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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Lanarkshire => Topic started by: andarah on Friday 13 November 09 00:28 GMT (UK)
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My Dad was a Haddo House baby, born in 1943.
I just googled Methlick, and supposedly it's in Aberdeenshire, but my Dad's family lived in the Gorbals. Was it primarily people from Glasgow, even though it's in Aberdeenshire?
Does anyone know any history or have anything written up?
I've tried to look it up, and all I ever get is a single line saying it was used as a maternity hospital during WWII. Surely there must be more known.
Does anyone know anything? Does anyone else have a Haddo House baby?
My Dad was finally able to get a picture of the home and has it framed on his wall.
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Is this any use ?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/castlekay/2465128916/
The caption underneath says they were evacuees.
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Is it the same Haddo House which is under the care of the National Trust for Scotland?
http://www.nts.org.uk/Property/73/Details/
I don't know if you have tried contacting them before, but I would have thought they would be able to tell you something of the history of the house, or know if records survive.
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We had never considered them to be evacuees, but I guess that could be the case.
From what I understand, there was limited maternity space in the regular hospitals because of the war wounded, so they opened up this home as a maternity hospital. My father knows the exact window to the room he was born in.
Yes, it is now under the protection of the National Trust of Scotland. I hadn't thought to contact them.
Thanks!
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I just looked at that photo and again, and unless I am mistaken (very likely), the fraction of a window on the left beside the staircase is the window to the room my Dad was born in.
However, if there was more than one grand staircase curving at that angle, then I would be wrong. I don't know what the back of the house looks like, as I have only seen the front of it. There is only one staircase on the front (one curves each way).
So, I *think* that is the room.
Thanks for the link to the pic!
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What was your grandfather's occupation?
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During the war he was an aircraft mechanic, stationed in Burma.
After the war he was in aircraft quality control. I don't know about before the war, but he would have only been 22 when my Dad was born, so he was probably in something related to mechanics if that's what he did during the war.
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Is it possible it was for the wives of servicemen?
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I don't know....maybe??
I found a little bit more, and it appears as though mothers were moved there at the beginning of their 8th month and they returned to Glasgow when the baby was a month old. It also said that with all the returning injured, there wasn't space for maternity in the local hospitals. This supports what my Dad had told me.
Now, my father was a full-term, large baby, born 8 months after the wedding. In other words, he was not born a month early. I wonder if that had something to do with it????
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I don't think that would have anything to do with it andarah. That was never an uncommon situation. I think it is more likely that it was connected with the war in some way.
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Hi, I am a Haddo House baby. Was born in august 1941, my mother and father lived in glasgow and my father was not in the forces. I think mothers were evacuated during the war for safety sake. I understand at the 50 year anniversary of theend of the war, children who were born at Haddo House were nvited back by the family who still live there. I am living in Canada so did not hear about it until after the event. Have never visted Hadd House but would like to do so.
You can get a booklet from the National Trust association on Haddo House but unfortunately it does not make any reference to this period.
Does anyone else hve information. Over the years i have tried to find out more but no luck
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I spoke to my Dad about it over the holidays and he mentioned a reunion. We are also in Canada and did not hear about it until it was too late.
He was told it was for wives of the RAF. Of course, that was in 1943. Maybe the rules tightened through the duration of the war???
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In the March 15th 2010 edition of the "Evening Express" there's a photograph (on the Memories page) taken in 1987, of the Marchioness of Aberdeen welcoming more than 200 war babies to their reunion. According to the paper, Haddo House was an emergency maternity hospital for Glaswegian mothers during World War 2. Around 1200 babies were born at Haddo by the time it closed in 1945.You can contact Ian Miller (the editor of "Memories") by email. I'm sure if he cannot give you more information then he'll know someone who can!
Contact him on ian.millar(at)ajl.co.uk
flst
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Thank you so much for this information. I will certainly get in touch with the newspaper editor. I appreciate your time in posting this message. I have always been interested in my place of birth although never visited it but I intend to do so one of these days.
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I'm so glad my info. has been a help to someone. Let us know when you plan to come over. I live in Aberdeenshire & know the area very well!
You should also be able to get previous articles on this subject from the Local History department of Aberdeen City Library. Their contact details can be found on this Rootschat site. If I remember correctly, on the Aberdeenshire resources page.
Obviously your first port of call should be direct to the newspaper.
flst
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Thank you so much!
I will check it out and contact him.
We're going to a `family tree' trip and I hope we have the time to include Haddo House.
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Hi,
I have been reading your post in amasement!!! I now live in Lanarkshire, but from Aberdeenshire and I have spent many a day at Haddo House with my children when they were toddlers and did not know this information.
It is set in beautiful surroundings and the walk down the 'Scotch Mile' is lovely, we used to go and feed the ducks :-)
If you get the oppertunity to visit, i would definitely recommend this.
Thank you for proving this information,
Bumble :-)
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Hello,
My name is Johnnie Manckiy, I am a history student at university in the United States. I am researching the role of British Country Houses during World War Two. am interested in learning about the experiences of people who lived, worked and were stationed in Britain's stately homes during the war.
My accident I happened to come across the story about Haddo House being used as a maternity hospital during the war. I have been reading over some of the interesting post.
I would be very interested in help in one could give me on the use of Haddo during the war.
Thank you,
Johnnie Manckiy
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In yesterday's edition of "The Press and Journal" there's an article about a wartime baby returning to her birthplace.
" The National Trust is appealing for anyone born in the mansion between 1939 & 1945 to get in touch. Their stories and photographs will be featured in a special exhibition on the era. Anyone who is a Haddo baby or can help with the exhibition should get in touch with the trust on 08444932179 or online at haddo(at)nts.org.uk".
I'm sure there'll be a big response from the rootschatters!
flst
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We were in Scotland at Easter and visited Haddo House.......a lovely house, in lovely grounds....from memory, there was mention in the house of the 'Maternity' (possibly an information board in one of the rooms) and I think I also read about it in a copy of the National Trust Magazine too.
Great post above by flst......I'm sure many of you will get in touch with NT.