Buffaloes Orphanage - Park House
Park House was originally a large house which stood in its own grounds in Park Road in Southborough. It was built originally as a large family home but by 1890 it had become a “gentleman’s (preparatory) school”. During the First World War it housed Voluntary Aid Detachment Kent 98, taking over from the Royal Victoria Hall as a convalescent hospital for wounded servicemen.
In 1922 Park House became an orphanage run by the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB), one of the largest fraternal movements in the United Kingdom, and was run by Ernest Sealey as Master, with his wife as Matron.
Children of school age walked daily to St. Peter’s School on the Common.
The orphanage closed in the early 1940s, and was eventually demolished, the grounds were developed to take 32 houses in Park House Gardens.
Document Archive
The following documents are available from the Society’s Archive - Click to open in a new tab
Letter detailing the results of orphanage week fundraising and arrangements for the official opening
Letter of invitation to the official opening sent to Southborough Urban District Council
Growing up in the Orphanage - Experiences of Elsie Rose Webb
Closure of the Orphanage - Extract from the 2nd April 1943 edition of the Courier Local Newspaper
Image Archive
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