RootsChat.Com

England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => London & Middlesex Lookup Requests => London and Middlesex => England => London & Middlesex Completed Lookup Requests => Topic started by: Harborough on Sunday 07 June 09 16:29 BST (UK)

Title: St Olaves, Bermondsey
Post by: Harborough on Sunday 07 June 09 16:29 BST (UK)

Hi all

New to this site but wondering if anyone can help with a query.

Does anyone know of a hospital/home in Bermondsey called St Olaves for unmarried mothers? I know that it is a parish but was there a home for unmarried mothers near here? My great grandmother gave birth to her illegitmate son in Nov 1915 in Parish Street, Horselydown and i was always led to believe that it was in some sort of unmarried mothers home but i can't find any records of it at all.

Can anyone shed any light on this for me?

Many thanks

Title: Re: St Olaves, Bermondsey
Post by: Gaie on Sunday 07 June 09 23:01 BST (UK)

Hi  :)

http://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html?StOlave/StOlave.shtml

St Olave Union/Workhouse was situated in Parish Street so possibly your great-grandmother was a resident when she gave birth to her son.

Kind regards
Gaie

Title: Re: St Olaves, Bermondsey
Post by: bakis on Monday 08 June 09 08:49 BST (UK)

Hi
   My Father was born there in 1906, is was not just for unmarried mothers.The entrance was still there upto 5 years ago.It was the local hospital. please check Wikipedia.

    Barry

Title: Re: St Olaves, Bermondsey
Post by: Nick29 on Monday 08 June 09 12:13 BST (UK)

Many of the old workhouses became hospitals later in the 20th century.  Workhouses were the only places where people with little or no money could obtain medical treatment.  There was no free medical treatment on the NHS until 1948.