Ruby describes her working life in the laundry at Gressenhall. It was very hard work washing all the uniforms and clothes from Beech House and from a children’s home, despite the hydro-electric machinery. In the summer sheets were dried outside. There was a separate machine for Matron’s clothes. I was hired to be head of […]

Ann describes working as a ‘nurse’ at Beech House, Gressenhall and how that led to a new career in psychiatric nursing. Working conditions I started work at Beech House at Gressenhall in 1956 and was there till about August 1958. When I was 20 I’d returned home to Swanton Morley. I had worked in horticulture […]

Barbara gives a vivid account of working as a domestic and as a carer at Beech House, Gressenhall from 1967 to 1974. Starting as a domestic When I was 21, in 1967, I started working at Beech House. Everybody in Gressenhall called it The Spike. I don’t know why. I was brought up with it, […]

Norah worked in Beech House from 1938 until its closure in 1975. She began as a nursery attendant but later became the matron’s assistant. Spanning World War Two and the introduction of the National Heath Service, Norah’s story gives a detailed account of working life inside the historic building. I was born at Haveringland, near […]

Gladys worked in Beech House, Gressenhall, from 1950 to 1953. After she left, she worked in Heigham House, a private mental health hospital in Norwich, before going on to start a family. She gives an account of her duties, the friendships she made and the challenges she faced during her three years as a Nursing […]

Janet talks about working as a cleaner at Beech House when she was very young. She recalls the legends of the place and some of the interesting residents. My first job was at Beech House, and I was 14. I think that I just biked round there and they said, ‘Yes, we could do with […]