Village Life: These rules from the past spell out a rigid regime for staff and children alike

1: TALKING is strictly forbidden in the bedrooms both morning and evening.

2: NO girls to be kept from school without permission of the Governors, except for illness. School begins at 9.30am and 2pm daily except Saturdays, which is a whole holiday.

3: NO girl must be kept away from Laundry or Workrooms for cottage work without permission from the Governors.

4: THE diet table is to be adhered to as closely as possible.

5: MOTHERS should be in the dining room when the children have their dinner.

6: MOTHERS are to take their children out for a walk every Saturday, weather permitting.

7: NO girl is to be sent out of The Village alone. "Out of school" girls may be sent together to Barkingside or the Horns, with a pass signed by their Mother, to be given up at the gates. Girls are not be to sent to the Beehive or to Ilford No girls may go outside The Village gates without hats on. Girls may go to the pillar box in caps and aprons.

9: THE Mossford gates are to be used by members of the Staff only. Mothers must take their girls through the Main and Queen Victoria House gates.

10: NO girl to be out of her cottage, except with her Mother, later than 6pm in the winter (unless attending Club or Girl Guides): 8pm during the Summer time".

11: SLIPPERS must not be worn out of doors.

12: GIRLS are forbidden to stand on the garden seats or to walk on the border of the grass.

13: "OUT of school" girls must play their games on The Village green, not on the drives or ornamental grounds, nor may they use the swings or giant slides.

14: GIRLS are not allowed to pick flowers or shrubs in any part of The Village home, nor must they be commissioned to do so under any circumstances.

15: ALL articles sent to the workshop for repair must have a label with the NAME of the cottage firmly affixed.

16: GIRLS are not allowed to sell, exchange, or give away property without permission.

17: MOTHERS must take Bible Classes for their children every Sunday afternoon between 4 and 5 o'clock, (Cheek time). All girls of 9 years of age and over may attend the Sunday evening services (6:30pm)

18: IF a Mother is not well and is obliged to stay in bed, she should report at once to the Governor's Office.

19: THE report sheet is to be filled in monthly by the cottage Mother in charge, and sent to the Governors before the end of each month.

20: MOTHERS have from 2 to 5pm off duty daily (except on Saturday and Sundays), after which time they must be in their cottages, except on their evening off.

Then we have the daily routine:

Keeping to the rules - skipping within the prescribed playing places on The Village green.

BARNARDO GUILD Messenger SUMMER 1998/99

Ok if like me you have noticed there was no rule 8 in the list above, and I have not missed it either. After a lot of research I found it:

 8: Girls should not ask silly questions why!

All information and photographs held within this web site are © copyright  and should not be copied or shared without express permission.

Please note this web site does not in any way speak for Barnardo's. Its purpose is purely for research and historical interest.