Milford-on-Sea.
These pictures are from a holiday at 'Branksome', the HF house in Milford-on-Sea in May 1954. At the bottom of this page there are also scans of a postcard sent back from the holiday.
These are from the family collection of Adrian Fielding and were taken by his father on 35mm B&W negative film. They are all from the same set of negatives so it is clear they are all from the same holiday.
They have been scanned at high resolution but, as for the other pictures on this website, I have scaled them down to reduce the bandwidth to better display on phones and mobile devices. So this website does not do the pictures justice, its much easier to check the details on the full resolution pictures.
Looks like a stop for lunch:
Looking at the walking programme (see below) the only walk I can see that involves a ferry (apart from the ferry to the IOW) is this walk:
Monday AVON VALLEY, or CHRISTCHURCH AND HENGISTBURY HEAD "A" party motor to Christchurch and walk via Hurn to Avon village (lunch). Continue via Ripley and Sopley to Burton (tea). Walk back to Christchurch and motor home. "B" party motor to Christchurch, visit Priory, and walk to Wick (lunch). Continue over Hengistbury Head and cross ferry to Mudeford (tea). Motor home. Walking distance: "A" party, 10 miles; "B" party, 4 miles. |
The HF House 'Branksome':
Did HF have a beach hut?
In the background you can see the Needles on the Isle of Wight which confirms it is taken from Milford-on-Sea:
I assume these pictures are taken in the house garden:
on the walk:
Postcard
This is the HF postcard that was sent back from the holiday. It is one of those postcards they used to have with lots of pictures that concertina out:
In addition to the pictures it has information about HF:
and space to write a message:
It says:
"Having a good time here, 63 guests so plenty of company. Just off to the New Forest by coach so please excuse the scribble"
Then there is some domestic stuff about leaving the key in the kitchen, then it says:
"Malcolm is very happy with 20 children to play with, and it is quite an adventure going out with the party, taking babies-in-arms, prams & pushchair's on coaches, boats and trains"
Here are the pictures that fold out from the postcard:
The rack over the fireplace looks like all the postcards available to buy:
Walking Programme
| Here is the walking programme for Milford-on-Sea. Even though it was a family centre they still had 'A' and 'B' walks so that the husbands could go on the 'A' walk and, in those enlightened times, the 'B' walk would not have too many styles for their wives to get the prams and pushchairs over. |  |
The walking programme describes the walks like this (the booklet does not scan very well so I have typed it in):
Programme of Excursions(Subject to alteration if circumstances require) These excursions are a principal feature of our holidays, and afford the main opportunity for contact with fellow-guests, as well as seeing the best of the neighbouring countryside with the minimum of difficulty. Those who do not wish to join any of them need not do so, but it is hoped that the great majority at the centre will participate regularly, and arrangements are made accordingly. Centre Officials are normally appointed for weeks between Easter and the end of September provided numbers justify; outside that period they will only be appointed in exceptional circumstances. |
Family Cantre Arrangements(1) EXCURSIONS, involving walking distances of about 8-15 miles with "B" party alternatives for guests who can only undertake shorter walks, are arranged for Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Some adults will normally stay behind to care for the younger children, but it is hoped that the others will join in these excursions, which are an essential feature of Fellowship holidays, and children who can undertake the walks are encouraged to do so. Sandwich lunches will be provided. Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays are "off" days, when guests make their own arrangements, either for excursions or to stay in the guest house as they prefer. (2) MEALTIMES will normally be as follows, though variations may be necessary according to local conditions: 8.30 a.m. Breakfast. 1.0 p.m. Mid-day meal for children not having reached their 10th birthday and not joining the excursion; this will be their main meal of the day. A light lunch, of a comparable standard to that provided for those taking part in the organised excursion, can be provided for other guests in the house. 4.30 p.m. Afternoon tea for adults and children having reached their 10th birthday, and a more substantial tea for children under this age in the house. 6.0 p.m. A light meal (e.g. biscuits and milk) for children not having reached their 10th birthday, and such children who have been on excursion will be provided with a more substantial meal at this time. 7.30 Dinner, for adults and children having reached their 10th birthday. (3) BEDTIMES, etc. Children not having reached their 10th birthday are expected to be in bed by 7 p.m., those between their 10th and 12th birthday by 9.0 p.m. and those between 12th and 15th by 9.30 p.m. Children of 8 and over are not usually expected to share a bedroom with parents or others of opposite sex. (4) Facilities are provided for washing and drying children's clothes, and ironing. (5) Where special food of any kind is required for children, the Fellowship will endeavour to arrange for this to be provided but any additional cost must be paid for by the parent. (6) The House Staff cannot be responsible for the charge of children and the parents or other guardians are expected to keep them under reasonable control so that they may not cause trouble to others. |
One of the walks in the Walking Programme is to get the ferry to Yarmouth IOW and then walk to Freshwater Bay Hotel for afternoon tea. I assume this is how HF knew the house and so acquired it in 1956? There don't seem to be any pictures here of that walk, I think there would have been if they had done it as it would have been a highlight of the week.
Current Day
Looking on Google Street view now, this looks like it at 20 Whitby Road:
According to this website:
https://www.milfordhistory.org.uk/content/catalogue_item/branksome-whitby-road
Branksome, Whitby Road
Chronology of uses/owners/occupiers from census, directories, parish registers etc. Originally Whitby Villas; boarding house, hotel, Holiday Fellowship home and rest home.
Date of coverage 1887-2020
Other Documents on this site
Click on the following for more information
| Former HF Houses | |
|---|---|
| Conwy (1914- 2011) |  |
| Newlands (1914- 1987) |  |
| Swanage (1947- 1995) |  |
| Isle of Arran (1925- ) |  |
| Scarborough (1954- 1998) |  |
| Lulworth |  |
| Beddgelert |  |
| New Inns |  |
| Penrith |  |
| Milford-on-Sea | |
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About This SiteHere is some history of former HF houses I have visited (there are also some pages about getting to, and walking from, HF houses without using a car). Over the years I have had holidays in houses that HF have closed. I think it would be good if there were somewhere on the HF website where peoples memories could be stored and made available online. I know that HF have a paper history archive at Newfield Hall and there is an online book by Harry Wroe but I would see this as something HF could do which is more of a online community thing. If you find any errors why not let others know by putting a post on the HF Holiday Fans ( unofficial) Facebook forum. I will try to quote such posts here so they don't get lost. |