British Seaman’s Boys' Home on:
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The British Seaman's Orphan Boys' Home was founded in
306947 - GRENVILLE HOUSE - OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTRE
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The British Seaman's Orphan Boys' Home was founded in Brixham
Brixham is a coastal town and civil parish in the borough of Torbay in the county of Devon, in the south-west of England. As of the 2021 census, Brixham had a population of 16,825. It is one of the main three centres of the borough, along with ...
on the Berry Head Road in 1863 by William Gibbs of Tyntesfield
Tyntesfield ()
is a Victorian Gothic Revival country house and estate near Wraxall, North Somerset, England. The house is a Grade I listed building named after the Tynte baronets, who had owned estates in the area since about 1500. The locati ...
for the orphan sons of deceased British seamen. He died in 1875 and his widow conveyed the Home upon trust to the Bishop of Exeter
The Bishop of Exeter is the Ordinary (officer), ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in the Province of Canterbury. The current bishop is Mike Harrison (bishop), Mike Harrison, since 2024.
From the first bishop until the sixteent ...
, with the object of providing for the orphan sons of British seamen. It was closed in 1988 after 125 years.
It was famous for its bugle and drum marching band which could be seen marching from the home to All Saints' Church most Sundays.
Many hundreds of boys have passed through the Home and have been given a good start in life which they otherwise would have not had – most went on to join the Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
. Some boys, in later life, spoke about the brutality of aspects of the orphanage, including physical violence and lack of affection or warmth . Life was very regimented for already traumatised children in the early part of the twentieth century.
Post Closure
In 1990 it became a Nautical Venture Centre then in 1995 became the Grenville House Outdoor Education Centre/ref>
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