77a Highgate Hill, Islington, London

[janwhin]

Thanks.

The previous messages confirm my suspicion that a relative of mine who died at 77a in 1933, actually died at Highgate Hospital.

FURTHERMORE, from a combination of death certificate & probate record, I know my gt grandfather died in 1927 at Highgate Hospital, with the address being given as 199 DARTMOUTH PARK HILL (which is on the west side of the hospital).

Has the address for the hospital changed with time, or are these addresses "overflow premises" ?

Graham

[Flakdodger]

Hi Graham,
Overflow premises is a very good description.
They are just up the hill, on the other side of Dartmouth Park road, from the rear of the main Whittington Hospital.
Dave

[janwhin]

Hi Dave (et al)

Thanks for your comment. I've done some further investigation, and concluded that 77a is the address (possibly euphemistic) for St Mary's Hospital (1930 - 45) [Islington] ... see my thread "Highgate Hospital - address variations".

Graham

[Charlesworth]

Agree with Welsh Girl!  Came across this thread and it confirmed my suspicions about my g g grandmother's death certificate.  I know this is an old thread, but just wanted to mention why the address was given rather than the name.  I seem to remember reading somewhere that early 20th century it became policy when babies were born in the workhouse or poor law infirmary that the address be put on the birth certificate rather than the name of the parish union, so that it didn't stigmatise the child later on.  It is possible that this was extended to deaths too.

 

[JenB]

I know this is an old thread, but just wanted to mention why the address was given rather than the name.  I seem to remember reading somewhere that early 20th century it became policy when babies were born in the workhouse or poor law infirmary that the address be put on the birth certificate rather than the name of the parish union, so that it didn't stigmatise the child later on.  It is possible that this was extended to deaths too.

In 1904, the Registrar General advised local registration officers that where a child was born in the workhouse, there should be no longer be any indication of this on the child's birth certificate. Instead, the place of birth was to be recorded as a euphemistic street address. For example, births at Liverpool Workhouse were now recorded as having taken place at 144A Brownlow Hill — no such street address actually existed. Similarly, Nottingham Workhouse used an address of 700 Hucknall Road for this purpose. The same practice was later also adopted for the death certificates of those who died in the workhouse. Often, only local knowledge will reveal that an ordinary-looking address was actually the workhouse.

http://www.workhouses.org.uk/

[thirzagrace]

thanks for this everyone. Just found you via google: my great grandfather died at 77a Highgate Hill in 1937. Just off now to check out the links in this thread

[RissyB]

Thank you everyone in this thread, I have just received the dc for my grandfather, he died in 1922 at 77a Highgate Hill.  As an ex 'local' I knew that this was roughly where the Whittington Hospital is but its really good to know this for sure and to get some of the background/history of this address.

[hackney51]

I'm getting a little confused and hope someone will put me right please...my nan died at 77a Highgate Hill, in 1934 so would that make it the 'Whittington' hospital or 'Highgate' hospital please...thanks

[Bookbox]

my nan died at 77a Highgate Hill, in 1934 so would that make it the 'Whittington' hospital or 'Highgate' hospital please...thanks

Neither. At that date it was called St Mary’s Hospital.

This building at 77a Highgate Hill was formerly the Islington workhouse infirmary. It later merged with other local hospitals (including Highgate Hospital, in Dartmouth Park Hill) to form what is now the Whittington Hospital.

Description, map and photos here ...
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Islington/#Highgate

and here ...
https://ezitis.myzen.co.uk/stmaryshighgate.html