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**tonydw**

When I was a kid I got into schoolboy strife, stuff that today would warrant a slap on the wrist or at worst a good telling off, I was a scallywag and nothing more but I didn’t get a slap on the wrist, instead I was sent away to an Approved School for three and a half years.

On my way to the Approved School I was incarcerated in a couple of remand centres one of which was Woolton Vale Remand Home. On my many visits back to Liverpool I tried to find Woolton Vale but my search was all in vain; I always imagined it was somewhere along Woolton Road, I only knew the view from the bay widow in the rec-room.

I’ve always kept the memory of the view from that window, I was just a broken hearted kid wanting to be home with his Mam and siblings, longing for the day when I would be outside looking up at the window but that was never to be and I never found the place again until now. I have just discovered where it is, it is in Menlove Avenue just down the road from where John Lennon lived with his aunty Min.

Sadly I won’t be returning to Liverpool again but I would dearly love a photo of the Remand Home from the outside, the Bay Window of the recreation room would still be visible from the road and a photo of the place would finalize a dream I had as kid.
It is a big old house that was surrounded by a high fence with wire top and I’m sure it will still be the same, so if anyone lives close to it or if you are out on a week-end drive I would truly appreciate a photo of that place once known as the Woolton Vale Remand Home.

**alehouse** · Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 429

I HAVE BEEN LOOKING ON THE SATTELITE ON GOOGLE on Menlove Avenue, Itis a long Road from Queens Drive, I would think it would be around the area of the Allerton Road, Woolton Road, Vale Road junction end of Menlove. A lot of big buildings around there.
The google search doesnt recognise Woolton Remand Home.
Hope someone finds it Tony.

shytalk · Joined: 07 Apr 2008 Posts: 32

Tony, When I was a kid we were threatened with being sent to Aymestrey Court. It was a remand home in Acrefield Rd. Woolton.
It later became the Redbourne Hotel.
http://wooltonvillageuk.tripod.com/images/WooltonRedbourneAcrefieldRoadx.jpg
Would that be it by any chance?

**tonydw** · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 6:56 pm Post subject:

Chris that jpg file wouldn’t open?
I did a number of searches for Woolton Vale Remand Home and came up with a site discussing the recent discovery of a children’s home in the Channel Islands that had a torture cellar in which kids were tortured, sexually assaulted and murdered; Woolton Vale got a mention for also having a torture room and the address of the home was in Menlove Avenue.

Chris I eventually got the jpg file open and I don’t think that was the Home, however: it is a similar red brick construction as Woolton Vale Remand Home but it is much bigger than the Home I remember.

Kevin · Joined: 08 Apr 2008 Posts: 86

**tonydw** · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 12:28 am Post subject:

Hi Kev, you sound quite positive which for me is exciting; is the place you are thinking of in Menlove Ave and is it anywhere near Woolton Vale? The official name of the institution was: Woolton Vale Remand Home for Boys, Woolton Vale, Liverpool 16 and that is from the National Archives.

Kevin · Joined: 08 Apr 2008 Posts: 86

Ernie Higham\milkman · Joined: 07 Apr 2008 Posts: 133

Tony I have a friend lives down that way, I`ll be seeing him on thursday at the Eldonian, he may know were the home is, if he does I will go there with my camera and get you some pictures, fingers crossed, Ernie.

**tonydw** · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 5:33 am Post subject:

That sounds like the place Kevin, I hope it is still there. Very Happy

Ernie if the place is still there it will be fantastic if you can get a photo, thank you guys for your help.

I never realized that for one two week stint then another twenty days, prior to moving on to Hightown Remand centre, I was looking out over Menlove Avenue. Surprised

Ernie Higham\milkman · Joined: 07 Apr 2008 Posts: 133

Tony I spoke to my mate, he has not been along that way for a while but he say there is loads of big buildings there. I will head up there on monday and have a look around, what evers there I`ll post to you. Another mate was there about the same time as you Tommy Boyd he was waiting to go to Borstal. Tommy told me he got fed in the end so he joined the Army and ended up in Korea, the Kings Regiment, came out and joined the Merch down below. Ernie.

**tonydw** · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:37 am Post subject:

Kevin · Joined: 08 Apr 2008 Posts: 86

Ernie Higham\milkman · Joined: 07 Apr 2008 Posts: 133

Weather has been bad Tony but I haven`t forgotton, as soon as the sun shows.