UK Disability History Month – A Life Lived Abundantly

To celebrate the lives and achievements of people with disabilities as part of UK Disability History Month (20 November- 20 December) I’ve had a look into the Trust’s archive to explore Bethesda, the Charity’s first home for children with disabilities opened in 1890. The service provided care and later education, but I was interested to find what extra-curricular activities and recreations were available to the children and how these changed.

The Bethesda home was located on the edge of Broughton Park, Salford. The home’s name meant ‘House of Mercy’ and annual reports from the 1890s stated the aim for Bethesda was to provide, ‘a combined home and hospital.'  Residents came to Bethesda from local hospitals where no further treatment could be provided and where families didn’t have the facilities to provide care. For other children, their health conditions were the result of poverty and/or neglect.

From 1905 Annual Report

Crafts were undertaken from the early days of the service. In the August 1894 magazine the children of Bethesda are described, ‘producing many useful and pretty articles’ for a Garden Party and Sale of Works. This was an annual event which displayed the children’s handiwork, with many of the children acting as stall holders. A March 1902 magazine article describes two residents travelling to London to learn the art of artificial flower making, there are also references in April 1902 to drawing and painting classes. The March 1909 magazine describes the sale of needlework by the children to raise money for other causes around the world. The 1931 annual report remarks on basket-weaving by an armless child using her toes and legs to complete her work.

An expansion to the Bethesda service opened in 1904 increased the number of beds but also doubled the garden space and included a balcony for those who could not get outside. A book written on the 50^th anniversary of the Charity noted how Bethesda residents enjoyed, ‘the air and sunshine’ and where possible, active residents revelled in outdoor play. 

From Annual Report, 1910

Indoor games took place for special Coronation Day celebrations in June 1902 and an early form of film, ‘cinematograph entertainment’ is described in the April 1903 magazine which recounts the children’s first viewing experience, ‘they watched a big policeman running after a naughty little boy…I don’t think the exhibitor ever had a more appreciative audience.’

Other examples of new technologies enjoyed by the children included their first gramophone which was gifted to Bethesda in 1909. Friends of the home also lent their motor car to help residents take trips. By February 1921 a special visit to ‘Globe Picture House’ in Cheetham Hill is noted and in the annual report of 1924 thanks are recorded to the relatively newly formed BBC for the gift, ‘of a handsome wireless set, with loudspeaker attachments.’ The 1927 annual report states the Christmas eve ‘Children’s Hour’ programme was broadcast from Bethesda.

In the 1920s and 1930s an annual entertainment provided by Salford City Police who dressed as clowns, went down well with residents as did trips to the pantomime. A Scout group was formed by 1935. These entertainments were the backdrop to advances in technology which meant more equipment was available for treatment and children were no longer being referred to as ‘incurables’ by 1926. Technology such as Vita Glass which was installed at Bethesda by 1927, designed to allow sunlight through to help combat rickets and tuberculosis, followed by a new ‘Sunlight’ wing devoted to treatment by sun lamps. Technology, alongside the continuing support of Matrons, Nurses, Teachers and Medical Officers led the 1931 annual report to remark on improvements in the children being accomplished more rapidly that used to be the case.

PH/6/4/4/8 Setting up for a Sports Day event 1963

A move from Salford onto the Cheadle site in 1959 was motivated by a desire to create smaller family units who resided together but attended a separate school unit which day pupils could also attend. By 1960 the annual report noted evening activities ranging from woodwork, dancing class, modelling and musical appreciation. The new site was described in the 1961 annual report as, ‘not only a place of healing but a place where life is lived abundantly.’

PH/6/5/3/7 Lining up ready to race, Sports Day c. 1970s

Photographs from the 1960s show sports on the Cheadle site including football and an annual Sport’s Day along with children taking part in drama productions. Gardening and pets were also enjoyed with dogs ‘Beau’ and ‘Adam’ appearing in some photos. The 1970 annual report refers to the need to provide new and relevant experiences for the children. There are references in the 1970s to trips out in adapted vehicles, swimming and horse riding. By 1980 Bethesda acted largely as a secondary day school but extra-curricular activities were still in evidence including as reported in the 1984-5 annual report, rock-climbing in the Lake District, wheelchair dancing and an annual indoor meet of table games.

From 1984-1985 Annual Report

A display produced on the closure of the Bethesda in 1999 referred to many other activities such as a school bank which was started in 1983 run by students who took deposits from staff and pupils. In the 1990s various visits from musicians and dancers were organised for students to enjoy and participate in, even a visit from a Civil War Society who helped students to stage reenactments. Sailing and canoeing courses taken in 1990s led to a 1996 to trip to Menorca for students to test facilities at a new sailing centre.

With a history lasting over 100 years, the Bethesda service had completely transformed since its 1890 beginnings. Huge advances in medicine, technology and care meant the service came to offer so much more than the 'home and hospital' first described, instead helping children with disbilities to lead as full a life as possible and thrive.

To read more about the Together Trust's history, Andrew Simpson's book 'The Ever Open Door' can be purchased through our contact page.