Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1900-1981 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
14.28 linear metres
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Children's Service of the London County Council (LCC) was responsible for 4 groups of deprived children: those placed in care by their parents, those brought before juvenile court and then sent to approved schools or placed in care, those being adopted and those with foster parents. In 1929 the Local Government Act gave the functions of the poor law authorities to the LCC. The Council began to develop child services, but the Second World War interrupted this process. After the war a conception of a new form of organisation was beginning to emerge.
The 1948 Children's Act vested central control of children's services in the Home Secretary; the county councils were made children's authorities, and each was required to appoint a children's Committee and a children's officer. The LCC set up its Children's Committee in December 1948. The first children's officer was appointed in April 1949. The LCC had the duty to receive into care any child in the County, under the age of 17, whose parents or guardians were temporarily or permanently prevented from providing for them properly. Having received a child into care the Council was required to "further his best interests and afford him opportunity for the proper development of his character and abilities".
The 1948 Act required the Council to find foster carers where possible. When this was neither practical nor desirable a child was placed in a children's home. When the Children's Service was established there were 24 children's homes and nurseries. 7 of these homes were very large and had been built by the Boards of Guardians. The Service pursued three aims: that homes were to be modernised by rebuilding and adaptation, that all children should be removed as quickly as possible from unsatisfactory establishments, and that new, smaller homes should be built to facilitate the closing of the out of date largeer homes. The LCC also developed several specialised establishments, with highly qualified staff, for children presenting acute difficulties of behaviour. By 1964 there were 160 homes under the care of the Service, including nurseries for under-fives, hostels for young wage earners still in care and homes for short stay children. Procedures in the homes were also changed. Children were sent to local schools and encouraged to bring friends back to the home. Parents were invited to visit frequently. Local adults could act as 'uncles and aunts' to otherwise friendless children. Clubs, out of school activities and house magazines flourished.
The Children's Service was required to make available to juvenile courts information on the health, character and school records of all children appearing before the court. The LCC was obliged to provide remand homes for children who appeared at juvenile court, where young people awaiting a court appearance were held in safe custody. They were also used as observation centres, where psychiatrists could observe the children and provide the court with information about reasons for their behaviour and suggest the most appropriate school for the child.
In 1930 the Council decided to consent to the adoption of suitable children in its care. In 1958 the Council appointed 2 adoption officers, who came to be recognised as expert advisers on all matters connected to adoption.
Repository
Archival history
LCC/CH/E 1900-1981 Collection 14.28 linear metres LCC , London County Council x London County Council
The Children's Service of the London County Council (LCC) was responsible for 4 groups of deprived children: those placed in care by their parents, those brought before juvenile court and then sent to approved schools or placed in care, those being adopted and those with foster parents. In 1929 the Local Government Act gave the functions of the poor law authorities to the LCC. The Council began to develop child services, but the Second World War interrupted this process. After the war a conception of a new form of organisation was beginning to emerge.
The 1948 Children's Act vested central control of children's services in the Home Secretary; the county councils were made children's authorities, and each was required to appoint a children's Committee and a children's officer. The LCC set up its Children's Committee in December 1948. The first children's officer was appointed in April 1949. The LCC had the duty to receive into care any child in the County, under the age of 17, whose parents or guardians were temporarily or permanently prevented from providing for them properly. Having received a child into care the Council was required to "further his best interests and afford him opportunity for the proper development of his character and abilities".
The 1948 Act required the Council to find foster carers where possible. When this was neither practical nor desirable a child was placed in a children's home. When the Children's Service was established there were 24 children's homes and nurseries. 7 of these homes were very large and had been built by the Boards of Guardians. The Service pursued three aims: that homes were to be modernised by rebuilding and adaptation, that all children should be removed as quickly as possible from unsatisfactory establishments, and that new, smaller homes should be built to facilitate the closing of the out of date largeer homes. The LCC also developed several specialised establishments, with highly qualified staff, for children presenting acute difficulties of behaviour. By 1964 there were 160 homes under the care of the Service, including nurseries for under-fives, hostels for young wage earners still in care and homes for short stay children. Procedures in the homes were also changed. Children were sent to local schools and encouraged to bring friends back to the home. Parents were invited to visit frequently. Local adults could act as 'uncles and aunts' to otherwise friendless children. Clubs, out of school activities and house magazines flourished.
The Children's Service was required to make available to juvenile courts information on the health, character and school records of all children appearing before the court. The LCC was obliged to provide remand homes for children who appeared at juvenile court, where young people awaiting a court appearance were held in safe custody. They were also used as observation centres, where psychiatrists could observe the children and provide the court with information about reasons for their behaviour and suggest the most appropriate school for the child.
In 1930 the Council decided to consent to the adoption of suitable children in its care. In 1958 the Council appointed 2 adoption officers, who came to be recognised as expert advisers on all matters connected to adoption.
Acquired with the records of its parent body, the London County Council. Further accession received in 2006 (B06/138).
Records of the London County Council Children's Department relating to nurseries, children's homes and residential schools, hostels and family homes; comprising records of individual institutions, including admission and discharge registers, inspection reports, photographs, minutes of the Managing Committee, log books, punishment books, financial accounts, school magazines and other records relating to the day to day running of the institutions.
The institutions include:
Ashford Residential school
Beechholme Residential School (formerly Banstead District School)
The Cliffs Residential Nursery, Dawlish, Devon
Britwell Boys' Hostel and Britwell Family Homes
Westlea Hostel and Boreham Wood Estate Family Homes
Downs Hospital For Children (later Downs Residential Nursery), Sutton
Gorsefield Residential Nursery and Harlow Family Homes
Gresham Place Residential Nursery and Croydon Small Homes
Harecombe Manor and Hollyshaw Residential Nurseries
Henniker House Children's Receiving Home
The Hollies Children's Home (formerly Lamorbey), Sidcup
Hornchurch Children's Home and Harold Hill Family Homes
Hutton Residential School and Ongar Residential School and Family Homes at Aveley and Basildon Estates
Ingleton House After Care Hostel for Boys
Ladywell Residential Nursery, Lewisham
22 Lansdowne Avenue and Langley and Britwell Family Homes
Langley House Reception Home and The Pagoda Children's Home
Larchwood Residential Nursery and Crawley Family Homes
Liskeard Lodge Reception Home and The Pagoda After-Care Hostels
Margaret Mcmillan House
Nanhurst and Annesley House Residential Nurseries and Tudor Lodge
Oak Hall Residential Nursery School
Oranmore Residential Nursery and The Gables Residential Nursery
Penbury Grove Residential Nursery, Penn, Bucks
3 The Ridgeway and Islington and Hackney Small Homes
Saint Margaret's Residential Nursery and Abercorn Place Residential Nursery
Shirley Oaks Children's Home, Croydon (formerly Shirley Residential School)
Stowlangtoft Hall Residential Nursery
Tudor Lodge Residential Nursery and Wandsworth Small and Family Homes
25 Westleigh Avenue and Paddington and Frogmore Small Homes
Wood Vale Children's Home, West Norwood (formerly Norwood Children's Home and Hospital)
Earlsfield House, Wandsworth
Easneye and Widbury Residential Nurseries and Stevenage Family Homes
Fairmile Hatch and Oakdale Residential Nurseries.
Please note that because of the sensitive and personal nature of the information some files are closed. Please see the detailed catalogue for further information.
LCC/CH/E/ASH-WOO: Records of individual institutions.
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.
Copyright: City of London.
English
Fit
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
For the London County Council Children's Department see LCC/CH/C, LCC/CH/D, LCC/CH/E and LCC/CH/M.
For further information on the history of the LCC please see Achievement: A Short History of the London County Council by W Eric Jackson (1965), LMA Library reference 18.0 1965, The London County Council 1938, LMA Library reference 18.7 SER 4, and The Youngest County: A description of London as a county and its public services, 1951, LMA Library reference 18.0 1951.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. April to June 2009 Educational institutions Schools Nursery schools Children in care Disadvantaged groups Disadvantaged children Residential child care Childrens homes Social welfare Child welfare Child care services People People by age group Children (age group) Health services Care Care of children Social services Children LCC , London County Council x London County Council Children's Department , London County Council London England UK Western Europe Essex Hertfordshire Buckinghamshire Devon Sussex Childhood Europe Age groups Age distribution
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Acquired with the records of its parent body, the London County Council. Further accession received in 2006 (B06/138).
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of the London County Council Children's Department relating to nurseries, children's homes and residential schools, hostels and family homes; comprising records of individual institutions, including admission and discharge registers, inspection reports, photographs, minutes of the Managing Committee, log books, punishment books, financial accounts, school magazines and other records relating to the day to day running of the institutions.
The institutions include:
Ashford Residential school
Beechholme Residential School (formerly Banstead District School)
The Cliffs Residential Nursery, Dawlish, Devon
Britwell Boys' Hostel and Britwell Family Homes
Westlea Hostel and Boreham Wood Estate Family Homes
Downs Hospital For Children (later Downs Residential Nursery), Sutton
Gorsefield Residential Nursery and Harlow Family Homes
Gresham Place Residential Nursery and Croydon Small Homes
Harecombe Manor and Hollyshaw Residential Nurseries
Henniker House Children's Receiving Home
The Hollies Children's Home (formerly Lamorbey), Sidcup
Hornchurch Children's Home and Harold Hill Family Homes
Hutton Residential School and Ongar Residential School and Family Homes at Aveley and Basildon Estates
Ingleton House After Care Hostel for Boys
Ladywell Residential Nursery, Lewisham
22 Lansdowne Avenue and Langley and Britwell Family Homes
Langley House Reception Home and The Pagoda Children's Home
Larchwood Residential Nursery and Crawley Family Homes
Liskeard Lodge Reception Home and The Pagoda After-Care Hostels
Margaret Mcmillan House
Nanhurst and Annesley House Residential Nurseries and Tudor Lodge
Oak Hall Residential Nursery School
Oranmore Residential Nursery and The Gables Residential Nursery
Penbury Grove Residential Nursery, Penn, Bucks
3 The Ridgeway and Islington and Hackney Small Homes
Saint Margaret's Residential Nursery and Abercorn Place Residential Nursery
Shirley Oaks Children's Home, Croydon (formerly Shirley Residential School)
Stowlangtoft Hall Residential Nursery
Tudor Lodge Residential Nursery and Wandsworth Small and Family Homes
25 Westleigh Avenue and Paddington and Frogmore Small Homes
Wood Vale Children's Home, West Norwood (formerly Norwood Children's Home and Hospital)
Earlsfield House, Wandsworth
Easneye and Widbury Residential Nurseries and Stevenage Family Homes
Fairmile Hatch and Oakdale Residential Nurseries.
Please note that because of the sensitive and personal nature of the information some files are closed. Please see the detailed catalogue for further information.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
LCC/CH/E/ASH-WOO: Records of individual institutions.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright: City of London.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
For the London County Council Children's Department see LCC/CH/C, LCC/CH/D, LCC/CH/E and LCC/CH/M.
Finding aids
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English