History of Suntrap
Below are some images of Suntrap through the years:
Suntrap (as it has always been known) was designed by Thomas Cutler in 1894 and built on the site of the former Fairmead House “lunatic asylum” run by Dr Matthew Allen. The poet John Clare being possibly the most famous of Dr Allen’s patients.
Children’s Sanatorium
It was built for Harold Baring; the story being Harold’s sister Muriel wanted to be a nurse so her banker brother built her a hospital! Originally a convalescent home for children, Suntrap soon had many patients from east London who were suffering from TB. As there were no antibiotics the only way to treat TB was with fresh air, rest and a good diet. Many of the children spent their days in their beds which had been wheeled outdoors or were put into summer houses which had huge windows.
Henry Chalk was a patient during the 1930s and tells of his family walking through the forest to visit him. Although he recalls often being lonely at night he remembers the children were treated very well by the staff. Another boy planned to run home to Buckhurst Hill but decided against it as he was afraid of getting lost in the middle of the forest.
Another patient was Miss P Race who came to Suntrap aged 5 in 1925. She re-visited Suntrap in 1996 and told staff about being wheeled out onto the balcony (now long gone) and looking out over the forest. She also remembered that when she left in 1928 she weighed only 2 stone 10lbs and was given 2 weeks to live!
Born at Suntrap
At some point during the Second World War the hospital’s patients changed from children to expectant mothers as Suntrap became an annex of Plaistow Maternity Hospital. Mrs M P Churchill writing in a local newspaper recalled that mothers were sent from East London to Suntrap to have their babies “in peace”. In July 1944 her own son Paul was born during one of the heaviest “doodlebug” raids on London. Even Suntrap was not unscathed that day. While in labour Mrs Churchill was “shoved under the bed” while nurses “dashed about getting babies out of the nursery part of which was on fire"! The records of births at Suntrap are now held by the Royal London Hospital.
A home for families
Following the war in the 1950s the building’s use changed once again. Now owned by Muriel’s daughters Ursula and Muriel Brenton the building was roughly converted into flats to house “needy” families. One such were the Townsend’s. Tony and his wife and baby came to live at Suntrap in 1957 in one of the 5 flats. Living in what is now a large classroom the flat had a bedroom, sitting room with veranda, dining room and kitchen. The rent was 10/- (50p) a week. Tony remembers that there were lots of children in the building and they enjoyed a big bonfire on November 5th on the front lawn. At Christmas the families had a huge tree in the front hall by a roaring log fire. Tony and family left Suntrap in 1963, but he returned in 1975 as caretaker of the field centre until his retirement in 1996.
The start of field studies
During the 1950s the London Borough of Walthamstow was a pioneer local authority in its approach to environmental education. Each day half a class of 10 year old children (about 20) would be taken to the forest to undertake field studies, their base being an old converted cow shed at Jubilee Retreat. Each class would make fortnightly visits and be taught by Fred Speakman. In the late 50s Fred acquired a property at High Beach and by 1961 another teacher was employed to work from Jubilee retreat, allowing a whole class to visit the forest. The first was Ernie Douse (a rural studies teacher) by 1962 Ernie was replaced by Ken Hoy.
Here is a short film showing Henry Maynard Primary Girls School visiting Fred Speakman's property in 1968.
Following the reorganisation of London boroughs in 1965 demand for field trips to the forest was growing as schools in Chingford and Leytonstone wanted the same opportunity for their classes.
During 1966 it was proposed that Waltham Forest Education Committee in conjunction with the Field Studies Council and with the full support of the Superintendent, Alfred Qvist should use a “purpose built” new field centre on the Jubilee Retreat site provided by the City of London – plans were even drawn up.
Suntrap Field Studies Centre
Then in late 1966 the Borough of Walthamstow was offered a gift……..the old Suntrap Hospital. In June 1967 the London Borough of Walthamstow bought Suntrap from the Misses Brenton for the princely sum of £500. Ken Hoy became the first Head of Centre and all field study visits from Waltham Forest were now based at the Suntrap site.
Following building work to convert the old hospital the first children visited in late October 1967.
The number of staff was gradually increased so that by the 1970s and through the 1980s all children in Waltham Forest made 8 visits to the centre during their final year in primary school.
Many adults who grew up in Waltham Forest no matter what their background share the Suntrap experience; touching a real live animal for the first time be it a rabbit, chicken or snake; paddling in the stream and realising that the water does not come through your wellies; the chance to be on your own in this magical green space with only a map and compass to find your way back, then a voice from behind a tree offering a reassuring word of encouragement; being allowed to walk through the mud without your mum telling you off.
Suntrap may have changed its name to Suntrap Forest Education Centre but the ethos remains the same; we want to give children the chance to experience the forest through exploring it for themselves instead of through a computer screen.
Children’s Sanatorium
It was built for Harold Baring; the story being Harold’s sister Muriel wanted to be a nurse so her banker brother built her a hospital! Originally a convalescent home for children, Suntrap soon had many patients from east London who were suffering from TB. As there were no antibiotics the only way to treat TB was with fresh air, rest and a good diet. Many of the children spent their days in their beds which had been wheeled outdoors or were put into summer houses which had huge windows.
Henry Chalk was a patient during the 1930s and tells of his family walking through the forest to visit him. Although he recalls often being lonely at night he remembers the children were treated very well by the staff. Another boy planned to run home to Buckhurst Hill but decided against it as he was afraid of getting lost in the middle of the forest.
Another patient was Miss P Race who came to Suntrap aged 5 in 1925. She re-visited Suntrap in 1996 and told staff about being wheeled out onto the balcony (now long gone) and looking out over the forest. She also remembered that when she left in 1928 she weighed only 2 stone 10lbs and was given 2 weeks to live!
Born at Suntrap
At some point during the Second World War the hospital’s patients changed from children to expectant mothers as Suntrap became an annex of Plaistow Maternity Hospital. Mrs M P Churchill writing in a local newspaper recalled that mothers were sent from East London to Suntrap to have their babies “in peace”. In July 1944 her own son Paul was born during one of the heaviest “doodlebug” raids on London. Even Suntrap was not unscathed that day. While in labour Mrs Churchill was “shoved under the bed” while nurses “dashed about getting babies out of the nursery part of which was on fire"! The records of births at Suntrap are now held by the Royal London Hospital.
A home for families
Following the war in the 1950s the building’s use changed once again. Now owned by Muriel’s daughters Ursula and Muriel Brenton the building was roughly converted into flats to house “needy” families. One such were the Townsend’s. Tony and his wife and baby came to live at Suntrap in 1957 in one of the 5 flats. Living in what is now a large classroom the flat had a bedroom, sitting room with veranda, dining room and kitchen. The rent was 10/- (50p) a week. Tony remembers that there were lots of children in the building and they enjoyed a big bonfire on November 5th on the front lawn. At Christmas the families had a huge tree in the front hall by a roaring log fire. Tony and family left Suntrap in 1963, but he returned in 1975 as caretaker of the field centre until his retirement in 1996.
The start of field studies
During the 1950s the London Borough of Walthamstow was a pioneer local authority in its approach to environmental education. Each day half a class of 10 year old children (about 20) would be taken to the forest to undertake field studies, their base being an old converted cow shed at Jubilee Retreat. Each class would make fortnightly visits and be taught by Fred Speakman. In the late 50s Fred acquired a property at High Beach and by 1961 another teacher was employed to work from Jubilee retreat, allowing a whole class to visit the forest. The first was Ernie Douse (a rural studies teacher) by 1962 Ernie was replaced by Ken Hoy.
Here is a short film showing Henry Maynard Primary Girls School visiting Fred Speakman's property in 1968.
Following the reorganisation of London boroughs in 1965 demand for field trips to the forest was growing as schools in Chingford and Leytonstone wanted the same opportunity for their classes.
During 1966 it was proposed that Waltham Forest Education Committee in conjunction with the Field Studies Council and with the full support of the Superintendent, Alfred Qvist should use a “purpose built” new field centre on the Jubilee Retreat site provided by the City of London – plans were even drawn up.
Suntrap Field Studies Centre
Then in late 1966 the Borough of Walthamstow was offered a gift……..the old Suntrap Hospital. In June 1967 the London Borough of Walthamstow bought Suntrap from the Misses Brenton for the princely sum of £500. Ken Hoy became the first Head of Centre and all field study visits from Waltham Forest were now based at the Suntrap site.
Following building work to convert the old hospital the first children visited in late October 1967.
The number of staff was gradually increased so that by the 1970s and through the 1980s all children in Waltham Forest made 8 visits to the centre during their final year in primary school.
Many adults who grew up in Waltham Forest no matter what their background share the Suntrap experience; touching a real live animal for the first time be it a rabbit, chicken or snake; paddling in the stream and realising that the water does not come through your wellies; the chance to be on your own in this magical green space with only a map and compass to find your way back, then a voice from behind a tree offering a reassuring word of encouragement; being allowed to walk through the mud without your mum telling you off.
Suntrap may have changed its name to Suntrap Forest Education Centre but the ethos remains the same; we want to give children the chance to experience the forest through exploring it for themselves instead of through a computer screen.