The records include minutes of the governors, papers of the commandant in charge of the home, plans of the home as rebuilt, and a set of alternative proposals submitted by Giles Gilbert Scott, admission records, press cuttings and a huge number of photographs, along with papers and effects belonging to former residents. The earliest records among them are deeds of the Charity's seaside home in Sandgate, Folkestone, Kent, which begin in 1725.
A detailed summary of the contents is below:
8711/AEC/ PLANS FOR THE STAR AND GARTER HOME AND RELATED PROPERTIES 1902-2000 113 documents
Includes plans and drawings of the Star and Garter Home Richmond, Ancaster House and Wick House, along with Ordnance Survey maps marked with potential locations for a sea-side annexe (including Sandgate). AEC/1-60 were listed by Laura Maffoli-Brown, 23 Mar 2007
8711/AGG/ PLANS OF A PROPOSED STAR AND GARTER HOME BY GILES GILBERT SCOTT 1915-c.1917 19 plans
Giles Gilbert Scott (architect of Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Battersea Power Station and the red telephone kiosk) was originally the architect for the Star and Garter Home. He prepared several plans of a new building before the Building Committee replaced him with Edwin Cooper in 1918. (See 'Mr Scott may be very upset: Giles Gilbert Scott, Edwin Cooper and the Building of the Star & Garter Home' by Steven Spencer, Richmond History, 2009). The plans are marked G Gilbert Scott, FRIBA, Architect. 7 Gray's Inn Square, London W1.
8711/ARH/ PLANS OF THE STAR AND GARTER HOTEL BY W R WATERS AND W A LEWIS 1911 17 plans
These plans of the Hotel, by W R Waters and W A Lewis, date from the period when the hotel lay empty and virtually derelict, having been closed since 1906. In September 1911 the Richmond Herald reported that the hotel had been bought by a prominent North of England firm closely associated with some of the more important American enterprises now maturing in London. Plans for an extensive remodelling of the interior of the hotel, and alterations to the garage under the terrace, were approved by the Richmond justices in November 1911. When the hotel was resold (to a local buyer) in August 1912, it was still intended to carry out the plans previously approved'. In December of that year the property was sold again and the proposed plans were never completed. (See Local History Notes No 8: The Original Star and Garter, Richmond Hill and Cloake, John 'That Stupendous Hotel' 1997)
8711/BCP/ PRINTED BOOKS FROM THE CHAPEL OF ST MARY, THE STAR AND GARTER HOME 1841-1926 7 volumes
8711/CHA/ PAPERS RELATING TO CHARLIE HANKINS c.1916-c.2002 29 items
These papers primarily relate to fundraising and charity work by Charlie Hankins from the 1980s onwards. For the most part they have been assembled from items displayed around the Richmond Home
8711/DRH/ TITLE DEEDS AND INDENTURES RELATING TO LANDS ON RICHMOND HILL, PRINCIPALLY THE STAR AND GARTER HOTEL 12 Oct 1801-1 Jul 1958 154 documents
Also includes ephemeral documents relating to the Star and Garter Hotel
8711/DSG/ TITLE DEEDS, WILLS AND FACULTIES RELATING TO PROPERTY IN SANDGATE, KENT 1725-1964 54 documents
The documents in this series mainly relate to the lands and properties that would, in the early twentieth century, come to comprise the Enbrook Estate. A small amount of records (DSG/37-45) relate to the Church of St Paul, Sandgate, which neighboured Enbrook. The Enbrook estate in Sandgate, conveyed to the fourth Earl of Darnley in 1806, was centred on a house called Belle Vue. The Earl's son, Sir John Duncan Bligh, lived on the estate and made small additions to it during the late nineteenth century. In November 1919 the estate, at that time covering some 27 acres, was purchased by the Star and Garter Home as a 'seaside annexe'. This was in order to give residents of the Richmond Hill site 'a change of air and scene', as well as to ameliorate some of that sites' limitations. The architect Sir Edwin Cooper, at that time working on a new building for Richmond, made extensive alterations to Enbrook. In September 1920 the residents at Richmond departed for Enbrook while the new Home was being built, and after its opening in July 1924 many of the residents returned. Enbrook was evacuated in May 1940 and offered to the government for use during the war. It was requisitioned by the Ministry of Works for use by the National Fire Service in 1941. In 1948 Enbrook was leased to the Ministry of Works for use as a District Police Training Centre. The Star and Garter sold Enbrook to Inter-City Travel in 1977. Other records relating to the Enbrook estate are held at East Kent Archives Centre, Dover: EK-De/T27: will of the Hon Sir John Duncan Bligh of Enbrook, Sandgate; EK-U1486: Enbrook Estate, Sandgate (1808-1931) Canterbury Cathedral Archives holds originals of some of the documents relating to St Paul's, Sandgate.
8711/EJC/ RECORDS RELATING TO THE JACK CORNWELL ENDOWMENT FUND 1913-2002 26 documents
Much of this material dates from the 1997 re-endowment of the Jack Cornwell Suite. John Travers Cornwell (consistently referred to as Jack) was born in Leyton, Essex, on 8 January 1900. In 1910, Jack's family moved to Little Ilford, London in 1910 and Jack joined the Little Ilford Scout Troop. He left school at the end of 1913 and became a delivery van boy for Brooke, Bond and Co, and the following year worked as a dray boy for Whitbread's Brewery Depot, Manor Park. Jack's father, Eli Cornwell, joined up at the outbreak of the First World War. Jack joined the Royal Navy in October 1915 and trained at Keyham Naval Barracks, Plymouth. On 27 July 1915 he passed out as Boy Seaman, First Class, J T Cornwell J/42563. On Easter Monday 1916 Jack Cornwell joined HMS Chester at Rosyth. HMS Chester was part of 3rd cruiser squadron which fought at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916, with Jack stationed as Sight Setter for the forward 6-inch gun. The crew of the gun were quickly killed by enemy fire and Jack, badly wounded, refused to leave his post. First Aid parties found him at the gun, awaiting orders. He was taken to Grimsby and District Hospital, where he died of intestinal perforation due to wounds received in action, on 2 June 1916 at the age of 16. He was originally buried in a communal grave at his family's expense in Manor Park Cemetery, East Ham. Later Jack's body was exhumed and re-buried in the same cemetery with full naval honours on Saturday 29 July 1916. Jack Cornwell was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross in November 1916, and he remains the youngest recipient of that medal. Jack's father, Eli Cornwell died on 26 October 1916, while on Home Duty with the Royal Defence Corps and his step-brother Arthur Cornwell was killed in action in France in August 1918. At the insistence of the Navy League, The Star and Garter launched a fund-raising campaign in schools to raise pennies for the endowment of a Jack Cornwell Ward, this raised £21,000. 30 September 1916 was Jack Cornwell Day and the Navy League sold a 1d stamp bearing his portrait (see NJC/05). Schools which raised over £1 were presented with a reproduction of Frank Salisbury's portrait of Jack Cornwell. Salisbury's portrait, along with photographs and other likenesses of Jack Cornwell used his younger brother as a model. In 1997, the Year of the Seafarer, the Jack Cornwell Suite on G floor was re-endowed and opened on 10 April by The Duke of Edinburgh. Several other institutions commemorate Jack Cornwell in a number of ways: including the Scout Association, the Sea Cadets and the Diana Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby which has a Jack Cornwell ward.
8711/ESB/ PAPERS OF STANLEY BANKS, COMMANDANT OF THE STAR & GARTER HOME 1973-1991 13 files
Colonel Stanley George Banks OBE was part of the Essex Regiment in 1940. He came to the Star and Garter Home in March 1973 and became the Home's accountant and then on to become the Home's Commandant in 1977 where he was able to represent the Home at many formal engagements and even show Queen Elizabeth II around the Home on her visit on 25 October 1978. Shortly after her visit the Home became the Royal Star and Garter home at Richmond as the Queen had given her Royal Assent to the charity. He retired from his duties at the Home on 31st March 1981.
8711/ESU/ RECORDS RELATING TO EVENTS AND PUBLICATIONS IN AID OF THE STAR & GARTER HOME c.1900-2001 6 documents
8711/FFF/ RECORDS OF FUNDRAISING, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND EVENTS c.1916-2007 31 files
8711/HSG/ STAR AND GARTER EPHEMERA ?1900-1991 12 documents and objects
This series comprises material relating to the Star and Garter Homes, whose immediate provenance is unclear, including records relating to unofficial activities, such as the Star and Garter Singers.
8711/LDS/ MEDALS c.1914-c.1985 1 metal box
This series comprises campaign medals given to the home. Most files contain some combination of the 1914-1915 Star (for service between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915), the British War Medal (for service between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918) and the Victory Medal (for any service in the war). In the 1980s the Home established a memorial collection comprising medals, badges and related items, under Gordon Gillis, Chief Engineer. The Home actively encouraged donations of medals and, as such, very few of those in this series relate to the Homes' residents. Any other medals will be found in RSP or WWC. The 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal are colloquially known as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred (after the Daily Mirror strip cartoon by Bertram Lamb and Austin H Payne) respectively.
8711/MFC/ FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES Mar 1916-May 1993 11 volumes
This series comprises volumes of minutes produced by the Finance Committee (1916-1993), sub-committee to consider Sir Henry Burdett's Charges (1916), sub-committee to consider charges for patients' maintenance (1916), expert committee (1918) and Investment sub-committee (from 1991), along with some balance sheets. The Finance sub-committee was set up in 1916 by The British Red Cross Society's Star and Garter Committee. In April 1922 this became a separate committee and, in July 1922, became a committee of The Star and Garter Home, appointed by the Governors. This committee met until May 1993, when it was amalgamated with the House Committee to create the Finance and General Purposes Committee. In March 1991 the Investment sub-committee was formed, whose functions and duties had previously formed part of the Finance Committee, and continued to meet under the Finance and General Purposes Committee
8711/MGV/ MINUTES AND AGENDAS OF THE MEETINGS OF THE BODY OF GOVERNORS Jun 1922-Dec 1992 9 volumes and files
8711/MHC/ HOUSE COMMITTEE MINUTES AND MINUTES OF SUB-COMMITTEES 1915-1993 17 volumes and files
This series comprises volumes of minutes produced by the House Committee, a volume of agendas (1960-1993) and a volume of reports (1916-1929). Also included are volumes of the minutes of the medical, building and role sub-committees. The earliest volume covers The British Red Cross Society's Royal Star and Garter Hospital Committee and The Royal Star and Garter Committee. The House Committee was original set up by the British Red Cross Society in 1915 as a steering committee for the proposed Home. This committee seems to have ceased sometime after 1917 and its function taken over by a committee within The Star and Garter Home in May 1917. This committee had ceased to function by 1922, when the Home's Governors appointed a second House Committee which met until April 1993, when it was amalgamated with the Finance Committee to create the Finance and General Purposes Committee. The foundation sub-committee (MHC/13) was set up in November 1916 reporting to the Star and Garter Committee, which later became the Building sub-committee. This committee discussed changes to the building and the design, and was dissolved in January 1919. The sub-committee to consider Competition and Sea-side Annexe was formed in January 1919 to consult with the architect and find a seaside annexe, it seems to have dissolved in April 1919. The Building Committee was appointed by the body of Governors in June 1923, and met to look at the cost of renovations and upgrades to the homes, and met infrequently until December 1927 when the documents end. The Medical Committee (MHC/14) began as the medical sub-committee and in, February 1982, became the Medical Advisory Committee. The Committee was formed to highlight any medical problems within the home from the matron down to the residents. It also includes details of nursing services. Records are complete from 25 October 1974 to 25 November 1982 but no other minutes are known to exist; the start and end dates of the Committee are unknown. The Chairman's Advisory Panel (MHC/15) was up until January 1981 known as The Role Sub-Committee but from January 1982 seemingly changed names without any mention of this in their minutes. The committee was formed under the Medical Director's Report in the House Committee minutes in November 1980 and was set up to review staffing, departmental upgrades and the admittance of female residents. It also undertakes finding ways to increase the homes funding by advertising and publicity.
8711/MRC/ MINUTES OF THE RESIDENTS' COMMITTEE 1981-2001 1 file
8711/NPC/ PRESS CUTTINGS AND JOURNALS 1890-Mar 2008 50 volumes, pamphlets and files
Predominantly volumes of press cuttings compiled by the Royal Star and Garter Home, but also includes loose cuttings and journals containing articles relevant to the Home as well as some relevant books.
8711/PFR/ PHOTOGRAPHS OF FUNDRAISING EVENTS 1950-2004 684 files
This series comprises photographs of events held at and by the Home, many include press releases
8711/PHC/ PHOTOGRAPHS RELATING TO THE ROYAL STAR AND GARTER HOME 1916-1991 34 volumes and files
This series includes ring-binders and albums created in connection with the Charity and its activities (refurbishment and Royal visits). It also contains a large number of loose, miscellaneous photographs and slides.
8711/PIW/ PHOTOGRAPHS REPRODUCED FROM THE IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM c.1914-1982 28 photographs and slides
This series comprises prints and transparencies from the Imperial War Museum's Photographic Archive. It is assumed that these prints were ordered from the IWM for decorative or fundraising purposes. PIW/23-28 are believed to come from a separate, earlier, accession
8711/PRS/ 'PHOTOGRAPHS OF DECEASED RESIDENTS (INCOMPLETE)' 1939-2004 74 files
This box of photographs and biographies of deceased residents was assembled by Molly Bootes, Fundraising and PR Administrator. It is incomplete and has been re-arranged into alphabetical order.
8711/RCE/ RECORDS OF THE COMMANDANT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE 1916-2008 27 files
This series also includes the records of the Secretary/Personal Assistant to the Commandant/Chief Executive.
8711/REG/ ADMISSION RECORDS 1915-1988 8 volumes and files
This series comprises admission registers, daily bed registers, lists of candidates awaiting admission and patient cards. Also rules and documents relating to entry to the Home.
8711/RFO/ FINANCIAL RECORDS 1937-1982 1 volume
8711/RLO/ RECORDS OF THE LEGACY AND TRUST OFFICE 1918-2003 4 document and volumes
8711/RMA/ RECORDS RELATING TO THE MATRON 1915-1947 1 file
8711/RPY/ RECORDS RELATING TO PHYSIOTHERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY 1990s 55 photographs
8711/RSP/ PAPERS RELATING TO RESIDENTS, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS OF THE STAR AND GARTER HOME c.1904-2007 39 files
The majority of these records are personal papers (including photographs) or relate to the history of twentieth century conflict This series comprises records relating to named individuals who do not have enough material to warrant their own series, anonymous sources and material that it is assumed came to the archives from a resident but for which there is no known provenance. Some records originally contained in this series (predominantly photographs) have been returned to the families.
8711/SAN/ RECORDS RELATING TO THE STAR AND GARTER HOME AT SANDGATE, KENT c.1919-Nov 1977 13 files
8711/STH/ PAPERS OF SISTER MARY THOMSON 1916-?1930 22 files
Mary Thomson acted as a nurse tending war injured at 14th Stationary Hospital, Boulogne-Sur-Mer (France), before being transferred to St Omer (9 May 1917) and later the 61st Field Ambulance, Amiens (22 May 1917). It is known that she was later on active service aboard HMAT Aberdonian, embarking from Southampton on 14 Dec 1918, where she was issued with the relevant Leave or Duty Ration Book. She may have married Captain W Brown, RAMC. Her papers include a movement order for packages relating to nursing service, National Registration Act card, cartography of Northern France, Post Office Savings book, pencil drawn portrait, OBE and assortment of victory medals.
8711/USG/ STAR AND GARTER PUBLICATIONS 1924-2010 2 volumes
This series excludes the Star and Garter Magazine produced by the Home's residents from 1921-1994, which can be found at ZSG.
8711/WWC/ MISCELLANEOUS MATERIAL RELATING TO TWENTIETH-CENTURY CONFLICT AND MILITARY HISTORY 1881-2004 50 documents, objects and files
Much of this material is of unknown provenance and it is assumed to come from unidentified former residents of the home. However some material has been donated to the Home and does not relate to former residents.
8711/ZSA/ ANNUAL REPORTS 1916-2010 90 volumes and pamphlets
Annual Reports for 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1980 are also held at ESB/03.
8711/ZSG/ STAR AND GARTER MAGAZINES 1921-1994 67 volumes
This series comprises a complete set of the Star and Garter Magazines. Most have been bound into volumes, although some bundles of loose issues are included. The Star and Garter Magazine was originally, written and edited by the residents of the Home. The first issue was published in Jan 1921 and continued, uninterrupted, until Spring 1994 when the cost, not only financially but in failing manpower, [became] an impossible burden for the Residents and the last issue was published. Some of the Magazine's contents were, however, taken up by 'Connections' the newsletter for donors. The regularity and numbering of the magazines is erratic and occasionally amateurish. There are two significant slips in numbering: in 1961 Volume 41 becomes Volume 42 in mid sequence and when Volume 56 ends in Autumn/Winter 1981 it is succeeded by Volume 62 in Spring 1982. Both of these changes go uncorrected. These magazines were bound by the Otter Bindery, Addlestone in 2000.
8711/961/1/ MINUTES OF COMMITTEES RELATING TO THE RUNNING OF THE HOME 1915-1972
8711/961/3/ RECORDS RELATING TO ADMINISTRATION OF HOME 1915-1977
Includes correspondence and report books
8711/961/FU/ PAPERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS, APPEALS, FUNDRAISING AND RIGHTS TO NOMINATE PATIENTS 1915-1970
8711/961/PP/ PROPERTY 1914-1973
8711/961/PT/ PATIENTS 1915-1973
8711/961/ST/ STAFF 1916-1973
8711/961/PH/ PRESS CUTTINGS AND PHOTOGRAPHS 1911-1978
8711/961/PB/ PUBLICATIONS 1874-1986