Reference
X455
Title
Records of St. Etheldreda's Children's Home, Bedford (previously called St. Etheldreda's Deaconess Home & Orphanage and St. Albans Diocese Deaconess Home & Orphanage Charity).
Date free text
c.1539-1987
Production date
From: 1539 To: 1987
Admin/biog history
The home began about 1872 when Sister Frances, who had been working as a sister of mercy in her home town of Bedford since about 1869, first took a child into the community of deaconesses at her home in St Loyes. In 1881 No 9 Bromham Road was made available to the community. Although Church of England under the Diocese of St Albans the home took in children of all creeds.
From 1934-1971 the home was run by the Sisters of the Deaconess Community of St Andrew. They had an average of 20 children at the home many sent by the local authority. Although the deaconess community began to withdraw from running the home in 1971 they still continued to provide care. The home closed in about 1985.
Archival history
X455/11-37 were withdrawn in November 1973 by the depositors and returned in July 1987, without X455/35, following the sale of the property.
Some of the items are subject to closure under Data Protection legislation.
Level of description
fonds