1917-1936 Oldham Corporation Sanatorium School
By 1915, Oldham Corporation had decided to construct an "open air school for delicate children." However, due to wartime restrictions on borrowing, the Poor Children's Holiday Association was approached with a view to using their property at Castleshaw. Dame Sarah Lees, who had earlier contributed towards the extensions and heating of the building, met the £800 cost of its purchase and renovation. There was now residential accommodation for 22 girls. It was hoped that provision would be made for boys at a later stage, when funding became available. |
Memories and Highlights of the Castleshaw Valley - Edith Omerod
In 1929 to 30 I was sent for health reasons to the Castleshaw Centre, then the open air school. There was residential accommodation for 22 girls in 3 dormitories. The staff resident were: Matron: Miss W Whitehead, who ran the centre on military lines and discipline. Nurse White, who looked after our personal care; Miss Brady, a general helper Mrs. Dronsfield & Mary were cook and assistant cook, who lived at Croft house nearby. Mr. Wood looked after the coke burning store for the central heating In the chalet school room, Mrs. Williamson was our teacher who came Monday to Friday. Teaching was done in groups of four depending on age and ability, as we ranged from 6 years to 14 years. We were taught, English language and grammar, Arithmetic, History, Geography, Nature Observation eg. Birds nests and eggs, flowers; crafts were drawing, rafia work, needlework & knitting. The games we played were rounders, hide & seek, whip & top, hopscotch, a sort of tennis. Everybody had domestic jobs. At 9 years old I helped with the washing up after meals. Others set the tables, others cleared up afterwards and swept the floor as being near a lot of fields we occasionally got field mice in the house. Wednesday morning our English lesson was writing a letter home. One was written on the blackboard for the younger ones to print, but those who could write well wrote their own, which was supervised. Then two of the older girls took the letters to Delph Post office to get them stamped and posted, walking by field path. Meals were on a weekly rota of menu. Not much variety but plentiful. Monday: Boiled beef and carrots Wednesday: Potato Pie Friday : Fish These dishes I well remember, to me the horror of the week was Sunday morning before breakfast we all had to drink an egg cup full of diluted Epsom salts to keep our bowels open! |
Celebrations thought to be part of Delph May Queen Carnival - Date uncertain.