The Colonies
Aston, OXFORDSHIRE - Westfield House (St Joseph’s)
Address:
Westfield House, Bampton Road, Aston, Bampton, Oxfordshire OX18 2BU
Children:
40
Opened:
July 1937
Closed:
1939
Support:
Witney BCC (mainly, together with NJC)
Chairman: Patrick Early
Chairman: Patrick Early
Maestra:
Ma Teresa Mayoral
Auxiliar:
Pilar Merodio
Other helpers:
Edwin Edwards
Cora Blyth (later Portillo)
Luis Portillo
Cora Blyth (later Portillo)
Luis Portillo
Cook:
Annie Wheeler
Click to view photos in the gallery
Short notes
- 25 boys and 15 girls arrived at Aston one month after arriving at Southampton.
- Funding was partly from local groups/supporters, partly from NJC (National Joint Committee [for Spanish Relief]).
- Ma Teresa Mayoral served from Jul 1937 to Aug/Sept 1938.
- After Srta Mayoral's departure Pilar Merodio took charge, assisted by the eldest child in the colony Enriqueta (Ketty) Maiz.
- After closing in 1939, the remaining children moved to Witney.
Articles concerning this colony
Names of Basque children at Aston
A concert in aid of the Basque children at St Joseph's, Aston — Witney Gazette, 5 May 1939
The Basque Children in Great Britain - The Colony at Aston — Natalia Benjamin
Gloucester Echo 9 September 1937 — Basque Child Adopted
The Banbury Advertiser 14 April 1938 — Basque Children in Banbury
The Berks and Oxon Advertiser 14 April 1938 — Food for Spain
Witney Gazette — Various items from 1937
Oxford Mail & Oxford Times — Various items from 1937-38
Newsletter items concerning this colony
Newsletter No. 1, pages 1 & 2 — Blue plaque at Aston
Newsletter No. 5, page 4 — Summary of 'Radio waves' broadcast
Links to external sites concerning this colony
Oxfordshire Blue Plaques Scheme