Beechholme
Encyclopedia
Banstead
Banstead is a town in the borough of Reigate and Banstead in the county of Surrey, England, on the border with Greater London. It lies south of London, west of Croydon and of the county town of Kingston-Upon-Thames. Banstead is on the North Downs and is protected by the Metropolitan Green Belt;...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. It was founded in 1879 as a Residential School for poor children from the slums of Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
and Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
and run under a Village system. The houses were run by 'house parents'. There was a school, chapel, playing fields, etc. The regime was tough, but not altogether unlike that of paying residential schools of the time. Later, children came from other parts of London and the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
took over responsibility, followed by Wandsworth Borough Council
London Borough of Wandsworth
The London Borough of Wandsworth is a London borough in southwest London, England, and forms part of Inner London.-History:The borough was formed in 1965 from the former area of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea and much of the former area of the Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth, but...
. In 1974 the school was closed and the property sold for development as the High Beeches Estate. The site was demolished in 1975. The Beech Holme Pavilion was built on the old site, and now is the site of the Beeches Montessori Nursery and local children's football clubs.
The London Metropolitan Archives
London Metropolitan Archives
The London Metropolitan Archives are the main archives for the Greater London area. Established in 1997, having previously been known as the Greater London Record Office, they are financed by the City of London Corporation....
hold records of the children who resided at the school. Former residents of the home include the television presenter Dilly Braimoh
Dilly Braimoh
Dilly Braimoh is an African-British television presenter, producer and freelance journalist. He was born to a Jewish mother, whom he never knew, and a Nigerian father, with whom he had only slight contact...
, who is producing a television programme on Beechholme and its former residents.