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Stanley House was the property of the Rt. Hon. The Earl of Derby. (17th Earl of) (1865 - 1948) Also Known As: Edward George Villiers Stanley. Lord Derby kept Hon George Lambton as his Private Trainer at Stanley House when he inherited his title. Some Dr Barnardo children had to suffer in Stately Homes. This is Peter West's story of his time at Stanley House. Over my lifetime I have had some strange receptions. Some warm, others somewhat restrained, but my reception entering Stanley House in the autumn of 1939 was unforgettable. I received a nosebleed from a blow to my face with the retort: 'Another throw out from a foster home!' My twin brother and I were eight years old at the time. We had amassed three foster mothers in four years. The last only spanned one month. How would child psychologists evaluate that today, I wonder! Notwithstanding that audacious start, we quickly settled in like children do to the routine and finally spent five years at Stanley House, Newmarket. The town of Newmarket was and is of course the headquarters of the horseracing fraternity. Stanley House itself belonged then to Lord Derby and attached to it was the racing stables complex ruled over by his chief trainer a Mr Waiter Barl. What a martinet! We boys observed how his word was law among the stable boys. Once he caught my pal and I scrumping which resulted in my first ride in a Rolls Royce - his! - In which he conveyed us back to the house for handing over to the superintendent for chastisement. Stanley House itself I remember as a large red brick three-storey building set in its own grounds, with a magnificent drive up to the main entrance and a tradesman drive to the servants' area. Actually it was very ostentatious although most of the pictures (mainly racing scenes) and carpets had been removed into storage. It had an aura of 'wealth lived here' about it and of course, they did. Even during those war years the Derby family retained a butler. Mr Percy Lane, and a nucleus of house staff, reminiscent of the 'upstairs downstairs' syndrome as seen on television. Qurte often members of the family spent time there especially during race weeks or when Lord Stanley, who was a serving officer. had leave. Actually, they were quite generous especially if winning a prestigious race like the Derby in 1944 with Watling Street. We benefited with a seaside trip to Hunstanton for a day. Obviously they retained a part of Stanley House for their private use and we tried to respect their privacy. During my stay at Stanley House the average compliment was 60-80 boys with six to eight staff. I survived six superintendents starting with Mr and Mrs Musket in 1939 and finally Mr and Mrs Whitehorn in 1944. When the place was handed back to the Derby family in 1946 the Whitehorns decamped with everybody to open up another home. Horsington House in Templecombe, Somerset. In retrospect they were momentous days especially with a war going on. I shall have more to write about those days in the future. My contemporaries who also spent time at Stanley House will I hope recognise themselves and others in the photograph taken in 1945. (will publish with names if requested) For the record the superintendents in order of appearance, starting 1939 were: Mr & Mrs Muskett, Mr Barnes, Mr & Mrs Leonard, Mr and Mrs Dellar and Mr & Mrs Whitehorn. The staff I can remember were: Miss Buckle, Miss Hudson, Mrs Crockhall, Miss Branch, Miss Eames, Miss Evererit, Mr Watts, Miss Jennings, Miss Everson, Mr Ayre, Mr Humpleby and Mr Render. There were also one or two temporary staff and superintendents but time has dulled the memory. Peter West |
Stanley House was opened July 1939 as a
Dr Barnardo's
evacuation centre for boys aged seven to 14 years. It took in some 60 to
80 boys. Closed September 1946.
Moved to