On the 23rd of May, 1937, four thousand Basque children arrived in Southampton. They had fled from Spain to escape the Spanish Civil War. The children, together with the 95 women teachers, 120 female helpers and 15 priests who accompanied them, spent their first two months under canvas near Southampton. From here they were dispersed to a variety of accommodations throughout the country. Two homes in South Wales took in the refugees: Sketty Hall, in Swansea, and Cambria House in Caerleon.



There was no financial aid from the government, so the National Joint Committee for Spanish Relief undertook to raise ten shillings (50p) a week per child for maintenance.



Shortly after World War II began, the military moved into Cambria House and the Basque children were moved to Vale View, Mill Street. This was a far smaller house; the move was only possible as some of the children returned to Spain and others were placed in private homes. No sooner had they made Vale View their home than the military took this over! The children now squeezed into 18 Cross Street - nowadays Pendragon Guest House.



Mrs Fernandez was one of those in charge of the children. She did not return to Spain after the war, but stayed in Caerleon. In fact she made 18 Cross Street her permanent home! Caerleon obviously suited her, as she lived to the age of 97. The children she had cared for did not forget her, she continued to receive correspondence from them right up to her death in January 2001.



In order to raise funds for the children's maintenance, a monthly newsletter was published and sold for tuppence (1p) a copy. The " Cambria House Journal" contained articles written by the children and staff. Luckily for us, copies still survive in Newport Reference Library. You can explore extracts here, these powerfully tell the children's story, now part of Caerleon's history.