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Boys Homes (1920s - 1950s) |
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| An audio compilation of edited interviews with men who experienced life in two Boy’s Homes in Leicestershire in the early 1900’s, together with two women employed as staff at the time. The first speaker recounts that he was 11 years old when he was sent to “The Holt”, which housed 30 boys. Food, sleeping arrangements and daily routine are detailed alongside the strict authoritarian regime within the home, with interviewees recalling the inhumanity of staff who frequently beat the boys. Subjected to ridicule at the local school and unable to leave the home without permission, life was often very difficult for the children, some of whom may have had mental or physical disabilities. Interviewees explain how boys came to be placed in homes by the courts; sometimes this was due to a misdemeanour but often to remove children from a poor home life. Remaining under the supervision of the state until they were 18, many recall being allowed out to work, or even to return home, from age 15. The women interviewees remember carrying out home visits in London and Nottingham during the 1940’s, and being shocked by some of the conditions they witnessed. One frequent runaway recalls being happy to finally be sent to an “approved school”; Desford Boys Home. A former staff member of Desford recalls the building and grounds, and the uniform, daily routine, meals, inspection parades and cleaning duties are detailed. Visiting days, home leave and Christmas are also covered and the annual summer camp at the seaside is described from both the former staff and boys’ point of view. Discipline at Desford is described and although the regime is generally regarded as fair by the interviewees, there is a marked difference of opinion between former staff and boys over the issue of caning. The original recording is held by the East Midlands Oral History Archive (EMOHA 00422, LO/042/C42), more information can be found at http://www.le.ac.uk/emoha/ |
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| Creators: |
Interviewee - Emerson, Mr
Interviewee - Woodward, Mr
Interviewee - Taylor, Mrs
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Subject: |
Civil Society, Education
Oral History
History
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| Contributors: |
East Midlands Oral History Archive - Copyright Holder
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Date created:
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01 / 01 / 1989
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Language:
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English
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Country:
Region:
City:
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United Kingdom
Leicestershire
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Rights:
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Community Media Association has non exclusive rights for the use of the work in The Showcase, but the overall copyright rests with East Midlands Oral History Archive. Copyright East Midlands Oral History Archive.
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If your browser can’t display the graphical link above to the translator, you may translate this page by going to the Babelfish website and pasting the address for this page into the box marked “Translate a web page”. |
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