Administrative Biographical History 1869 - NCH founded by Rev Thomas B Stephenson, a young Methodist Minister, when he converted a disused stable into a home for orphans and abandoned children in Lambeth, London 1871 - The Lambeth home is given approval by the Wesleyan Methodist Conference and moves Bonner Road. 1872 - A second home is opened in Edgworth, Lancashire - a rural location 1873 - The Home's emigration scheme begins with the departure of the first party of children to Canada. Reception branch in Hamilton, Ontario is opened 1875 - The Home takes on the management of an Industrial School at Milton, Gravesend 1878 - Training of women in child care begins - the 'Sisterhood' is established 1880 - The Home takes over the management of a children's refuge in Ramsey on the Isle of Man 1882 - Princess Alice Orphanage opens in Birmingham. The Donor stipulates that home must be for orphans only. The Children's Home becomes the Children's Home and Orphanage 1887 - Alverstoke in Hampshire opens as a convalescent home for children 1888 - First Conference (later called Convocation) of Home workers takes place 1891 - Women becoming sisters of the Children take part in a Public Recognition Service as a form of ordination for the first time 1892 - The League of Children's Friends established? NCH begins placing-out children for adoption 1894 - Canadian government investigates the work of the Home in Canada 1898 - The Milton Industrial School is relocated to Farnborough 1899 - Young Leaguer's Union established in order to encourage involvement of young people with fund-raising 1900 - Rev T B Stephenson retires and Arthur E Gregory takes his place as principal of the Children's Home 1903 - New branch opens in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire to provice a home for 'delicate and affected children'. New branch opens at Frodsham in Cheshire 1906 - New Branch at Bramhope, near Leeds 1907 - The Home now becomes known as the National Children's Home and Orphanage 1908 - Houses rented temporarily in Leigh-on-Sea in order to relieve the pressure of numbers in other branches 1909 - Ownership of the Laleham orphannage in Oxted transfers to NCH 1910 - Sanatorium and new branch at Harpenden in Hertfordshire opens, to provide for children with TB. NCH takes over the management of home in Newport Road, Cardiff, previously run by the Ladies Association for the Care of Young Girls 1912 - A E Gregory dies suddenlby and is replaces as principal by Rev William Hodson Smith. Rev T B Stephenson dies after a long illness 1913 - The Headquarters of NCH are moved from Bonner Road to Harpenden and the administrative section is moved to temporary accommodation in City Road. New branch opens at Doddington in Kent 1916 - New branch opens at Sheringham in Norfolk 1917 - New branch opens at Newquay in Cornwall. New branch, known as Headlands, opens at Penarth, South Glamorgan, providing training for Naval Careers. New branch opens in New Barnet 1918 - NCH provides a home for 97 Serbian refugees at the newly opened branch in Faversham, Kent. Staff rest home opens in Barmouth, Wales 1919 - New branch opens at Whitby, North Yorkshire 1920 - New branches open in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Barton-on-Humber, Lincolnshire and Congleton, Cheshire 1921 - New branch opens in Sutton-on-Sea, Lincolnshire 1921 - New branch ate Ebley, Gloucestershire. NCH takes over management of the Birkdale Orphanage and Training Home for Girls known as Westdene in Southport 1923 - New branch opens at Ribblesdale, Lancashire 1925 - The central offices of NCH move from City Road to Highbury 1929 - New branch, known as the Watson Home opens in Sutton Coldfield and becomes the first residential nursey branch 1933 - NCH branch at Newport Road, Cardiff transferred to Penarth, close to Headlands. This branch is known as Seaview. NCH takes on the administration of the Gyde House Orphannage in Painswick, Gloucestershire. Rev Hodson Smith retires and is replaced by Rev John H Litten as principal. First course for the Sisters' Training School begins 1934 - The Hamilton branch of NCH is closed. NCH begins a seven year Development Plan. NCH takes on the administration of the Primitive Methodist Homes at Alresford and Harrogate, as a result of the Union of the Methodist churches 1935 - Stephenson Hall is opened in London order to train child care workers and Sisters. New branch, known as Springfield, opens in Nottingham 1937 - New branch open at Malmesbury 1939 - NCH accommodates Austrian refugees through its Riversmead scheme. All children in branches located in unsafe areas evacuated to other branches 1941 - Approved Schools open in Coomb, Carmarthenshire (for boys) and Seaton, Devon (for girls) 1942 - NCH publishes its Report on Reconstruction for post-war development. Hostel for Riversmead boys opens in Blackburn. New branch opens in St Anne's on Sea, Lancashire 1943 - New branch open in Bristol and Brackley 1946 - Princess Alice College is opened in Birmingham in order to privide training for child care workers and Sisters. New branch, known as Clarendon open in Cardiff. NCH is registered as Adoption Society 1947 - New branches open in Woking (Ashwood) and Nottingham (Southbank) 1948 - NCH takes on administration of the Orphan House for Girls in Swansea, after the home had run inot financial trouble as a result of the Children's Act 1948 1949 - Training Colleges are recognised by Home Office to provide Certificate in Child Care 1950 - NCH initiates project to emigrate children to Austrailia. New branch in Horsham, Sussex. Rev John Litten retires and is replaced by Rev John W Waterhouse as principal 1951 - The Oxted branch moved to a new location at Limpsfield, Surrey 1953 - NCH takes over administration of Orphan Home in St Leaonard's-on-Sea, Sussex and relocates Malmsbury branch there 1955 - First Scottish branch open in Glasgow (Rutherglen) 1958 - A new branch is opened in Farnham and a hostel for older children at Enfield 1959 - Children from Penarth (Seaview) relocated to new branch at Dinas Powys in South Glamorgan 1960 - The two training Colleges, Stephenson Hall and Princess Alice College are merged at Stephenson Hall 1965 - Another branch opens in Southport, known as Birkdale 1966 - Second Scottish branch opens in Pitlochry 1967 - New branches open in Edgbaston, Birmingham; Manchester; Hildenborough, Kent and Elmstead Woods, Kent 1968 - The organisation of NCH is regionalised. New branches open in Wolverhampton, Lincoln, Ealing and Leamington Spa 1969 - NCH celebrates its centenary. New branch opens in Bourneville, Birmingham. NCH begins its work in the Caribbean. Rev J Waterhouse is replaced as principal by Rev Gordon E Barritt 1975 - New branch opens in East Grinstead 1976 - NCH takes over administration of children's home in Enfield 1977 - New branches open in Whitechapel, London and Salford, Manchester 1978 - New branch opens in Dunstable 1979 - New branch opens in Leicester 1980 - New branches open in Hull and Streatham, London 1986 - Rev Gordon Barritt retires and is replaced by Rev Michael Newman as principal 1990 - Rev Michael Newman retires and is replaced by tom White, the first non-ordained principal 1994 - NCH is renamed NCH Action for Children. Continued Please click on link  http://www.philipastrangechild.com/page_1170414203031.html