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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Gloucestershire => Topic started by: Lisajb on Wednesday 21 January 15 17:57 GMT (UK)
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Does anyone know anything of Mortimer House, in Clifton, Bristol?
I've seen it variously described as a hospital, maternity hospital or mother and baby home, but there doesn't seem to be much information on the WWW about it, other than recent newspaper reports about squatters moving in.
My husband was born there in the early 1960s, his mum was 17 and Irish Catholic, and unmarried, so am thinking it may been ones of those places for "girls who'd got into trouble." Certainly the intention was that he would be adopted, but this didn't happen and he was brought up by a relative.
I think the records will be kept at Bristol archives, just wondered if anyone on here knew of the place?
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Don't tell my wife about "girls in trouble". She gave birth to our daughter there in 1970. It was a standard maternity hospital then
Steve
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Apologies, I didn't mean to cause any offence.
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None taken I assure you! From the TNA record of its register of births it was a maternity hospital from 1944 until 1975. I believe after some years of neglect it has now been turned into rather smart apartments
Steve
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It went up for sale as "the shell of Mortimer House, with full listed building consent", so perhaps not converted at that point. Plus five townhouses in the grounds. You'd probably need a fair few quid!
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A very little information here:
http://brisray.com/bristol/bhelp3.htm
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Does anyone know anything of Mortimer House, in Clifton, Bristol?
I've seen it variously described as a hospital, maternity hospital or mother and baby home, but there doesn't seem to be much information on the WWW about it, other than recent newspaper reports about squatters moving in.
Snip, Snip:
Hi Lisa,
As others have indicated Mortimer House was in its day a straight forward maternity hospital, it is quite an imposing building standing on the south east corner of Mortimer Road & Clifton Down Road, Clifton. {link to Google Street view (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.455825,-2.619493,3a,75y,69.77h,84.2t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s9c2C5BNk2VJW3AWboXMbfw!2e0)}
If that link works as I hope it does Mortimer House is behind the 'Builders Boards' to the right, and (subject to correction by others) I believe that the former Walker Dunbar Hospital is the building behind the scaffolding, across the junction.
You might also find this thread (http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/Bristol_and_Somerset/2004-02/1077653397) will provide additional information.
What's my interest in Mortimer House? I was also born there.
Regards, JohnG_Swansea
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Hi John_G
Thank you, that's set mine and husbands minds at rest. Much appreciated.
Regards
Lisa
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just seen this - it was the maternity hospital until St Michael's was built - then it was given to Southmead Health Authority who used it to close the 'House of Help' in Bath - which was mainly elderly ladies. So it took ladies from old Magdalen and Ladymead house.
Then it was used more generally for Learning Difficulties - and transferred the ownership of what became Aspects and Milestones. Then they closed it and sold it. One of the problems with the house is there s a listed ballroom in it so they had massive problem converting it.
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It was sold again very recently, for lots of money. The selling agent said he knew what the buyer was going to do with it, but apparently it was all a bit hush hush.
http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Mortimer-House-Bristol-s-finest-mansions-sells/story-28239849-detail/story.html
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I had my first child in Mortimer House in November 1962.
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Hi,I worked at Mortimer house as an nursing assistant from 1994 to 1998.it was a home for adults with learning disabilities and many level of nursing needs.a wonderful place.In the 1700s it was lady mortimers home and i belive the mortimer family made their fortune from suger plantations . At the beginning of the 1900s it was a type of home for wayward boys.ww2 it was used as a hospital,unsure if this was for soldiers or civis.then Mortimer maternity hospital.when I worked there many staff were affaid of the attic room,this was a small box room on the third floor we used for storage,it was extremely spooky.one day two older ladies knocked on the door claiming to have been midwife's, they mentioned about the haunted attic room.doing hourly checks on a night shift was terrifying. 😱
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Please can you tell me who ran the mother and baby home I’m looking for my sister and need to know which Agency she was adopted through in 1965
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[quote author=Please can you tell me who ran the mother and baby home I’m looking for my sister and need to know which Agency she was adopted through in 1965
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It was an NHS home.
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I was born in Mortimer House in April 1964, my Mother was an unmarried Irish Catholic and yes it was where the church sent those women to give birth, she kept me and I lived just around the corner in Royal York Villas with my Nan and Grandad who were both from Ireland. Grandad took the toll on the Suspension Bridge during the 60s.
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Hi GerrardM
Thanks for your reply. My husbands mum was of Irish descent and Catholic too.
The original intention was that my husband would have been put up for adoption, but a family member stepped in, and therefore he didn’t leave the family.
Regards
Lisa
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Hi,
My name is Karen Payne. I was born Julie Smith in Mortimer House and was adopted in 1965 at the same time as my brother? My father was a Raby Watson. I was born 26 Feb 65 to Janice Smith. If I am not your sister good hunting. If I am.......Blimey!
Karen Payne
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Hi,
My name is Karen Payne. I was born Julie Smith in Mortimer House and was adopted in 1965 at the same time as my brother? My father was a Raby Watson. I was born 26 Feb 65 to Janice Smith. If I am not your sister good hunting. If I am.......Blimey!
Karen Payne
I wish you was my sister, I’m looking for Sharon price born September 1965 , good luck with your search
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Hi i am a new member here and have very little experience of computers and how forums work so not sure I'm doing the right thing, but here goes.
i was born in Mortimer house in September 1967 then adopted sometime later. i have been trying to find out more and would like to know if anyone else was there at that time ?
I would like to chat with Lisa who i can see was looking at this some time ago.
many thanks
Richard
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First time. Here on mum's behalf.
She was born Mortimer House 4/2/66 and is looking for anyone who may have lived/worked there.
She was adopted and is looking for any info about her birth parents. Mother is A S, father unknown.