We recently received a fascinating memory from Geoff Merritt, about The White House, on the seafront in Milford on Sea.
“In December 1949 at the age of seven, I was sent to a Sanatorium in Chandlers Ford which catered for Women in one part of the building and children in another part.
I remember that everything in the White House was brand sparkling new, the beds in the dormitories, the tables and chairs in the dining area etc. and everything smelt of very fresh paint. I also recall that the kitchen was below the dining room as our food was delivered to the dining room by a dumb waiter (and yes I did have a ride up and down inside it!).
If memory serves me right the beach was just outside the main building which was skirted by a tall wall, well to a nine year old it was tall. The White House itself was indeed painted white and several windows were circular like the portholes on a ship.
I only stayed there for a few months but I do have very good memories of the building and the staff who looked after us. Fortunately, I recovered from the TB and was fit enough to be a Fireman for 21 years. I hope this clears up any mystery from the period of the early fifties for you. Best wishes, Geoff Merritt.”
Thanks for your reminisces Geoff.
I was there from 1957 till 1959 with my brother and sister and have a few photos and remember quite a few of the staff from this time.
ReplyDeletegarmac46@yahoo.com
I was there from 1952 to 1953 I will never forget the staff there, We had a German orderley
ReplyDeletecall Sigfried Gutterwart and his wife Hilda worked in the Kitchen, the doctors were Doctor Davis, Caldwell, sister's Thomas and Mcclellen nurses foster and Bouches to name but a few, the Gardener was Mr Potts who grew the most amazing hydrangers and there was a lady called Maggie. My bed was the fourth window from the right and at nights when I could'nt sleep I lay and watched the Needles light house blink on and off.
The square building at the top was the school room, that was really the dividing line between the boys in the left of the building and the girls on the right with the nursery in the middle top floor. There was the most wonderful staircase that went up to the hospital floor. Yes The white House is full of memories some very sad but the care was wonderful.
Dear Dorothy, i was a child patient at The White House in 1960 please could i ask you if you still have any photographs of the inside of the hospital as i do not have any and would like my children to see were i was as photos tell a better story, i was there a year. This is so nice to see you have such a memory of that time i look forward to hearing from you regards Sandra
DeleteDear Sandra, Sorry but I don't have any internal photo's just o few of myself and the few of the patients
Deleteat that time taking sitting around the flag post in the rear garden, I am sorry to disappoint you if there is anything I can help with email me dorothycarter@btinternet.com regards Dorothy.
Dear Dorothy
DeleteI was at the white house in 1952 we must have known each other. My name is Geraldine
Hi
ReplyDeleteI have just read your post on White house memories, I wonder if you could help me, My mother Carole Hobson and her cousin John Neale
were both patients in the white house in the early 50's.
As she is 70 this year I am making a scrapbook of her life and would like to try and put a few pictures of her time at the White house in it.
I would be really grateful if you could email me any pictures you have of your time there.
sharonwickham100@gmail.com
Thanking you in anticipation
Sharon
will do my best for you not very good at this sort of thing but it you email me dorothycarter@btinternet.com will send you some copies they are taken in the rear garden hopefully your family could be amongst them I vaguely remember a family both there but they could have been brother and sister
DeleteMy mother lived in the White House grounds in a gardener's cottage in the 1930s, her father was Reg Meffen who was the under-gardener. They were employed during the period when Mrs Munro died, and my mother remembers going to her funeral at Rhinefield (her and her husband's graves were later moved) and travelling there in a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost. My grandmother, Lizzie, had many happy memories of Mrs Munro being extremely kind to her family, my grandfather had been through a couple of big operations and was always in frail health. Mrs Munro was, by their account, an excellent employer, and kept a full staff even when not in residence - during incredibly bad economic times this helped local residents massively. My mother still has the sale brochure for the White House when it was sold after Mrs Munro's death, the photos are magnificent. I will try and scan the booklet and make a pdf from it and put a link to it on here.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great piece of history Christine. If you do manage to scan the sale brochure, please e-mail to me at: david@milfordonsea.org - and I will add to www.milfordonseanews.org
ReplyDeleteI am glad that there are some fond memories of the White House. My Grandfather was Ronald, only child of Rhinefield, and my Father + 3 elder brothers grew up there until death duties forced a sale / give-away. Sadly Dad is now the last of that generation and at nearly 86 won't last forever. He misses Rhinefield to this day.
ReplyDeleteGeordie Walker-Munro
My mother was Sister-in-charge during the late 80s when it was a "Hospital for Mentally Handicapped Children". As scary as institutionalised care seems to us now, it really was a warm, lively, loving place. As a whole, the staff, their families (my sister and I were often taken to visit mum on shift before H&S legislation got in the way), and any relatives remaining in contact with the children, worked tirelessly to raise awareness of disabilities, and most of all to ensure the children had as fulfilling lives as possible. What a fabulous place to grow up in, given the stigma and generally poor standards of care of that time. Many, if not most of those children would not be in their 50s, 60s and 70s now, living satisfying lives, were it not for The White House and its incredible staff. My mum has some amazing photos of carnivals and fayres, BBQs and parties that we're held in the 70s and 80s. The people of Milford on Sea should celebrate this history.
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather Charles Oliver was an administrator at this children's home, I would imagine during the 80's. Thankyou for this interesting blog.
ReplyDeleteI was taken to the whitehouse sanatorium, Friday October 16th 1953. Although a lot I do not remember, there are things I do. I was wondering if there was anyone there,when I was. Would love to be in touch. I forgot to say I was only 4years at the time.
ReplyDeleteThe post above is from Dianne, if you would like to get in touch with her please contact david@milfordonsea.org and we can let you know how.
DeleteI must have been about 5 when I was at the White House in the very early 1950s having been sent from Charing Cross hospital when it was in The Strand London.
ReplyDeleteI remember a trip to the IOW with two other boys,being trapped against the sea wall and taken out by a kind family to their house in the country
Hi my Grandfather William Hart was sent to The White House in about 1945 ish , he was about 45 years old born 1900 , was sent from Morden Surrey , to Milford on sea the White House ,he had TB , my Mum his daughter is still alive , at 87 and remembers him going very well .
ReplyDeleteHas anyone got any information
I was a patient in 1960 for 1 year for chest problems but sadly my memories were not good ones which effected a big part of my life. There were a couple of lovely nurses but I am afraid abuse happened as did in many institutions. I came out a 9 year old confused very sad little girl. I have a photo of a happier days making a Guy Fawkes. Sandra Pimm
ReplyDelete