IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0074 ACC/1383
Held at: London Metropolitan Archives
Title: MIDDLESEX MEMORIAL TO KING EDWARD VII TRUST
Date(s): 1912-1976
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 0.83 linear metres
Name of creator(s): Middlesex Memorial to King Edward VII Trust
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
In 1910, approximately £4,500 had been collected by public subscription to provide a memorial in the county of Middlesex to King Edward VII. A general committee of subscribers resolved that a bust of the late king should be erected in a suitable place (now in the entrance hall of Middlesex Guildhall), and that the remaining funds should be used to provide seaside or country holidays for needy Middlesex children. Trustees were appointed and an administrative committee formed to include not only the trustees but one representative from each of the parliamentary divisions in the county.
Initially, groups of children were placed in hostels or camps on the south coast - the children having been nominated by Middlesex local education authorities. In 1914 the trust built its own hostel at Herne Bay. This eventually proved inadequate and was thus closed and sold in 1929. The trust then purchased in 1930 more extensive premises known as Collington Manor, in Bexhill-on-Sea.
Under a Board of Education scheme, Collington Manor was run as a Special School of Recovery for convalescent children, during the winter months. During the summer it continued to receive groups of children for holidays.
From 1946 the home was run as a full-time Special School for "delicate boys" aged 5-9 years, with only sporadic use as a summer holiday home.
The Charity Commissioners drew up a scheme in 1958 which enabled Collington Manor to be run as a convalescent and holiday home for children and widened its catchment area to include not only Middlesex but several adjoining counties.
After the reorganisation of local government in London in 1965, changes were necessary in the structure of the administrative committee, which resulted in the members including representatives from the new London Boroughs that had previously formed part of the administrative county of Middlesex.
Collington Manor was sold in 1966. From then on the trust made money available to London boroughs and other bodies to provide, or assist in providing, holidays for needy children.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Papers of the Middlesex Memorial to King Edward VII Trust, including the trust deed of the Children's Fund; minutes, correspondence and administrative files relating to the Memorial Fund; and papers relating to Collington Manor, including plans of the house, Committee reports, budgets, and files relating to supplies, builders, equipment, doctors, staffing, and superannuation.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
Trust Deed: ACC/1383/01; Minute books: ACC/1383/02-04; Files: ACC/1383/05-40.
Conditions governing access:
These records are open to public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to closure periods.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copyright to these records rests with the depositor.
Physical characteristics:
Fit
Finding aids:
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
Records deposited in June 1977.
ALLIED MATERIALS
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Date(s) of descriptions: June to August 2010.