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My wife is trying to find any persons who were at Ingledene Childrens Home, Bowdon, Nr Altrincham, Cheshire in August 1956 to February 1957.

Probably coals to Newcastle ... but this is about the home:

http://www.hiddenlives.org.uk/homes/ALTRINC01.html

and this is about the organization that operates the website:

http://www.hiddenlives.org.uk/about/index.html

Of course the link for The Children's Society is dead ... but there is a contact address for information about "records held by The Children's Society".

St Christopher's Home for Girls, Altrincham
Stockport Road, Altrincham, Cheshire

(1911 - 1983)

St Christopher’s was opened on October 26th 1911, with a dedication by the Bishop of Chester. Formerly a private residence on Stockport Road, the building was adapted and refurbished to cater for children. This was achieved due to the hard work of some notable individuals. “Friends” of The Waifs and Strays' Society, such as Mr and Mrs Winstanley, Rev. E.R. Tarbuck (the local vicar), and Mrs Saxon, organised meetings and fundraising events within the Chester Diocese. Local people donated items such as bedsteads, curtains and sewing machines.

At first St Christopher’s housed twenty girls, who were looked after by two matrons. The Countess of Stamford was appointed as President of the Home's Committee, and Miss E. Allen as Honorary Secretary.

During the early years, the girls participated in various grand events. On October 21st 1916 the Home held a Pound Day, and they received a record-breaking quantity of groceries and money. In December 1930 St Christopher’s organised an “Elizabethan Fayre and Maske”, which was attended by Lady Beatrix Wilson, President of the Children’s Union. The Bowdon Assembly Rooms were decorated as an Elizabethan village, and the children dressed in period costume.

Another important social event of 1930 was the appointment of a new matron, Miss Patefield. A religious ceremony within the Home marked the occasion. The Home borrowed a portable altar and turned the dining-room into a temporary chapel, with the girls forming a choir. St Christopher’s ties with the Bishop of Chester were also maintained, as his visit of 1936 testifies.

After World War Two, the Home underwent considerable change. From 1946-47 the children were briefly housed in a Methodist holiday home in Llanfairfechan, whilst their house was redecorated. Around this time, the Home started admitting both boys and girls. The children were relocated again when, in the late 1960s, the building was renovated to bring it in line with modern standards of child-care. It was reopened in August 1970.

In 1974 the threat of a new main road close to the Home, forced it to move permanently to nearby Ingledene, in Bowden. Here it stayed until it was disbanded in 1983. Noteworthy individuals in these later years include Miss Wilson, a matron from 1944 to 1967, Mrs Hollingsworth, a matron from 1957 to 1980, and Mr G.G. Cooper, who was chairman of the House Committee in the final years.

For further information about Hidden Lives Revealed or about records held by The Children's Society please contact us at [email protected]

Missed my post, didya Carol?

;)

(I provided the link to the information you posted.)