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Archibald William Dewhurst and The Anchorage Home
“By 1923, the Castle
Street home was then described in directories as the Home for Ladies,
with a Miss Ongler as Manageress. However,
in 1925 the trustees of the property handed the building over to Church
Army and it was used for mothers and children sent through the Daily
Graphic Fresh Air Fund. The
home had been generously given by Edgar Figgess, but Church Army
realised it was too small for their purpose and added another storey. (Attached
photo. Looking at the front elevation, one notices the difference in
window size and spacing between the ground and upper floors) The
annual report for 1925/26 stated ‘The
result was a really delightful and original children’s home for rest
and holidays. The home took
25 children at a time’ and was variously called the Court Moor
Home of Rest for Children or the Church Army Holiday Home for Children. During
1931, Church Army decided a change was required and it became a home for
aged men. A few years later
in the 1936 directory under ‘Charity Organisations’ we see the first
reference to the name ‘Anchorage’, viz. Church Army: There is an
Anchorage Home for aged men in the Reading Road and an annexe at 2
Rundle Cottages, Castle Street, where
those in the eventide of life can find home comforts and rest.
Supt., Captain C. S. Dutton, C. A. The
1950 directory described it as ‘Church Army Anchorage Home for Elderly
Menfolk in Reading Road South at the corner of Castle Street’.
No name was given for the Warden-in-Charge. The
home was closed in 1974 and later sold in 1980.” |
