Nursery for the Belgian children, Oughtrington Hall, circa 1915

Throughout almost the whole of the First World War, Oughtrington Hall, (now part of Lymm High School) was home to a colony of Belgian Refugees who had fled to England, along with 250,000 others to escape the German invasion.  This colony was funded entirely by Henry Ford, the motor-car magnate.

Percival Perry, chairman of Ford Motor Company Limited (Ford of Britain) during World War I, had relayed the plight of the Belgian refugees to Henry and Clara Ford. With their authority, Perry leased Oughtrington Hall to accommodate ninety men, women and children. 

This unique collection provides not only  glimpses of Oughtrington Hall as it was over 100 years ago but also an insight into what life was like for the refugees.