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former L.C.C. and these were closed until 1948 because of war damage and
other difficulties. By 1958 there were 21 centres in Inner London but all were
in adapted buildings or hired premises. Although ten year plans for 1962-72 and
1964-74 included provision for the replacement of all junior training centres by
purpose-built centres, with sufficient additional places to permit a lowering of
the age of admission and with special care units for subnormal children suffering
from additional handicaps, physical or otherwise, unfortunately no centre had been
built in the new area of the London Borough of Southwark.
The Health Committee, and indeed all the Members of the Council, considered
that top priority should be given to the erection of a purpose built junior
training centre for the 100 or more subnormal children living in the Borough,
as the two Junior training centres, one at Heme Hill and one at Peckham, were
in church halls, with all the attendant disadvantages.
The Council inherited a plan, drawn up by the London County Council,
for a large comprehensive centre at the Grange Tannery site in Bermondsey to
accommodate both children and adults. After consultation with the Ministry of
Health it was decided, however, that as the problems of training children
differ considerably from those for adults and as training should be a progressive
process so that children may be trained in accordance with their special needs
and eventually move to a separate adult centre for a different level of training,
accommodation for children should be excluded from the plan. Accordingly, the
Grange project was replanned to provide a training centre for mentally handicapped
adults, a day centre and hostel for the elderly mentally infirm and a
hostel for subnormal boys. There was already a hostel for young women in
the Borough.
A further site at Harders Road, S.E.15. (for the provision of an adult
training centre) was also transferred to this Council on 1st April 1965. However,
in view of the alteration to the plans for the Grange Tannery site, it was
decided to use the Harders Road site for the erection of a junior training centre;
arrangements were made accordingly.
At 1st April 1965 there was no adult training centre in the Borough; subnormal
adults attended centres in the Boroughs of Lewisham and Wandsworth
or stayed at home.
In November 1965 the Benhill Training Centre, St. Giles' Parish Hall,
S.E.5. was opened starting with ten trainees and two staff. The numbers increased
very rapidly proving the great need that had existed. A social club for the
Benhill trainees was started and held every Wednesday night. As with the training
centre, this expanded rapidly and was well supported by both trainees and parents.
Two special units for subnormal children under 5 years of age were provided
in two of the Council's day nurseries—at Wyndham Road, S.E.5. and Bishop's
House, S.E.I 1—and two special advisory clinics were held at Sumner Road and
Sutherland House welfare centres where parents sought early help with any
problems about their children's progress and development.
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