I used to wonder what those rooms had been used for during the war. Long after leaving the school, I discovered that the hostel was specifically built to accommodate Bevin Boys – among them David Day, who in 1993 published an account of his time there, The Bevin Boy.
My classrooms had been a ‘welfare block’ for David Day:
The walls were painted in bright colours and the layout resembled that of a seaside holiday camp. Among its amenities were a shop, a cinema, a games room, a library, a vast dining hall and a well-upholstered lounge.
A lot more than I had imagined.
The hostel didn’t just provide my school with classroom. It also provided me with a home.
The Bevin Boys slept in neighbouring Nissen huts – 12 to a hut. After the war, as they went home, the Nissen huts became empty. When people in war-ravaged Coventry learnt of this, they began moving in. This was in 1946 – the year my parents got married and were in need of a home themselves. My father went to investigate.
He dimly remembered the occupation being organised by two city councillors. He was told that, if he wanted a hut, he had to place an item of furniture inside the one he wanted, to claim it. On learning this, he went straight away to his parents’ home, half a mile away, and asked his mother for the loan of a chair so he could claim his hut.
My grandmother told him, ‘Take two – get one for Gladys!’ And that’s exactly what he did.
I was born in January following my parents’ moving in. The Nissen hut was therefore my very first home. But by the time I attended the school, it had gone – along with all the others.
By Paul Buttle, Cumbria – Taken from The Oldie Spring 2021
Jenna Elizabeth Wearing says
Hi! I’m not sure how true this is, but my mother has always said that my Grandfather designed windows for Nissen Huts. Would be good to learn if there is any truth to this?
Sharon says
I too brought up in 3 room Nissan hut at Ross on Wye Herefordshire. 4 children plus Mum and Dad. Corrugated walls to ground no inside cladding just the metal. Thunder lightening, rain awful noise. Cold, draughty may a night. two windows at from two at back and one door at front. Outside loo. lived in it for 11 years. Near woodland in middle of fields with 70 other Nissan huts surrounding us with families needing housing after the Second World War. Lots of stories too many to mention.
sharon says
some typo in above message sorry. sent by me.