980's the mansion and the estate had been acquired by a group of London businessmen. They wanted to make a 50 room "first class" hotel. In recent years (1986 - 2002) Stone Cross Mansion was the head office of local company Marl International. Marl spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on the building, slowly restoring it and also bringing historic items back to the house".

I did notice that it said Lancashire County Council so that may be a good starting point.....Good luck...You deserve it I'm sure.

hi dave
thanks for the information you have gave me and i shall get one off my grandkids to show me how to go about it
as you have guessed i am new to computors
Its only since i found out about eddie that i have tryed my hand with it i am a terrable speller and still have no idea
where the full stop or any thung else is
But my grandkids think im very funny still i dont mind being laughed at
I AM SO HAPPY YOU AND YOUR BROTHER HAD A HAPPY REUNION AND ARE VERY CLOSE
so good to hear some good news thank you so much for trying to help me you are very kind maureen

hi dave
thanks for the information you have gave me and i shall get one off my grandkids to show me how to go about it
as you have guessed i am new to computors
Its only since i found out about eddie that i have tryed my hand with it i am a terrable speller and still have no idea
where the full stop or any thung else is
But my grandkids think im very funny still i dont mind being laughed at
I AM SO HAPPY YOU AND YOUR BROTHER HAD A HAPPY REUNION AND ARE VERY CLOSE
so good to hear some good news thank you so much for trying to help me you are very kind maureen]

hi dave
thanks for the information you have gave me and i shall get one off my grandkids to show me how to go about it
as you have guessed i am new to computors
Its only since i found out about eddie that i have tryed my hand with it i am a terrable speller and still have no idea
where the full stop or any thung else is
But my grandkids think im very funny still i dont mind being laughed at
I AM SO HAPPY YOU AND YOUR BROTHER HAD A HAPPY REUNION AND ARE VERY CLOSE
so good to hear some good news thank you so much for trying to help me you are very kind maureen]

Hi Margaret
Good to hear the good news of your daughters first very exciting for you, I have had my Op as you may recall I was on crutches when we last met I no longer need them & have just come out of a surgical boot & having physio & starting to drive again, perhaps we could get together again for lunch with Mary & Frank, I gave strict instructions for Claire to look after Nick as a sore finger is very serious & advised on the following treatment to mollycoddle him & reassure him by kissing his finger & repeating the words ther, there, there ensuring that claire adheres to all his whims, ways & orders inbetween ploughing the 40 acres ensuring she feeds Nicky before herself just like a Greenfield would do
Speak to you soon Margaret, take care, regards to Mary, Frank & John.

Hi Maureen
Happy that Dave has pointed you in the right direction were you can access all the relevant information, I was also in St.Edwards & was transferred to Greenfield from St.Edwards, recently visited St.Edwards with my good friend Nicky Cunningham & they have a register of when they recieved Service Users & when they left & were too, they gave Nicky & I a copy of the dates we arrived & departed, the reason I mention this on the register it showed names of boys who transferred to Nazareth House Ditton.
Brian.

HI BRIAN
Iam glad to no you are recovering from your op and have been able to drive again
i have been informed that all records about stoncross schools were burned in a fire
but i went on to a site for nazareth house and i found out
that they have photoes of the boys that were there about the time eddie wos there up on the wall
so i wos quite excited as eddie might be on one i have
just got to find out how to get a copy
I will also look up st edwards and see if they can help me with some infomation
Thank you so much for your help i will let you know how i get on best best wishes to your maureen and you goodself

HI BRIAN
Iam glad to no you are recovering from your op and have been able to drive again
i have been informed that all records about stoncross schools were burned in a fire
but i went on to a site for nazareth house and i found out
that they have photoes of the boys that were there about the time eddie wos there up on the wall
so i wos quite excited as eddie might be on one i have
just got to find out how to get a copy
I will also look up st edwards and see if they can help me with some infomation
Thank you so much for your help i will let you know how i get on best best wishes to your maureen and you goodself

Hi Maureen
Mo and I will take you to N/house within the next couple of weeks my e mail is briansmith176@yahoo.co.uk if that would be of any help contact me on the above add to make arangments you could take a copy of the photos with a mobile phone take care
Bian

HI brian
thank you very much for your kind offer to take me to n/house and i would love to go but i dont want to put you to any trouble
as you have just had your op i no it takes a while to recover your strength after an op
all though it would be lovely to meet you and your maureen
and have a chatmy e/mail is mveidman@hotmail,co,uk i shall look forward to hearing from you both
as you have realy helped me so much with eddie
by the way i also get called mo by my friends and if you dont mind i would like it if you both would consider me as a friend best wishes for a speedy recovery mo

Hi Mo
sent you an email did you get it
Brian

David Dunlop

Hello David - after reading your message that you had received information about your family who were in Greenfield Orphanage, I decided to contact them to see if they had any information about my brothers Terence and Francis John Rafferty, I received a reply yesterday, the only information they could give me was the admittance date of Terence they didn't have a discharge date but I know that he was adopted by a Wigan family so he was discharged. They had the Admittance date and discharge date of Francis John so I am just a little bit little wiser.

Good luck

Frances

Hello Frances.

I am glad to hear you had some success with your family information, Frances. My quest is an effort to find out what happened to Mom's parents and I needed the orphanage records to see how and why the four kids were admitted. Mom was only five, and the eldest when placed in November, 1928 and she had only a few recollections of there being a lot of tension and fights between her Mom and Dad. The records I obtained from Greenfields confirmed her Mom, Clara Ryan (nee Betton) had left and gone to live with somebody else and that left her Dad, William Charles Ryan, with the four little children. He placed the three oldest in Moorfields and the youngest in Greenfields and was actually paying 25 Shillings a month for their upkeep. He got them back in 1933 but seems to have disappeared again within a couple of years. I have not been able to find death records for either parent anywhere in England so far. It would have been very hard back then for a single woman to make it on her own, so I suspect Clara may have remarried at some point, and one or both parents may have simply emmigrated elsewhere. Going to be quite a challenge figuring it all out and I was hoping to be able to do it while Mom and her three siblings are still alive. But then Life isn't quite as interesting without a little mystery in it!

David

Hello David

Thank you for your reply - Were the children brought up by their father in Wigan, is your mum Lillian.

Hello Frances.

My best guess at the moment is that Mom and her three siblings, along with their Dad, were living at 47 Pagefield Street at least between 1933 and 1935. That was the address he provided on the Discharge papers for the four kids. That residence may have been an Aunt's home (on Mom's Mothers side) that they were all sharing. By the time World War Two started, Mom and her sister were living with one aunt and uncle, and the two boys were with another aunt and uncle. Dad was no longer in the picture to the best of my knowledge.

And by the way, yes, Mom's first name is indeed Lillian. What made you ask?

David

David Dunlop

Hello David, I searched the records found that your grandparents married in 1922 they had 4 children in the years 1923,24,26 and 1927. I found marriages for 3 of those children in Wigan.

I also checked the Passenger Lists Leaving UK 1890-1960 nothing obvious showed up.

Have you ever checked the electoral rolls

Frances

HI Frances

The missing marriage info would be for my youngest uncle. He did military service in Southern Rhodesia in the late 1940's or early 50's and married there. Moved out before everything fell apart and is now in Australia.

I have never considered a detailed investigation of Electoral Rolls. Can you suggest an on-line site with such info for the 1930's to 1950's? No sure how many elections that might cover, but perhaps one or both Mom's parents will show up somewhere.

Best regards,

David

Hello David

I think you can view past electoral rolls at the library, maybe Wigan History shop also holds them - are you close enough to visit either Wigan Library or the History shop (is it still called that?)

Wigan Heritage Service

There is 192.com

192.com

but that is a fee paying site and I am not sure how far you are able to go back, I don't think that they held elections during the war years but it may be worth looking in to

Just to let Brian, Nicky and others who knew me at Greenfield that I am a grandmother for the third time, another boy! Funny I had two girls, now all my grandchildren are boys, but they are great.The new arrival is called Robert, he is a little cracker. Hope everyone is keeping well. Our John is a bit better at the moment, he went to convales in South Germany, but caught a bug and had to go back home after a couple of days as it went on his chest, and that is what he went there for.

Hi Maggie

Good to hear that there is a vast improvement within your Family tree at least your daughters are doing the right thing & producing boys, I am sure you will get alot of pleasure from them not like girls who do a lot of mithering & always nowty, just remember to tell your daughters when they think there sons are being naughty they are not & remember boys will be boys, really pleased for you Maggie & I know you will enjoy them & get alot of pleasure from them, could you also remind your daughters not to disturb their partners should the lads need attention in the night as it is their duty to ensure their partners get a good nights sleep & soothe the boys back to sleep please continue with your duties looking after the boys until such times as they can help their Dad in his duties by going with him to the local football & rugby matches ensuring you have hot drinks for them on their return, when you & Frank & Mary are ready to visit Wigan I will pick you all up & you can meet my Family all boys of course & one little girl who's a tomboy, Hope John is better, would love for us all & Nick & Clare to get together & have another great night out. My regards to Frank & Mary. One last thing Maggie please spare a thought in times of your jubilation for those families who only have girls!

Hi, Brian. Just to say sorry again for taking so long in replying to your blog. I have been going up nearly every day to my daughter who has just had the baby boy, as she is 43 and it is her first baby. She needed all the help I could give and now she is coping so very well now. What a shock for her, her life has completely changed and for the better. Don't worry, the other two boys play footie and rugby and do all boys stuff, which I was not used to with having two girls, but I love it and wouldn't have it any other way. Hope you are all in the best of health, as we are. Alan and I have just come back from a week in Spain, which I needed very much after all the running around. I would love to meet up again soon. Just let me know and I will let Mary and Frank know. I look forward to meeting your family and having a good old natter. Bye for now. Margaret.

Hi to everyone who has contributed to this and related messageboards and my thanks to you all.
I've only recently found out that I spent my early years (From age 2 to 4) at Greenfield in the early fifties. Your comments have given me a feel for the place. Some of the criticisms make me feel perhaps fortunate that, being so young during my stay, my memories are a bit limited. My name during my residency at the orphanage was Hans Dagphinn Christianssen and I was fostered out at age 4 to a lovely Wigan family.
I visited the orphanage yesterday (Nugent House) with my wife and instantly recognised the large gates and wall which seemed even larger when I was a child.
I wonder if two of my older half sisters, Maureen and Jean Davidson also stayed at this orphanage. We were all abandoned,in Liverpool, by our mother. Anyway thanks to you all for filling in a few blanks in my past and best wishes to you all.

Hi Mo
Good to hear from you hope you are keeping well, Francois will be spending Christmas in america, you may read of, I bumped into a school friend Ann Atherton, it was great to meet her, told her that we have been getting together & she would like to join in next time we all meet up. Mo & Donna send their regards, I look forward to the next meet which will be in the New Year when Francois returns from the States, if any Greenfielder or ex St.Marys Birchley would like to join in they would be welcome, any interested parties can contact me on briansmith176@yahoo.co.uk all lower case, that includes you Dave Lukins & the Moloys & usual crowd.
Brian

I have been contacted by Peter Greer he and his brother attended St Marys school Birchley Billinge 1950-1953 and was in Mr Millers class anyone remember them as I am sure Peter would like to hear from u