On Tuesday 17th July 2018, we went to Hampton in Arden to visit Hampton Church; we were greeted by the Church Secretary who showed us to the chronicles.
We looked through the chronicles starting with 1952, where we found a letter. It felt to me like it was a petition to see if the residents of the village where happy for it to be a home for people with disabilities. I feel there was a lot of misunderstanding on the meaning of learning disability and that they had to be locked away because they were different and not capable of doing things.
We looked through the chronicles from 1952 through to 2008, as it was in the heart of the community, I was surprised and disappointed that there was hardly any information in the parish chronicles about Hampton Manor. There was also no mention of the residents helping out at the galas or anything to do with Hampton Manor and that I feel it wasn’t made to feel as it was their home. Looking through the chronicles 2002-2006 it felt as though they had disappeared before the home had closed down in 2007.
There wasn’t a mention till 2008 when a sold notice was posted but again there was nothing said about the residents.
I feel as though the residents of Hampton Manor have lived their lives being invisible by the home and not having a chance to be involved in their local community. They could have attended mass at Hampton Church, or gone to the post office but for now they are invisible, and we need to have their voices and their stories heard.