The Gorse VAD hospital, Chislehurst

 

Black and white image of The Gorse, Chislehurst

Courtesy of The Chislehurst Society Ribbons Collection

The Gorse, Chislehurst

Before the First World War

The Gorse (originally called Ee-Yuan) was built in the early 1880s. It is situated in Manor Park, Chislehurst, at the furthest point from the main road. It abuts an area of the National Trust woodland known as ‘The Gorse’ from which it may have taken its name[1]. In 1900 Arthur Frederick White took ownership of the house.

During the First World War

Housing Belgian refugees

In the early years of the First World War Mrs Arthur White, of Cookham Dene, Manor Park, offered The Gorse, which had been empty for six years, to the War Refugee Sub-Committee and it was used as home for Belgian refugees. 25 persons aged from 12 months to 83 years were housed there in November 1914. Articles in the Chislehurst and Sidcup District Times comment on the comfort of the house and gifts of food, coal, and clothing, and money donations. Some promised monthly subscriptions. Refugees came from Ostend, Malines (between Antwerp and Brussels), and Antwerp. They included a pilot, cigar maker, pensioned police officer, and a factory manager. Classes were held for learning English, and other classes knitted comforts for the soldiers. There were specific visiting times and days listed in the newspaper and further gifts in kind and money was requested[2]. On 6^th January 1915 a concert was held at Chislehurst Village Hall for the refugees from The Gorse and patients from Red Cross hospitals in the area[3].

Hospital

The Gorse Auxiliary Hospital opened in July 1916, when Holbrook Auxiliary Hospital, Holbrook Lane, Chislehurst, had to be returned to its owners[4]. These houses were part of Kent/66 Voluntary Aid Detachment. On 25^th September 1918 The Gorse closed, probably due to refurbishment.

The Gorse during 1918

Sophie Tiark, who lived at Foxbury in Kemnal Road Chislehurst, was appointed Commandant of The Gorse on 30 September 1918. She was 38 years old and had been working with the wounded in Holbrook Auxiliary Hospital and Hornbrook Auxiliary Hospital since October 1914. Her appointment at The Gorse was celebrated with a dinner at the Bull’s Head, Chislehurst on 3^rd October. Her mother, Agnes, visited The Gorse on 31 October 1918 after the refit and wrote ’To the Gorse Hospital with Sophie – so bright and well prepared for the reopening tomorrow’[5].

From Second World War to the present day

During the Second World War The Gorse was used as a convalescent home and possibly a hostel for Polish refugees. After the war the local council opened it as a home for children in care and this lasted until the early 1980s. The house was derelict until 1990 when it was refurbished and converted into four apartments. Its Coach House is a separate dwelling. It is a locally listed building. [6].

[1] http://ezitis.myzen.co.uk/thegorse.html

[2] Chislehurst and Sidcup District Times dated November 1914 at Bromley Local Studies

[3] Chislehurst and Sidcup District Times dated 15 January 1915 at Bromley Local Studies

[4] http://ezitis.myzen.co.uk/holbrook.html

[5] http://www.kemnal-road.org.uk/PDF%20files/AgnesTiarksWarDiariesV4email.pdf

[6] http://ezitis.myzen.co.uk/thegorse.html