Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past History Information Request Children's home on the Overchurch

Does anyone know if there are any pictures of the Children's home which was on the Overchurch? I think it was demolished in the late 50s. Also, did it have a name?

Unless its a different home, but would have been the 80`s it was demolished!
My aunty worked there and my best mate lived opposite.
Used to sit on his front door step drinking beers and watching the lads climb drainpipes into the girls rooms!!!
This was on overchurch road, top end of Borrowdale rd

It would appear to have been called "Overchurch Children's Home"

There is mention of the history of the building HERE no doubt that site's owner will pop up on WikiWirral with more details.

I think hoseman is thinking of Parkside Children's home which is still in use as various other functions as far as I am aware.

Park side was demolished in the 90's. New houses built now where it stood

Thank's Angel, Park Side still exists in name which what cast my doubt.

I have done some research and the old children's home was built in 1859 by Thomas Webster and it was called Overchurch Hill House. It was demolished in the late 50s. Does anybody have any photographs or know where I can find any? My mum used to give the children of the home biscuits before being chased by the matron and she used to feed the donkey which my mother remembers being called Primrose.

That is uptoncx's site I believe...

Photo from site:

There is a picture on UptonCx's site on THIS page

Thanks for the picture. I think it may be the lodge on Moreton Road, my mother remembers a path through the gate which lead to the children's home.

1st pic 1874. The road running bottom right to centre top is Moreton Rd. Think Overchurch Hill House may be plot marked 25.

2nd pic from 1971-1978.

My mum remembers the swimming baths and the tennis court near the children's home - she remembers the matron of the home hanging out the washing there! Thanks for the pictures!

Most of what I know about it has already been said:

Overchurch Hill became Overchurch Children's Home in 1947 when Frank Paul (of Paul's Mill in Seacombe) sold it.

The house was built by Thomas Webster in 1859, it was built next to the site of the old church and graveyard, with a lodge on Moreton Road. The lodge was just about where the Motorway bridge is now.

George Webster inherited the house in 1876, and it was sold to Mr F O Paul in 1917.

In 1929 when the World Scout Jamboree was held in Arrowe Park, Mr Paul allowed one of his fields to be used as an overspill camp site. At the end of the Jamboree, he donated the land to the scout movement and it became a permanent camp site. The swimming pool was built as part of the camp site.

The Children's Home moved to a new building called Parkside, and the house was demolished in the late 1950s. The lodge survived the house, only being demolished when the motorway was built.

If you walk up the football field behind the Overton Community Centre, you come to a flat plateau, this was the terrace in front of Overchurch Hill.

I have no pictures of the house, although I'm told at least one does (did) exist. If anyone finds any, please let me know.

A Photo of Overchurch Hill house did exist and was hung on the wall in the bar of the Overchurch Pub. This was many years ago I doubt if its there now, I would also like to see a picture as it was, my only recollection is the ruins of what we called the home. Also the tennis court with the yew tree wind breaks and cobbled court yard area where i guess the stables were. Also the remains of the walled garden with various fruit trees and wallnut tree,this was adjacent to the grave yard. Does anyone else remember any of these.

I remember all those, but think it was in use as a home possibly into the early 60s (I would have been 5 in 1960) because I can recall the Children and the donkey and the Matron....i also remember it being pulled down and actually being allowed in there to explore.
Behind the tennis courts there was a cemetry, but i never knew there was a church on the site. my father was a scout leader and used to tell us what the place was like when Paul lived there and how there was a tree specimin from all over the world planted around the grounds. We lived in inman Road then and backed onto the field in front of the home. I remember the oak tree (next to the stone on the map) being cut up for a bonfire one year.
Near the swimming pool (which used to get used by kids off the estate) there used to be a log cabin which I think was linked to the jambouree, i did see inside once, but don't remember too much as I was just a kid back then

I worked at the children's home in the early sixties. The children were all transferred to "Family Group Homes".

Matron and Auntie Winifred ran the place, Auntie Winifred being the dominant one. There was also Auntie Ivy, who was very sweet but intimidated by the other two.There was a support staff in the kitchens. I remember the donkey and the stables. The house would have been beautiful when occupied by a Victorian family, it had an immense south facing drawing room/ballroom, but it was bleak as a council home, a loveless place. I wanted to take all the children home with me.

I was in the Overchurch,children's home in 1950- 1956 then I was fostered but went
Back for another year as my foster mum could not cope with me asking about my real mum. I did go back to her and stayed till I was married I remember Aunty ivy she was always kind to me Cooki in the kitchen and her helper also the gardener
Primrose the donkeyI have fond memories of the home even though it was a bleak place I loved the grounds

i,m one of those children you speak of.i was sent to 69 gainsborough rd in the early 60,s.i remember aunt ivy and aunt winifred,aunt ivy being the much nicer of them.

Shame to think that the nicest kindest person towards the children , was being intimidated herself . Must have been quite obvious if even a child was aware of it . Poor children must have felt even more nervous of those staff.

gosh 3 years between posts. Its amazing what the internet throws up when doing your research. Well found edwardmc.
I was researching a place of work my late father worked at in the 1950s and came across a post by someone who had commented about my dad as he worked with him.

Did any of the children get sent to Overchurch school, edward

i can,nt answer that cos the memory aint what it once was---however i do remember going to school on the woodchurch estate.

thursday 18th may 1961---woodchurch road primary school choir attended a music festival,i know this cos i was in it what i can,nt remember is where it took place.can anyone help me stop scratching my head.

woodchurch road primary is not on the woodchurch estate but quite a few miles away in Birkenhead.
woodchurch high school was probably there, and Fender primary school on New hey Road where Mr Brooks was the caretaker, also catholic school by Woodchurch Church and another one off Glebe Hey Road.

thanks for that info fish5133--this is what i mean by a memory that,s playing up.according to my social service record i did attend woodchurch primary and from there i went to woodchurch secondary modern school which i believe was on the woodchurch estate(i should have kept my memories in a filing cabinet)still all will become clear at some point.

its a pity friends reunited website closed down. Suspect facebook does a similar job to some degree if you can search on school

There is a Woodchurch School on the Woodchurch estate - the Church of England School by Holy Cross Church. Home Farm Road is our own equivalent of Hope Street in Liverpool - it connects the Church of England and Roman Catholic churches and schools. I've never understood why Woodchurch was called that, when the church is called Holy Cross.

Holy Cross wasn't the first church on the site, there was a Saxon church which predates it by hundreds of years.

Hi,
Not really sure if you are still interested in the Overchurch children's home in Upton as only just joined this site.
My father in law was the gardener and he lived in the lodge

My father in law lived in the lodge ( I do have a couple of photos) he was the gardener.

My father in law Charlie Begnett was the gardener and he lived in the lodge. Maybe you knew his son ( my husband)

Here is an updated link to some pictures and information about Overchurch Hill and children's home https://www.upton-wirral.co.uk/index.php/buildings/overchurch-hill