The Fernhurst Society
Tales from the Archives - 50
Norland Nannies For Puppies
We've all seen pictures of Norland Nannies in their prim brown uniforms and hats wheeling prams of 'celebrity babies' round Hyde Park.
In the early 1920s a 'Norland Nannies' standard of dog care training school Bell Mead Kennels was set up in Bell Vale Lane, at the northern boundary of Fernhurst parish. It was considered the country's premier training school for kennel-maids.
They were taught how to feed, groom and train the young dogs to the highest standards. Pathe Newsreel filmed Washing your dog, Doggie sports days and Preparing your dog for showing. The girls would live in during their training course and were eagerly sought after around the world on graduation.
As well as puppy school, dogs of all breeds were boarded, bred and supplied, but the school's founder, the redoubtable Miss Jane Trefusis Forbes, enjoyed a national reputation for the breeding and showing of 'Dandie Dinmonts', short-legged long-haired Scottish terrier with a long, slightly rough coat, now not often seen.
In 1927 Bell Mead Kennels moved to South Park Farm, Grayswood and subsequently to Old Windsor, near Windsor Castle. The training school continued to the same high standard.
In 1979 Battersea Cats & Dogs Home purchased the Bell Mead Kennels as a facility for long-stay dogs. It was extensively rebuilt in 1986. The Queen was at Windsor Castle at the time and asked if she could visit and on 28 April, the new block enjoyed a royal opening.
If you would like to know more about this story, or research other local topics, the Archive is open on Tuesdays, 2.30-5pm in the Village Hall. Other times by arrangement.
Christine Maynard
Fernhurst ArchiveOne of a series of short articles bringing you some of the incidents from our rich village history. Collated by Christine Maynard, based on documents preserved at the Fernhurst Archives, these originally were published in the monthly Fernhurst News.
The Fernhurst Archives
Fernhurst History
