Collier House was opened in 1945 as a girls home, then it became a mixed home. Closed November 1981.

Below is a memory of one boarder of Collier House sent 09/08/08.

I received my records of my time in care of Dr. Barnardo's,  I went to Barkingside After Care department a couple of years back.

It is sometimes difficult to know whether things are memories or just imagined. I met up with a friend from Collier House in London recently, and although we were there not only at the same time but also for the same years, there are definitely gaps, she remembers boys being there, I don't, plus having helpers there, I don't. I always thought we did all housework ourselves (given rota once a week) and staff did cooking (if you can call it that !)

A few of us who'd recently collected our records from Barnardo's subsequently met up in London. I met three people whom I knew well, and one I've been in regular contact with, but it's hard, life has done different things to people, and I have to admit, the social differences in the adults we've become, really surprised me.

Some people don't want it generally known they were in a 'home'. I for one shout it from the rooftops. It was hard at school though, being the only one in high school, I was tormented for being 'posh' at the home, and generally parents of school friends, when they found out where I lived, on occasions stopped their children from mixing with us Barnardo children.

You learn to get tough in a children's home, no parents to complain to, it's a mixture of fists and keeping your head down. I was in Barkingside TVH for 2 short periods (have being briefly reclaimed by family in between) from about 1952 onwards in 2 different Cottages, then from about 1954 - 1961 in Collier House, until one day I was packed off without warning to Norwich, where there were about 10 small children, before being placed originally in foster care, and when that didn't work out, out on my own to get on with life.

Regards, Maggie.