Honeylands History

The building cost £5,000 and came with an additional £2,000 which was the estimated cost of necessary alterations to the buildings and to purchase any necessary furniture. The reports of the council meets of the time show that some councillors were opposed to accepting the house and some for, and a great deal of discussion seems to have taken place but in the end was accepted.

One of the many bedrooms at HoneylandsAt that time there was a conservatory running alongside the house from what is now the beehive windows, going towards the back of the house and some people living in Exeter today can remember having to rest on small beds there when as an inpatient being treated for T.B. At that time visitors were only allowed once a week, on a Sunday, for one hour. Children all had a domestic duty to perform each day which included helping in the kitchen garden.

During the late 1950's and early 1960's the incidence of T.B. fell hugely and the house became under used. In 1959 the mental health act identified the need for a reduction in institutional care, and a more open approach and arrange of services were developed and delivered.

In 1967 Dr F.S.W. Brimblecombe was invited by the hospital management committee to use Honeylands in any way he wished and the therapy groups became established and continue to evolve into the present day.

The respite wing was built in 1969 so that families could leave their child with qualified nurses while they had a break from caring for their special needs child.

The Education Act 0f 1969-71 said that children with special needs could be educated so that they could reach their full potential. In recent years as many children as possible are educated in mainstream schools where they can mix with their peers. There was a real drive following the above act to develop services to families and in community care to give easy access to short term care, fostering and adoption.

EDITORIAL COMMENT.

So here you see a brief outline of how Honeylands came to be what it is today. Today we also look to the future for Honeylands, and the future wellbeing of all children who come there.

I hope that those who have undertaken the current review of this great and good place will now think long and carefully before forming any decision making for the future, as any decision has to be in the best interests of Honeylands and not in the interests of political parties of the day, or of spending cuts, where on the contrary, government should be looking to increase where possible spending more on such vulnerable areas of the communities which include children with special needs.

David.