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Roe Memorial House for the Adult Deaf, Derby 1936-?
By H Dominic W Stiles, on 29 August 2014
Roe Memorial House for the Adult Deaf seems to have been founded in 1936/7, at 93 Friar Gate, Derby. It employed a resident superintendent who was
trained for work amongst the deaf, understanding their needs, and able to deal with them […] to help in the placement of a boy or girl on leaving school or to seek for work for an unemployed deaf man or woman, and generally to ensure that everything possible is done to enable the deaf to share in the opportunities open to those who can hear.
Roe House is also a Social Centre where the deaf can meet for games and recreation and where Religious Services are presented in a form which can be understood by a deaf congregation. During the course of the year the Superintendent, who is provided with a car, has travelled some ten thousand miles up and down the County in connection with visiting and placement work.
Dr W.R. Roe (1849 -1920) who founded the Royal Institution for the Deaf in Derby and was headmaster of the Derby school was the person being commemorated. The house, now offices, has hardly changed on the outside. Derby has been said to be the capital of the Deaf in England.*
Roe was also Vice Chairman of the National Association for Teachers of the Deaf 1905. His son William Carey Roe succeeded him as headmaster. Roe has left us a number of interesting works including his Peeps into the Deaf World. In it we have items about former pupils telling us a little about them and how they were successful in life after school, as well at stories about deaf people around the world. I am not clear when Roe Memorial House closed – if you know please leave a comment.
*Derby is described as “England’s capital city for deaf people” in the Derby Evening Telegraph, Oct 1999 –
Backing for sign language. Derby Evening Telegraph, 1999, 16 Oct, 14
Roe Memorial House Annual Reports 1938, 1942, 1949, 1954, 1955
Portrait. Teacher of the Deaf, 1913, 11(63), frontispiece.
4 Responses to “Roe Memorial House for the Adult Deaf, Derby 1936-?”
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Alison Jones wrote on 16 March 2018:
Roe Memorial House was closed 1973 and moved to Rycote Centre where the current Deaf club is now
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Wilby wrote on 28 February 2021:
I have many happy, early childhood memories of Roe House . My grandfather George Wilby (and my grandmother Amy) and later my father Peter Wilby, worked at Roe House during its time as a Mission for the Deaf. Sadly, in 1970 my grandfather died. My father, qualified as a social worker for the deaf continued his work when it moved to the Rycote centre before our move as a family ‘ up North’ where my father continued his social work. My father remained in social work for the deaf and blind, for all his working life, and would for example take leave from his job to interpret at all the major party conferences. Determined that the deaf would not be marginalised and would have the same access and rights as everyone else he felt that this very high profile initiative by the BDA was vital, although it wasn’t until the early 1990’s that the TV cameras would show the interpreting on screen. I am exceptionally proud to say that my father was one of those who paved the way for the interpreting that we routinely see on the TV today. I have memories of the Rycote Centre too, but I much preferred Friars Gate, which will always hold a special place in my heart. Particularly two ladies, with whom I would sit, while my dad was interpreting; Mrs Bond and Mrs Dove.
Hello. I am writing a book about deaf cyclist James Duthie who cycled from Scotland to the Arctic Circle in 1951. In his journal he cites Dr R.W Roe a number of times – James was a reader of his books – for example ‘Peeps Into The Deaf World’. I would like permission to use one or other of the images above, and the correct citation / copyright information please. You may learn more about my research here: http://dummyjim.com. Best wishes, Matt Hulse