Maternity Hospitals in Hitchin around 1933

[rakshaUK]

My mother was born at the Maples Maternity Hospital, Bedford Road, Hitchin in 1933
It was pulled down a few years ago and although had not been used as maternity home for many years it was still used by NHS (as administration offices I think). The Maples stopped being used when the North Herts Maternity Hospital was opened next door. I think this was used until 1980 when it was transferred to Stevenage

The Maternity Unit at the Lister Hospital Stevenage didn't open until 1983.  My oldest son was born in the old unit in 1982, which is where Waitrose (and before that Safeway) now stands.

[Ted Jones]

I was born in Hitchin in Oct 1940, although my parents lived in S London.  I assume this was because of the dangers of wartime.  I was always told, rather curiously, that I was born in the 'King's Dressing Room'  Now that I'm researching my family history, it is, unfortunately, too late to ask anyone in the family about this.  Could anyone very kindly throw any light on this please.

[Benzol]

Hi Ted,

Interesting Question. I'm Hitchin born and bred. Never heard of the "King's dressing room". If such a place did/does exist it's likely to be part of The Priory in Bridge Street Hitchin. The Priory was owned by the Delme Radcliffe family for 400 years until 1965 and is the only establishment of any real note in the town. The family were full of good works and may be they opened up the house as extra maternity facilities - sorry I don'y know if this is true. I'm sure that there were royal connections particularly the current Queen's mum. Elizabeth Bowes Lyon was born and raised at St. Paul's Warden just a few liles away.

If I'm correct then HALS in Hertford, which holds many Herts Archives, has the archive for the family and house. Might be worth a query! You'll find  HALS on the web.

Talked to my sister about this question. She was a teenager in Hitchin during the war and remembers that lots of young mums came down from London to have their babies when the war was on.

Cheers

Benzol

[Ted Jones]

Dear Benzol
Many thanks.  That does  seem feasible and I'll have a look at the website that you mentioned.  Thanks for your help.
Ted

[[Ray]]

Ted

Why don't you email the current owners?

R

[philjo]

North Herts Maternity Hospital used to be on the site where Waitrose is now, opposite Christchurch Methodist church on Bedford Road.
Don't know what date it opened though.

[Benzol]

Think the maternity hospital being referred to was at the The North Herts and South Beds Hospital. A new wing went on to the hospital about1929. The Duchess of York the old Queen Mum opened this new wing. The main work of the hospital was moved to the old Lister Hospital, don't know when but probably during or just after WW2. (The new Lister Hospital is in Stevenage). The maternity facilities probably remained at the NHSB hospital so a war-time baby being born in Hitchin could well have been born there.

However don't see why there should have been a King's Room at NHSB. Having said that the old building went back many decades so it's possible I suppose!


Benzol

[philjo]

This link from the national archives site has some more information - records held in Hertfordshire Archives.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords/details.asp?id=417&page=42

The maternity unit closed around 1982.


The "kings room" might be a historical link. in the 1086 Doomsday survey there was a reference to "Rex Tenet Hiz" - referring to the fact that the land around Hitchin was owned by the King at that time.

[Jeuel]

If the only address given on the birth cert is "Hitchin" I would think it was more likely to be a private home.  In the 1930s home births were much more common.