Q. I am currently doing some family history research and came across your website. I want to find out more about my great aunt, Beryl Wordsworth Jameson. I have a small amount of information that suggests she lived at Roselawn, Chislehurst, in the early 1930s.
I was wondering if any of your members had heard of this address and if so if anything is known about it. Was it a private residence or could it have been an institution of some kind? I’m sorry I have so little information to go on but any snippets of information would be very much appreciated.
A. A quick trawl through the1930 Kelly’s Street Directory for Bromley (which includes Chislehurst) reveals Roselawn as part of The Foundling Hospital Domestic Economy School under the care of Lady Superintendent Miss Sowerbutts (O dear!). This appears to have been near to Farringtons Junior School, which still exists today. www.archive.library.bromley.gov.uk/dserve/commercialdirectories.com
I don’t know any more than that but local studies may be able to add to your knowledge. They are a mine of information and do provide a chargeable research service if you live far away. You can email them here..
From my research into our local C of E primary school, I note that it was a great accolade to win a place at the Domestic Economy School, though it seems to have originated in Maidstone.