CodeTCS/NAR/00066
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Authorised Form of NameGodfrey Walker Nursery and Day Nursery, York; 1911-c1973; Residential Care Home
Corporate NameGodfrey Walker Nursery and Day Nursery, York
Dates Of Existence1911-c1973
EpithetResidential Care Home
Other Forms Of NameGodfrey Walker Home for Girls, York 1911-c1946
West Garth Nursery 1940-1950s
Godfrey Walker Nursery c1945-191
Godfrey Walker Nursery and Day Nursery 1971-c1976
PlacesYork
Dates and PlacesDiocese of York

Address:
1911-c1946 Godfrey Walker Home, 4 West Bank Terrace, Acomb Road, Holgate, York
c1946-1982 Godfrey Walker Nursery, West Garth, 140 Acomb Road, York, YO2 4HD
ActivityThe original building was given to the Society and adapted and furnished by Mrs Walker in 1911 for use as a home for girls. [Our Waifs and Strays Jul 1911 pp146-7]

In 1911 the Home was described as having a beautiful garden "and the surroundings are in every way delightful". The first residents came from the Lampson Home for Girls in Dulwich, London. The Home was dedicated by the Archbishop of York on 27 July 1911. [OWS Oct 1911, pp176-7]

In 1924, as part of a three-day school trip, two of the residents were chosen to go to the Wembley Exhibition, London. In addition to the exhibition, they also went sight-seeing in London. [OWS Aug 1924, p131]

A new building, West Garth at 140 Acomb Road, was purchased on 25 October 1945 and the original building at 4 West Bank Terrace was sold in 1946. [Register of Property and Leases, AR81.0445] This move coincided with the change of use from a girls' home to a nursery. [OWS May-June 1947]

In 1965 the Nursery was extended with money raised from an appeal sponsored by the Archbishop of York, Dr Donald Coggan. The extension included a baby room with an adjoining bathroom for six babies, a new heated shelter for 24 prams and a prefabricated bungalow for the nurses. A total of 23 babies and toddlers were then housed at the Nursery. [Gateway Dec 1965, p12]

In 1970 the building was described as being "large and gabled [and] set in a big garden where the children can play at the front and where the flowers and vegetables grow at the back. Right at the bottom of the garden are the nurses' quarters where they can spend their leisure time." At this time, the 24 children who lived there were divided into four family groups, each with their own bedroom, dayroom, staff nurses and assistant students. The aim of these groups was to give the children "a little more of the individuality of an ordinary family and lessen the feeling of being drowned by everyone else" [Brothers & Sisters Easter 1970, p5].

In August 1971 a Day Nursery opened at the Home with places for seven children (see separate NAR) [Annual Report 1971, p6].

By 1973 the role of the Nursery had changed from long term residential care to short term care. [Gateway Winter 1973, p12]. At this point Godfrey Walker Nursery effectively ceased to be a residential care home and was renamed West Garth in around 1977. Please see related name authority record for West Garth for further information.

Number of residents in the Home:
1911-1937 20 girls
[source: Annual Reports. Figures are not given in Annual Reports after 1937].

Age range:
1911 seven to 14 years old
1912-1913 seven to 16 years old
1914-1926 age range not given in Annual Reports.
1927-1937 five to 16 years old
[source: Annual Reports. Figures are not given after 1937].
Legal StatusCertified home, 1912-1919
Certified home, 1927 to at least 1937
SourcesName authority record compiled from the supporters' magazine, Our Waifs and Strays, Gateway and Brothers and Sisters; The Children's Society Annual Reports; and Register of Property and Leases, AR81.0445
Catalogue
RefNoTitleDate
CF/07164Case file 71641899-1919
CF/13474Case file 13474[1908-20th century]
CF/16394Case file 16394[1911-20th century]
CF/17561Case file 17561[1913-20th century]
CF/18748Case file 187481914-1925
CF/19308Case file 193081904-1922
CF/20423Case file 204231915-1919
CF/13689Case file 13689[1908-20th century]
CF/18747Case file 187471914-1926
CF/14007Case file 14007[1908-20th century]
TCS/F/02/113/02[Godfrey Walker Nursery and Day Nursery, York, and West Garth, York?] Visitors books1931-1980
TCS/F/02/040/28[St Cuthbert's, Darlington] Photographs of children and staff1960s-1970s
CF/08832Case file 8832[1902-20th century]
TCS/F/02/113/01[Godfrey Walker Nursery and Day Nursery, York] Registers of babies' cots1963-1973
TCS/F/02/113/02/01[Godfrey Walker Nursery and Day Nursery, York, and West Garth, York?] Visitors book1931-1980
TCS/F/02/113/01/01[Godfrey Walker Nursery and Day Nursery, York] Register of babies' cots1963-1973
TCS/F/02/040/29/02[St Cuthbert's, Darlington] Blank training record for nursery nurses at Godfrey Walker Nursery and Day Nursery, Yorkc1960s
TCS/F/07/95File of correspondence and documents relating to the running of Godfrey Walker Nursery and Day Nursery, York, and West Garth, York1969-1981
TCS/F/02/113Records of Godfrey Walker Nursery and Day Nursery, York, and West Garth, York1931-1980
CF/10091Case file 10091[1904-20th century]
CF/10810Case file 10810[1905-20th century]
CF/13728Case file 13728[1908-20th century]
CF/14165Case file 14165[1909-20th century]
CF/15362Case file 15362[1910-20th century]
CF/15831Case file 15831[1911-20th century]
CF/15671Case file 15671[1910-20th century]
CF/15703Case file 15703[1910-20th century]
CF/16350Case file 16350[1911-20th century]
CF/16349Case file 16349[1911-20th century]
CF/16381Case file 16381[1911-20th century]
CF/16539Case file 16539[1911-20th century]
CF/16565Case file 16565[1912-20th century]
CF/16644Case file 16644[1912-20th century]
CF/16825Case file 16825[1912-20th century]
CF/16826Case file 16826[1912-20th century]
CF/10686Case file 10686[1905-20th century]
CF/11513Case file 11513[1906-20th century]
CF/14470Case file 14470[1909-20th century]
CF/14756Case file 14756[1909-20th century]
CF/15077Case file 15077[1910-20th century]
CF/16393Case file 163931911-2009
CF/17413Case file 17413[1913-20th century]
CF/17562Case file 175621912-1923
CF/17684Case file 17684[1913-20th century]
CF/17817Case file 17817[1913-20th century]
CF/18189Case file 18189[1913-20th century]
CF/18493Case file 18493[1914-20th century]
CF/18567Case file 18567[1914-20th century]
CF/18569Case file 18569[1914-20th century]
CF/14166Case file 14166[1909-20th century]
CF/19215Case file 19215[1914-20th century]
CF/19249Case file 19249[1914-20th century]
CF/19300Case file 19300[1914-20th century]
CF/19818Case file 19818[1915-20th century]
CF/20018Case file 20018[1915-20th century]
CF/19250Case file 19250[1914-20th century]
CF/21590Case file 21590[1917-20th century]
CF/21591Case file 21591[1917-20th century]
CF/21592Case file 21592[1917-20th century]
CF/22178Case file 22178[1917-20th century]
CF/23559Case file 23559[1919-20th century]
CF/24164Case file 24164[1920-20th century]
CF/23306Case file 23306[1919-20th century]
CF/24695Case file 24695[1920-20th century]
CF/24138Case file 24138[1920-20th century]
CF/24139Case file 24139[1920-20th century]
CF/26013Case file 26013[1922-20th century]
CF/19817Case file 19817[1915-20th century]
CF/23868Case file 23868[1919-20th century]
CF/24694Case file 24694[1920-20th century]
CF/24760Case file 24760[1920-20th century]
CF/24992Case file 24992[1921-20th century]
CF/25542Case file 25542[1921-20th century]
CF/25543Case file 25543[1921-20th century]
CF/26012Case file 26012[1922-20th century]
CF/26520Case file 26520[1922-20th century]
CF/26820Case file 26820[1923-20th century]
CF/26883Case file 26883[1923-20th century]
CF/26923Case file 26923[1923-20th century]
CF/26942Case file 26942[1923-20th century]
CF/27006Case file 27006[1923-20th century]
CF/27011Case file 27011[1923-20th century]
CF/27102Case file 27102[1923-20th century]
CF/27101Case file 27101[1923-20th century]
CF/27419Case file 27419[1923-20th century]
CF/27833Case file 27833[1924-20th century]
CF/27834Case file 27834[1924-20th century]
CF/27900Case file 27900[1924-20th century]
CF/28127Case file 28127[1924-20th century]
CF/28877Case file 28877[1925-20th century]
CF/28878Case file 28878[1925-20th century]
CF/29097Case file 29097[1925-20th century]
CF/29348Case file 29348[1925-20th century]
CF/29494Case file 29494[1926-20th century]
CF/29759Case file 29759[1926-20th century]
CF/29840Case file 29840[1926-20th century]
CF/29861Case file 29861[1926-20th century]
CF/29906Case file 29906[1926-20th century]
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