Distant childhood memories
THESE poignant images have just arrived at the Chronicle. Taken in the early 1950s, they show children at the former orphanage at Pottery Bank, Morpeth, Northumberland.
They were sent in by Stuart Webber “an ex-Geordie living in Brisbane, Australia, for many years”.
Six and a half decades after the photographs were taken, Stuart is keen to hear from “anyone who worked but, in particular, actually resided in that place”.
He says: “I was recently contacted by a 75-year-old lady from Morpeth who was made aware that, like herself, I too spent some time in the orphanage up on Pottery Bank in Morpeth.
“She was seeking advice on the possibility of retrieving any records of her stay in that home so many years ago.
“She lamented, and I concur, the sad fact that she knows of no other inmate of this home and we both often wondered how many people such as myself continue to walk up the drive of that home each time I visit the UK and think back.
“The home is now converted into flats and I understand it was in two-part, boys and girls, and the girls’ separate building is privately owned as a single residence.”
Back in 1836, the Morpeth Poor Law Union was formed.
Later, in 1906, the union built children’s cottage homes at Pottery Bank to the north of Morpeth.
A newspaper report said of the new premises: “On either side of the entrance lobby are day and living rooms for the children having pantries attached.
“The rooms are warmed by hot air, lighted with incandescent gas burners, and well-ventilated.”
Looking back, Stuart recalled: “It is ironic to think that in those days many of the children could, under then pertaining laws, be dispatched to Australia, Canada and other places no doubt, by the authorities. Often the parents were not informed, and I may have been one of them had my mother not come back to the North East to collect me.
“Paradoxically here I am in Australia, though through a different path and voluntarily, but my memories of sitting on an English lawn with flowers around me on a hot summer’s day at Morpeth Orphanage, will stay deep within me, and never fade, for life.”
Many years later, Stuart went back to Morpeth.
He says: “I once returned to take a photo on the existing driveway during one of my visits and a male person, who lives in a newly built home on the site, had the extreme kindness to invite me into his back garden as he thought I would see a more accurate view, and from the most then likely place of the original photographer.
“A tiny act of kindness on his behalf, but a massive thanks to him and a memory of such that I shall never forget.”
If anyone stayed or worked at the orphanage on Pottery Bank, Morpeth, and would like to share their memories or has any photographs, drop us an email or letter. ■■Email: david.morton.editiorial@ ncjmedia.co.uk ■■Write to: Dave Morton, Nostalgia Editor, ncjMedia Ltd, 2nd floor, Eldon Court, Percy Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7JB.