An Introduction
Hello and welcome
This site was created for Violet Cox nee Jones' memories, and also to help with your research and to bring old boys and girls together.
It covers the time that Vi was in the Cottage Homes, 1926-1938, not forgetting her older sister Marjorie (Madge) and younger brother Arthur William (Bill). In 1926 they were living with their mother at 36, Copsley Street, Hoxton. They saw their mother once or twice whilst they were in the Homes.
They entered the Homes in 1926, when mum was three years old, Madge eight and Bill eighteen months.
Vi and Madge were in Rose Cottage and Bill in Landseer.
Having "interviewed" my mum and gathered her memories I then approached various people and record offices seeking more background. I have dipped into these records and extracted information which is relevant to my mum. So there is still a lot of research left out there for you - I don't want to spoil all of your fun.
Vi, Madge and Bill never asked their mum why they were in there. Not that they saw her to ask, that is, until they had left the home. They can assume it was because their mum was ill and poor. They had no idea where their dad was and never met him. A mystery that probably will never be solved, partly because of his (sorry to say) common surname. (He had been a stoker in WW1 - I wonder if he had PTSD?) Parental visits were not encouraged at the Homes. If the parents did visit, the meeting would have to take place in The Lodge. Sibling bonding was not encouraged.
As mum never knew another life she had nothing to compare it with and was content with her lot. Although she does look back and feels that they were all treated as skivvies (unpaid servants).
Vi says that they were far better looked after in the Homes rather than the poor life they could have suffered in the East End of London.
I have a booklet which tells the Foster Parents how to treat the children: with kindness. Only, Mrs Nixon (Old Nick, Vi's Foster Mother in Rose Cottage) had not read it. Cor! She was very heavy handed - clip round the ear for the slightest thing and sometimes just for the sake of it; could have been to do with her previous job at a Remand Home.
Before leaving the home mum's last year was spent honing her domestic skills ready for employment: as the Kitchen Maid for Colonel and Lady Mellor, Evelyn Gardens, Fulham.
One good reason for this research is that you may find out the childrens' medical history. I found the my Uncle Bill went into the home, out again to hospital and back into the home. Not that he remembered - so it was helpful bit of medical info for him.
I took my mum on a ride to the Homes, about 20 years ago, dear oh! dear. The place was derelict and who should we meet but Mr Job's-Worth, the security man. We were standing on the drive and he said: "It's more than my job's was worth to let you look round" - (Mum in tears now - at the state of the place and at his attitude.) "For goodness sake", says I. "If we walk down the middle of the drive what harm can befall us?" "Oh! no!" says he, "I'll have to ask you to leave."
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Life after the Cottage Homes
Vi’s first job after leaving the Cottage Homes, 1938, was to enter ‘service’ as a Kitchen Maid for Lieutenant Colonel Mellor and Mrs Mellor, 70 Evelyn Gardens, Fulham, (two sons Tony and John, and one daughter, Nina.) Vi remembers Nina being presented at court.
In 1939, at the outbreak of WW2, Vi was evacuated with Mrs Mellor to Ruddington House, Ruddington, Notts.
Vi remembers Mrs, Major, cook; Hetty Durrant from Durham, Annie Jardine from Scotland, Miss Philips Ladies' Maid and whilst at Ruddington an ‘important visitor’, a Mr Waite.
Vi’s sister Marjorie, (Madge) then contacted her to come and live with her in Hampton Wick, as Madge stated, they did not know what was going to happen to them.
Vi had various jobs: aircraft factory, selling chocolates and tickets for lunches; Hall and Hall in Hampton. https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Hall_and_Hall
A near accident with a motorbike led the rider, Sid Dowsett, to take her home to meet his parents. Lizbeth and Edward Dowsett (Ted, Darky) who fell in love with Vi. Lizbeth invited Vi into their home and often referred to her as her daughter.
Through Ted Dowsett’s employment at The Automtive, Twickenham, Vi took a job there. That was where she met her future husband, Leonard Cox. https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Automotive_Engineering_Co
Life must have seemed perfect to young Vi, with Lizbeth and Ted as her substitute parents and Len as her husband.
Vi was a dedicated wife, mother and housewife. She had no wish or knowledge of a social life and raised 4 children and kept the home running smoothly - generally single handed.
Vi would never ask for any help and still to this day, aged 97, is irritated if you try to help.
My thanks to Simon Donoghue, Local Studies Librarian, Romford Library, for his help. He gathered together all of the information which they hold on the Homes - ready for when I visited - an invaluable help.
What a treasure Andrew has been. He lives next door to the renovated cottages and offered his help which is much appreciated, thank you. He is responsible for the photographs of the present day. He directed me to a particular estate agents' site where one of the cottages was up for sale. Blimey - it was Rose Cottage, mum's home. It was between £300,000 - £400,000 - ah! but not the whole cottage, no, "when they were renovated they were made into three homes with front and rear gardens. The houses have been renovated internally but the exteriors look much the same as in the old photographs. The windows are all new but look similar." quote from Andrew.
Many thanks to Tony Benton who very kindly gave me permission to publish an extract from one of his published works 'The Changing Face of Hornchurch', plus pictures (which I have acknowledged).
Tony is a Local Authority Education Manager, Author, amateur genealogist, and Editor of the journal "Cockney Ancestor" 1992-1996.
Heartfelt thanks to MR J.A.BURNS (ALAN) who photographed the derelict cottages and sent copies of them to me. He also sent me information that he had gathered at the London Metropolitan Archives. Alan's father JOHN EDWARD BURNS and two of his brothers THOMAS BURNS and JAMES BURNS entered the Homes in 1915.
Thanks to PETER HIGGINBOTHAM for permission to use a map of the Cottage Homes. Peter has loads of info and his site is invaluable to researchers. http://www.workhouses.org.uk/
For permission to put extracts from their records and 3 photographs on this site.
CONTACT DETAILS
Please click here for the Cottage Homes group on Facebook
and the Friends Reunited group: St Leonards Childrens Home
Vi will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
email: kt_4_u@hotmail.com please put "Cottage Homes" in the subject line.
Thanks ..Katy..
The data in this website has been transcribed in good faith but no guarantee is given to its accuracy. The original documents should always be consulted to ensure information is correct. ..