Just to put the history right! In mid 70s a syndicate bought Upper Downing hall and opened a residential home but only lasted a couple of years as there was an accident involving a resident who subsequently died. Then it was bought in 1979 by a Mr and Mrs O'Hara who only owned it for 12 months. In November 1980 the home was bought by my husband and myself with only 15 residents in substandard conditions when capacity was 40. My husband and I spent 6 years bringing the place up to standard, so much so that we were unofficially recommended by social services and we were full most of the time. From 1980 to 1986 UDH had a very good reputation in the area and we ran a thriving business. We lived in the cottage (the linking annexe had not then been built) and it was a much loved and restored home with beautiful gardens surrounding both the cottage and the main house. I am devestated to see what has become of our beautiful home. Our oldest son attended the whitford junior school, then with only 2 teachers and 2 classes (about 30 pupils altogether). We sold the business in 1986 and it was bought by a liverpool business man who created the company Altbridge. When he sold it anout 2005 it was bought by another private company who were unable to make it pay and who went into liquidation leaving staff unpaid. Incidentally UDH was the Dower house of Downing Hall which could be reached via a footpath through the woods. The plaque on the wall says 1734 but while we were there we uncovered an older plaque that read 1556. Most of the house is Georgian but there are earlier traces of Elizabethan indicating a very old house indeed Hope this clears up some of the inaccuracies of the initial report. We did some investigation and we did not find any evidence of abuse at UDH when it was uncovered at other childrens homes. As i said we are devestated to see what has become of our much loved home where our second son was born in 1983.