St Ethelburgas Convent/Orphanage Kent

[hazelwood13]

Has anyone any info on St Ethelburgas Convent, Deal, Kent from the 1920's. I have found the census record for 1911 but cannot find any other info. My mother and her sister and brother were placed there in the 1920's and their names are William Curtis, Agnes Mary Curtis and Miriam Mary Curtis. My mother Miriam was about 3 and left at approx 13 years old. I have searched all the Kent websites but there doesnt seem to be anything about this convent. Originally they were boarders and then classed as orphans as their mother left them and the father, William Alfred Curtis, and he could not take care of them. I would be interested to know if anyone has any info on this convent or if there are archives anywhere within the Catholic Community. Many thanks William Wood (son of Miriam Mary Curtis)...

[callbrian]

Hi
This may seem a silly question. Have you actually tried to contact the convent? I 'Googled' St. Ethelburga's and found a page that seems to require a log in and password, trying to contact old students etc. Perhaps that is also worth a try?
http://www.schoolguidez.com/United_King ... t_1760523/

[hazelwood13]

Hi Calabrian thanks for the reply. Unfortunately I dont think this website would be any good for my family as my mother was a boarder/scholar at 3 (who was paid for) and then became an orphan (had to work from age of 5 until 13) as her father had died and could not pay the fees anymore. Her mother tried for the 8 years to get her and her sister out of the Convent but was prevented because she was not actually married to my mothers father... Eventually when my mother was 14 she was able to join her mother as she was too old then to be in an orphanage. I think the people of the School website would have been boarders and were probably very happy at the school but my mother was not as she was very scared of the nuns and to this day (and is now 87) cannot go into a church without shuddering.. Thanks anyway. Still trying to get info but very hard..

Thanks Hazel

[driftwood]

I went to the convent from 1967 until it closed in 1971/72. I believe the nuns transferred to the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Hastings, E Sussex, which still exists, and they might have archives...
http://www.sacred-heart.e-sussex.sch.uk/

Deal library and the Maritime Museum also have some info and photos.

My father was also at the school in the 1930's, and remembers it being hit in the Blitz. I have fond memories of my time there; I think it still had boarders in my day. There were certainly strict nuns, but also kind ones who influenced my life and career.But I know how convents and churches were not always happy places.

The school was an integral part of the town, and it was sad when the school was closed down and demolished. It is now the site of a carpark and Somerfield supermarket. I personally think the event marked the start of heritage decline in Deal.

Your mother's story is very interesting, and very poignant. I'd love to know how you get on.

best wishes

[hazelwood13]

Hi thanks for the info. Unfortunately havent been able to get any info but will certainly go to Deal to see if I can find anything. My husband and I will be going to Who Do You Think you Are exhibition at Olympia at the end of February and will be trying to find out any info from there. Thanks for your input though it was very helpful. It is my husbands mother Marie Curtis I am trying to find out about. Not sure if you might have remembered her but you probably werent in the orphanage side of the school. Thanks once again, I will keep digging. Fascinating stuff,, cannot wait to get more info. Regards Hazel

[library]

Hello

Deal Librayr holds the centennary brochure for the convent and photographs of the site which was closed and is now where Somerfield and its car park are. It also holds cuttings.

The school records seem to be held with the convent records in Sturry, near Canterbury under the archivist Miss Waddington and Canterbury Cathedral Archives will be able to give you contacts for the place.

You can also get some info from the main Catholic church and nunnery in another area of Deal who were linked to it.

Hope this helps

[library]

Also very good book Deal and Walmer district at War by David Collier, available at the library in Deal has a section about when it was bombed and photographs of it at that time.

[hazelwood13]

Thanks so much for your help. Have had some contact with The Catholic Church but unfortunately they did not have any info on my mother. I know they are holding a reunion of the pupils that attended the Convent and they extended the invitation to my mother but unfortunately this period in her life does not hold very nice memories. I will definitely try the Deal Library though. It is worth a try at least to get photographs of the Convent. Will also try the other avenues you suggested. I will keep digging. Many thanks William Wood

[St E Convent]

I went To St Ethelburgas in the 1940s and 50s as a day girl. My brother also attended. There is a Facebook page on it with lots of pictures and information from past pupils.

[hazelwood13]

Hi thanks for the message.. I have looked on Facebook and cannot find St Ethelburgas Convent. There is St Ethelburgas College but the one I am interested in is the Convent in Deal in Kent... Can you give me a bit more info on the Convent via Facebook please. many thanks and look forward to hearing from you. Hazel Wood