Description:In the early 1970s, six purpose-built children’s homes were built each of which could accommodate 18 children. This home in Stechford was one of these, opening in 1973. The site, 2,173 square yards, cost £10,800.
The idea for the 18 bed unit came from the Williams Committee recommendations for larger units.
When it was being built in 1970 the home was described as “a four part standard 2 storey children’s home forming an irregular rectangle with a centre court.
"The buildings which will be located at the centre of the site will comprise on the ground floor children’s playroom, children’s sitting room, toy store, children’s quiet room, resident staff sitting / dining room, staff kitchen, children and staff toilets, children’s dining room, kitchen, utility room and stores and house parents living room, dining room and kitchen.
"The first floor will comprise three resident assistants’ rooms and staff bathroom, four one-child bedrooms, two three-children bedrooms and two four-children bedrooms, two children’s bathrooms, kitchenette and house parents’ bedrooms (1 double, 1 single and 1 guest bedroom).”
While it was built as an 18-bed unit, the capacity was reduced to 16 in 1974.
After the first of the 6 new homes were completed, the Residential Service Sub-committee expressed their ‘general dissatisfaction with the design of the present 18 bed homes’. Problems arose from the size of the dining room, heights of the corridors and other amendments to the original specifications largely because of the need to cut costs.
Both boys and girls lived in the home.
In 1986, East View House closed and effectively merged its function with Stuarts Road.
Image: A promotional shot used by Birmingham's children's Department in 1967. At this stage, the Birmingham Children's Homes project does not have any photographs of this children's home.
Source: This history was compiled by the Birmingham Children's Homes Project, an initiative to explore Birmingham City Council-run children’s homes between 1949 and 1990.