Ray View

Picture of Maternity Home

Ray View in 1912 – Mrs Raffin, the matron, standing in front of the Maternity Home

The writing on the edge of this photograph says “Matron, Mrs Raffin, standing outside the Maternity Home, built by her husband and his partner Bonser.”

The writing on the bottom identifies this as being taken in 1912 and says “The ‘labour’ room was top front left.”

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Editors Note:  Reader Diane Harris left a comment on this article in 2021 (see below).  She  has now kindly donated this lovely photo of herself and Mrs Raffin making the following comment –

Diane Harris and Mrs. Raffin

Diane Harris and Mrs. Raffin

“I have a photo where I was presenting a bouquet of flowers to Mrs Raffin in the mid 50s. She was attending a function at the British legion hall which I think was at the bottom of vicarage lane?”

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  • My parents were very good friends with Kit and Ernie Tyler. They were a lovely couple with whom my mother and father stayed in touch with until they passed away. I enjoyed lovely school holidays there with them and their dog Bruce. I remember Rex albeit I was very young at the time. I’m sure they also had a grandson named Bernard whose parents worked in Borneo at one time and gave me a wonderful collection of sea shells. I used to walk the downs with the local ‘cat woman’ who used to take her 2 goats to graze! Very happy memories even when we were swooped upon by flying ants! Something that has always stuck in my mind! How wonderful that the house is still standing and I dare say has a lovely family living in it.

    By Diane Harris nee King (19/07/2021)
  • I have lived at Ray View for 13 years and sympathetically restored it to its original design. What a pleasure it is to look over Benfleet Creek and the Thames beyond.

    By Steve Meader (16/10/2020)
  • Yes. Rayview is still there. I lived there from 1943 to 1955.

    Rex Tyler

    By Rex Tyler (22/05/2011)
  • Could someone please tell me is Ray View still standing? and where is it?

    By Adam Poulton (16/05/2011)

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