When I wrote the last post I'd looked up the family on the 1871 census and found what a big household it was. For those who were interested in the friend of the family her name was Maria Roberts, age 29 and her birthplace was given as Landau, Germany; her occupation was governess. I think this is really interesting! Was she a friend staying with them who was a governess? Or was she a governess to the children of the family and considered as a friend rather than an employee?
I moved on to 1881 and the household is even grander - obviously in it's heyday. There is now a french lady's maid in the house called Irina Landreux, age 30, her birthplace, Paris. There are more servants including a maid called Sarah Tortoishell who was born locally in Rocester - what a lovely name! The girls are Isabella, Etheldred, Hilda and Mary, aged 29, 24, 22 and 18 respectively- the boys, Bertam and Gerald were not at home on census day - probably at boarding school or university. In fact I found a Bertam Heywood a boarder and scholar in Winchester so perhaps the boys went to the famous boarding school there. Thomas Heywood is recorded as being a Baronet, Magistrate and Farmer of 100 acres of his own land. Of course, only the household servants lived in the house, many of the farm labourers and estate workers would live locally possibly in estate property or tied cottages.
By 1891 the household had decreased in size and only Etheldred is at home on census day with some of the servants. Thomas, Margaret, Isabella and Mary are at their London home, 39 Lourdes Square, Chelsea, Hilda isn't at Doveleys or in Chelsea and Bertam and Gerald were probably at University or living elsewhere.
I hope you have enjoyed this 'snapshot' of a wealthy family in the late 19th century.
O How very wonderful.I am always very interested in family history.Is fun to to find out.. in't it.And in the days of the microfiche i found it very exiting...The internet is easy but also "to easy".
ReplyDeleteThe Heywood family of Doveleys...with a maid called Sarah Tortoishell!I never heard this Family name before ,(wonder where this came from.)
Thank you for finding out..its a great "snapshot"post!
I wonder what happened to the Doveley family? I had imagined the family friend to have been a man or even maybe a 'mistress'! How I would love to go back in time and experience life in a wealthy family. I come from 'poor stock' and assume that a lot of my ancestors deaths were not even recorded.
ReplyDeletedutchess, the early days of looking at the registers that were around when your ancestors were had anawe about it that is sadly lacking on the internet.
ReplyDeletesimone, most births, marriages or deaths were recorded from 1837 onwards and most listed in parish records from 1538 - although a lot of people did 'slip through the net' - my ancestors were ordinary working class folk like miners, saddle makers, lace workers, tailors, brass workers etc. but I've found them all in one record or another - I'm sure you would find some of your ancestors:)
Hi, do you know who currently own Doveley Manor House? I used to live in the grounds when it was owned by the county council as my dad worked there.
ReplyDeleteWent back there a few years ago and was sad to see it in such a poor state. I heard the refurbishment was halted when the current owners ran out of funds.
i was at this place when it was a childrens care home run by the council between 1973 and 1976 i have just started looking up this place and i was sad to see through paper reports what went of here in the late 1970s to the 1980s i had many of good time here and would love to see it back to its former glory
ReplyDeleteHello to both Andy and Jan - neither of you have an e-mail address with your comment so I hope you pop back and read this.
ReplyDeleteAndy - I've no idea who owns the house now - I'm guessing it probably isn't the people who own the garden centre or any of the new houses built nearby. When we visited - goodness two years ago now from the date of my post - there did seem to be a bit of refurbishment going on to the outside.
Jan - thank you so much for telling me about the house being a children's home - glad to hear you had happy times there - not being local to here I'd no idea! I must look up the newspaper reports, too.
Thanks for your comments:)
ty so much for your reply im chuffed that someone is taking great interest in the building ive just spoken to the people in tha garden centre and work is still going off they have just had a new roof put on although the house is sealed off to the public you can still walk around the outside or it my email address is bolsoverpair@yahoo.co.uk xxx
ReplyDeleteandy be any chance was your fathers name betteridge if so u may know my husband who was a resident there in the early to mid 70s
ReplyDeleteHi, I used to live at this old house when it was a childrens home way back in 1973.
ReplyDeleteI was there till 1976.
During my years there it was a boys only place, but I did hear that girls had been put there later on.
I had a drive over there about 5 years ago but the place was being refurbished so didn't get to look around.
Jan, when I was there we had 2 teachers called Betteridge, a father and son whose first name was Mike.
ReplyDeleteMike Jnr was the sports teacher and his dad was some kind of master.
hya hun ty for the info will pass on to hubby as he wasnt sure when read his post but he can remember his name now u said it hun
ReplyDeleteWhat's your husbands name?
ReplyDeleteMaybe I know him if he was there at the same time as me.
I was in Derwent house.
its kevin on friends reunited hun
ReplyDeleteHello all, I am a Heywood of the Doveleys Heywoods. This house was in my family from 1831 to 1948. We are still around and the Heywood name is intact. Sir Benjamin Heywood bought the house in 1831, it was a small country home at the time. The home was givin to Sir Thomas Percival Heywood in 1846 for his wedding. He greatly expanded the house. In 1871 the house burnt down. His children barley escaped and the childrens bedrooms were the only part of the house to survive. He re-built the home and it was completed in 1875, hence the date on the building. My family continued to own the home well into the 1900's. After the death of Sir Graham Heywood in 1941 the upkeep of the house became to costly for the family and we sold the house in 1947. I don't know much about it after that, just the hoorific stories of what happened after it became "the riverside children's home". I hope this gives a little bit more information.
ReplyDeleteHello I would love to have a photo of this house I was there in 1985 and even though it has a bad reputation cause of 2or 3 other staff, I had some good memories, there I'd love to go to that house again, look around the rounds, yes sir Henry perable use to have this house, which I found fascinating, and the staff use to tell us a white lady use to roam the grounds, we never saw her thought, I remember swimming in the outside swimming pool and sleeping in the bedrooms wow, I do hope they never ever knock that building down, I remember scrubbing the long hallway, as a punishment, I didn't mind, that was a tall man with a stick had me scrub I had a crush on him but he never ever abused his position, 2other men did though, but what a buitifull house, I want a photo of that house and then I can have it painted and put on my wall, and all the groups on to wow that would be lovely. I DO HOPE MR AND MRS AVE WHO OWNED THE HOUSE AT THE TOP OF THE DRIVE, HAD A GOOD OOD LIFE, AND GOD BLESS,ALL THE NICE STAFF, LIKE MRS WOODS AND MRS MACK 2 SISTERS WHO WORKED THERE, SOME OF THE CHILDREN WHO WERE THERE ARE DEAD NOW SOME WHENT ON TO ABUSE DRUGS, Joey, John B and maybe a few others such a shame God bless them,But what a house wow
DeleteHello it was a buitifull. Huge and I lived there, when some abuse happened, by 2male staff the other staff were wonderful, and I had some good times playing volley balls outside on the ground around the back of the house, and it also had a swimming pool outside. I remember, we use to share out of the windows at night hopping to see a white lady who we were told was a goast, but we need did see, also I was told about Sir Henry perasble, although I know iv got the name wrong, now but second name is correct, I was fascinated by the name, and there is a river at the back, to actually live in the manner house, of that size, that only the rich can afford is a real blessing, there were lots of good times in that house, fun times, And when there was any sort of abuse, it would of being hidden from other staff it was never in the open when all other staff were, 2or 3men spoil it and the reputation of the place, I was actually watching Sarah fegusen get married while in the class room it's very clear, clear as day I will never forget, what I would give to go back, just to see and take photos, I'd pay just to walk around to go in each room all over again, the rooms were so large downstairs, I remember sitting there eating out tea, I also remember a girl being there she wasn't very nice, and when she left,everybody shouted yes all at once, I'll never forget it might of being hip in hurray, but time goes so so fast God bless that house, and all who lives there, but without family it's not a home, and we had lots, maybe 16or more kids maybe more and lots of staff God bless. All
DeleteThank you for leaving this information for everyone to read. I've been astounded that a post I wrote two years ago on this blog has caused so much interest. I've noticed many visitors to this particular post so I'm guessing someone has put a link to it somewhere possibly to do with the time it was a children's home? Thanks again:)
ReplyDeleteIv no idear why iv come up anomanious. Iv nothing to hide, nicola griffiths. Lovely house if I won euro millions I'd buy hpuse and restore it 😁
Deletewe went to see the house today 36 yrs after my husband left the childrens home and it is magnificent we got the feeling that we didnt want to leave it we will be going back soon when we can have a better look round it brought so many happy memories for my husband
ReplyDeleteShould've read the comments here and not just the post itself, it seems! :) Very interesting. And woah, googling for "the Riverside Children's Home" gives a lot more actual results than "Doveleys Manor". And very disturbing those results are too. :(
ReplyDeletei was at this place between 1971-1975 and my memories are all good especially my house masters Keith and Judy Brown of Derwent house, Keith & Judy were like a mother and father to me and i would love to be in contact with them again. anyone who would like to chat about the old house get in touch on paul84842005@yahoo.co.uk regards paul
ReplyDeletei was a resident here between 1971-1975 in derwent house ran by house masters keith and judy brown who were wonderful people would like to know where they were now. anyone who would like to chat about the old house get in touch paul84842005@yahoo.co.uk i heard riverside went bad ways shortly after i left, hoping to hear from you regards paul
ReplyDeleteMy Mother was taken there on the War, Sir Percival. Heywood , Joan and her Brother Oliver were there at tis time, the other war children were taken to live with villagers but mt Mum stayed with the Heywoods , she stayed for quite some time agter the war was over, Mum passed away in July 1995 and we scattered her ashes under the lime tree facing her bedroom window, J Edwards, Cheshire
ReplyDeleteThanks for adding you memories to the comments here. I'm amazed that although now five years old that the posts I wrote about Doveleys have gained so much interest for so many people who remember it in different ways. It sounds as if your mother was happy there:)
DeleteI wished I'd of gone to court, I'd of told the truth the whole truth as lots of lies and exaggerated events. Of anyone neads me to stand up in court I will my name is Nicola griffiths. As I know that John Henry Bentley lied. I also know which staff kissed me 2 staff tried they did not try to force. But there was a Mr Watson who was up O and A who was very strict. Never toatch me never hurt me but the boys hated him well the bad boys trouble makers. And I know that truth has been fabricated they jumped on it when herd about someone's abuse.
DeleteSo interesting. Thank you xx
ReplyDeleteWhilst its great sometimes to see properties and the way people love them and wish for refurbishment or saving them ect sometimes a place may not be all it appears and for some of us that stayed their when known as "riverside" we would like nothing more than to see it demolished and erased from history permanently. sorry folks but sometimes someone has to speak out for those that have had whole lives turned upside down and memories imprinted into the heads they are forced to carry for the rest of their lives.
ReplyDeleteNo why should. It be demolished, I was there, i saw everything. 1child got a good hiding, and 2chikdren got approached by staffs male staff who try to make a pass at them, why should. It get demolished, I know that a lot of the claimed were exaggerated I know that for certain, so if 1bad apple does something to a chikd we should. Destroy. A building, 2maik staff try to seduce me, what's that got to do with all the other nice staff and a buitifull house and grounds hmmmm, I know someone who wanted compensation to and exaggerated, as for abuse I never witnessed any except person getting maybe hit cause he was being abusive himself, and I think the male staff got his hair off, and has probably paid the price now, but 3 men can't have the building demolished there's being no murders no one Berried under the concrete, as for violence and abuse, I came from a very abusive hone and farther, which made that place look like a holiday camp, all the kids were happy., and some were naughty baricading there selves in, just to show of and for attention, you shouldn't be leave all you hear, as it was exaggerated to the max, I was there I saw, I only herd one boy shouting and that's cause he was trying to fight the staff, so. Other than that 2men there were sort of grooming, giving the girls sigerets, being extra nice, asking if they could take you put at the weekend, and when you said yes, they'd try to go for kiss you on the lips. Hmm that was that end of subject and when I told of him some kids called me a name, so other stuff is probably bulls hit, some kids eating some compensation, wish I had a video recording, as for another man who worked there he was like a ex Borstall man he was strict, the boys needed a strict person or they'd walk all over them, I never saw him be violent or anything Mr grocot a nice man but no doubt, some lad would of had it in for him the, anyway I'm not going to lie, for any of them, The man who lived in trent Vale he was abusing his position clearly trying to kiss me on the lips at 15 but that wasn't even in the building, hmm honestly, it was exagitaited to the maximum, and that is the whole truth, liyers none of those kids were scared of the staff at all never ever passes me off cause I know that someone lied and he's dead now, ruins peoples life's, Truth will out one day God bless riverside and the wonderful staff thank you
DeleteHi it's nice to read the comments about the school I was there from 1971/1972 ,mr bean was a lovely man never a bad thing to say about him ,mr and mrs Dallas were nice also I joined the cadets which mr Dallas ran ,the head at the time was a different story ,I hated him for caning me and slipering 6 of each ,I was left outside his study for hours naked all through the night the cook who lived on our floor came past me cowering freezing cold ,he went to the kitchen and bought me kitchen whites and chocolate, he was a saint I wish if he is still around I could meet him to say thank you ,I was punished naked I still suffer from this punishment till this day 47 years on ,my email if anyone wishes to contact me I would love to hear from you ,kevin_hunter@btinternet.com
ReplyDeleteI was in Riverside in the 80s that's what it's name was The Riverside Centre run by Staffordshire County Council,I had not been back to place since the 89 but a old friend who was there same time as me said he was going to visit the site to see what happened with it this was 2018 it hadn't changed except for inside look like bomb had gone off all the beautiful flooring had been ripped up and the grounds were like a worksite i took photo's it's shame what as become of the place. Wayne riverside 1982-86.
ReplyDeleteI was in riverside 86 to 88 lots of good memories for me but not for others
ReplyDeleteI was there 81 to 83
ReplyDelete