Skegness Magazine

The Nottingham Poor Girls Holiday Home was situated on Brunswick Drive in Skegness. Our photo below shows the building which is the smaller erection immediately after the row of terraces on the right.

When war broke out in 1914, the girls then in residence at the Skegness Home had to return to Nottingham when the people of Skegness requested that the building be used as a hospital.

Consequently, during the first world war, the home was used as a Red Cross Auxiliary Hospital through the courtesy of Major Swain and the Committee of the Nottingham Poor Girls Camp.

Brass Plaque

In 1920 a brass tablet was erected on the front wall of the institution, bearing the words:

“The North Lincolnshire Branch of the Red Cross Society gratefully acknowledge the loan of this building as a Red Cross Auxiliary Hospital from November 21st, 1914, to December 19th, 1918, during which time 850 patients were admitted. Staffed by V. A. D.”

The Battalion of the 1st Nottm. Cadets Boys’ Brigade, under the command of Major Swain was present at the unveiling ceremony, and the brass band of the Battalion accompanied the hyms and played selections.

Unfortunately, heavy rain fell during the ceremony, but the members of the Battalion were said to have bravely endured the elements with “true British pluck”. One company, to distract their minds from the miserable weather went through the rifle excercises.
The proceedings were opened by singing and prayers were offered by the Rev William Disney, after which one of the little poor girls who was an inmate, presented Mrs Rawnsley, OBE, the Vice-President of the North Lincolnshire Branch of the Red Cross with a bouquet of flowers. Mrs Rawnsley then unveiled the plaque.

Dripping Appeal

We found a short article placed in an old 1922 Skegness newspaper where the matron of the Nottingham Poor Girls Home made the following appeal: “The Matron of the above home will be grateful for gifts of dripping, and will send to any address, on receipt of postcard sent to Home on Brunswich Drive“.

Poor Girls Joy Ride

In 1928, 36 little inmates of the Skegness holiday home had an impromptu joy-ride – local coal dealer, Mr John Borman was in Drummond Road, engaged in collecting bric-a-brac for an upcoming rummage sale, when he encounted the party of little girls. He asked them if they wanted a ride home on a dray, which received a gleeful response.
All aboard, the happy party trotted off down Drummond Road, winding its way through the street of Skegness before arriving back at the Holiday Home in time for tea. Several of the girls said it was one of the happiest moments of their holiday.
Mr Borman, (photographed with the party) sent each girl a copy of the picture below:

Closed Due To Retirement

The Nottingham Poor Girls Holiday Home continued until around 1966 when it was closed down due to the retirement of Gwen Cockerham, who had been matron since 1945. The building was then assimilated into the adjacent Skegness County Infants School, where it houses nursary children to this day. Though I have scoured the 1966 old newspapers, I haven’t as yet found this story, but will update the page when I have more news.

We visited the building recently to try to find out if the brass plaque erected in 1920 still exists, but could not see any sign of it. We have asked Nancy, secretary of Skegness Infant School, to keep a look out for it around the school complex, and no doubt we will hear from her if there’s any good news.

We are thrilled to have been contacted by Diane, who now lives in Australia, who remembers visiting the Nottingham Poor Girls Holiday Home as a child. Diane, whose maiden name was Humphreys, recalls that the girls had to wear uniform coats and berets when they went out. She remembers feeling a little self-concious about all going out together wearing the same uniform. Diane recalls that the girls all had to have their hair washed at night, but weren’t allowed to go to bed with it wet. Over all, says Diane, the experience was a positive one.

The photo below, dated around 1958, was very kindly sent to us by Diane who is pictured second from the left on the front row. Please email us if you recognise any of the faces in the photo, and we’ll pass your details onto Diane.

From the information we have given above, it is likely that the matron, centre in the photo, is Gwen Cockerham.

Did YOU visit the Nottingham Poor Girls Home in Skegness? Tell us your memories in the comments box below!