Genealogy Chat

I'm looking for a photo of 'Elmhurst', Wansunt Road, Bexley where a member of my family was born in 1938. I have tried Bexley Archives who were very helpful and had been asked this before, but they don't have one. The house only appears in an online search in their planning records for 1936, when the owner a Miss Marks added a bathroom and WC. Apparently the house stood until the 1960's when it was demolished and the site redeveloped. Anyone out there able to help, please?

Have you looked at the Francis Frith website?

It's not listed as an address on the 1939 register

Thanks Erica - Yes, but not there. Thanks also Shirley, which is strange unless they didn't want to list the mothers who were there, perhaps depending on their circumstance?

With a revolving list of residents, it might have been included in the Late Register which isn't in the public domain.
As a nursing/mother & baby home, you would expected there would have been a permanent occupant such as the Manager/Owner.

Alternatively, Its possible that all the expectant & new mothers had already been evacuated in anticipation of bombing.

Bexley Archives are extremely helpful. If they don't have a photo, or can't suggest where else to look, there possibly isn't one in existence.

It is on the 1939 register but for some reason they come up as individual entries so I'll just type them up for you.

Ethel L. Markes, single, 21 Feb 79, Matron and owner
David M. Markes, Jan 27, at school
CLOSED RECORD
Marjorie G. Byrne, single, 4 April 07, Hospital Nurse
Betty Hil (Westell), single, 15 Oct 13, Hospital Nurse
Emily Woodward, married, 23 Nov 10, unpaid domestic duties
Robin A Woodward, single, 24 May 36, under school age
Angela Woodward, single, 6 Sep 32??, under school age
CLOSED RECORD
Edith Waterman, married, 23 Feb 63, Private means
Mary Edwards, married, 16 Sep 51, Private means
Lillian McGuiness,single, 24 Jul 76, Pivate means
Edith Solomon, married, 28 Jun 64, Private means
Frieda Hammel, single, 8 Dec 90, Secretary Austrian refugee
John B. Allinson, single, 29 Nov 05, Gardiner


Difficult to make out the year of birth for Angela Woodward.

EDIT

It must be 39 for Angela


Births Dec 1934 (>99%)
Woodward Arthur Robinson Dartford 2a 1018

Births Dec 1935 (>99%)
Woodward Lawrence T Robinson Dartford 2a 1030

Births Dec 1939 (>99%)
Woodward Angela Robinson Dartford 2a 1833



Marriages Dec 1933 (>99%)

ROBINSON Emily Woodward Dartford 2a 1594
Woodward Arthur H Robinson Dartford. 2a. 1594

ahh i looked for Marks so nothing came up

did soundex etc too :-(

Ethel Louisa Markes was a midwife.


1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
12 Private Road Enfield, Enfield, Middlesex, England

Ernest Oliver Head Married Male 45 1866 London St Pancras Colling Agent And Coal Factor
Florence Dagmer Oliver Wife Married Female 38 1873 Rochdale -
Elizabeth Oliver Daughter Single Female 7 1904 Enfield Midbury -
Edward James Oliver Son - Male 0 1911 Enfield Midbury -
Louisa Ethel Markes Nurse Single Female 32 1879 The Mint London Maternity Nurse Midwife
Marthe Elizabeth Brinley Servant Single Female 32 1879 London Cook General
Amy Mary Kent Servant Single Female 29 1882 Peckham London Nurse Housemaid

its listed in the electoral rolls

View Bexley, Kent, England, Electoral Registers, 1734-1965

Name: Ethel L Markes
Residence Year: 1945
Residence Place: Bexley, Kent, England
Description: Bexley Constituency: Register of Electors
Elmhust nursing home
Wansunt road

and again
Name: Ethel L Markes
Residence Year: 1955
Residence Place: Bexley, Kent, England
Description: Bexley Constituency: Register of Electors
long list of residents

Elmhurst nursing home wansunt road

its now a home for the elderly aged over 65

Shirley, I found it by using just the street name and flicking through the pages. It was a little tricky as it was just listed as Elmhurst Nursing Home. Sometimes we just get lucky lol.

I suspect that David Michael Markes was legally adopted as I can't see a birth for him. He died 2006.

No way of knowing who the closed record is below him.

Name: Ethel Louisa Markes
Residence Year: 1938
Residence Place: Dartford, Kent, England
Description: Dartford Constituency: Register of Electors

listed as elmhurst wansunt road
ethel Markes
Betty Hill
Marjory Josephine Byrne
Florence Booker

but i search wansunt road on the 1939 reg and it wasnt listed as elmhurst

Thank you again to all above. The records from 1955 fit with what the Bexley Archives said as they believe it was knocked down in the 1960's. You are probably right that if they don't have a photo then no one does but I have also asked the local history society etc so fingers crossed.

have to tried this place
North West Kent FHS,
Library and resource centre
80 Summerhouse Drive
Joydens Wood Estate
Bexley, Kent DA5 2EE
Tele-; 01322 527604
only open on Wed

I realise that the setting is very different, but I got lucky in getting a photo of my grandparents' cottage in a Welsh village by phoning a publican in the village and asking if he would display a postcard -size plea for a photo of the cottage, which once stood opposite, but was demolished around 1966.

Maybe you could advertise in a local shop or newspaper.