Ethel in Waterlow Park, probably taken circa 1946 |
In 1943 Ethel's health took a downward turn when she started to get abdominal pains. She visited The Marie Stopes clinic who sent her for tests and these resulted in the discovery of fibroids in her uterus. After a short wait Ethel was admitted to Three Counties Emergency Hospital in Bedfordshire.
The Three Counties Hospital. a Victorian Lunatic Asylum which was also used as a wartime hospital for women and later for soldiers. |
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Harris,
I received the parcel of lemons this morning with great excitement.
It was really a sight for the gods to see such lovely big pre-war ones.
I do most sincerely thank you very, very much on behalf of the nurses
and myself for your kindness.
I am also pleased to say that the plants are also doing well and
really look delightful now in the sun ward. The daffodils are a lovely
really look delightful now in the sun ward. The daffodils are a lovely
sight and admired by everyone who comes into the ward.
How is Mrs. Harris feeling? I do hope she is happy and gettingstronger each day. I have a ward full now of 38 soldiers so the ward
looks very different from a women's ward.
Again thanking you very much for your kind gift.
The letter, signed C. Jones, is dated 4th March 1944. My mother used to tell me that after leaving Three Counties Hospital she went to convalesce at "The Earl of Huntingdon's Castle" and she always pointed out to me that Earl of Huntingdon was the title given to Robin Hood in the legend. This, of course, enthralled me
as a child, to think that my mother had stayed in Robin Hood's castle. She described standing on the battlements at night watching bombers take off from and return to a nearby airbase. Naturally, I never questioned these stories until many years later I started my research into family history. Looking for a picture of Huntingdon Castle, I was surprised to find that it no longer existed and hadn't for many years before my mother's supposed stay there - not even a ruin remained! Eventually, my researches paid off and I discovered that the location of my mother's convalescence was actually Hinchingbrooke House, a short distance from Castle Hill - the original site of the castle. It is easy, looking at the house, to see why Ethel saw this as a romantic medieval castle. Enquiries confirmed also the story my mother told me of how she and some of the other women patients volunteered to go to another ward where some badly disfigured airmen were being treated. The story of seeing bombers taking off at night was obviously true as from the roof of Hinchingbrooke House (with its castle-like battlements) you could see for miles around and the area certainly wasn't short of military airfields.
Hinchingbrooke House, Ethel's "Robin Hood's Castle" where she convalesced after her operation in 1945. |
After a short trip back to London, Ernest decided that he and Ethel would relocate to get away from the bombing raids. The location was to be Blackpool in Lancashire and they rented a house at Inver Road near the North Shore golf course. While she certainly did not miss the bombs, Ethel did miss her family living nearby and she spent most of the time in the company of her faithful dog, Peter. Ernest was still spending a lot of time away from home and Ethel was feeling the loneliness more than ever. She told me that while her family were celebrating VE Day in London she was walking her dog on the beach. VJ Day came and went and the warwas over. Ethel was facing the approach of Christmas wondering whether she would spend it alone.
William Weaver |
birth of the baby.
Joyce Barrett, Ethel, Esther Bayliss (daughter of Bert and Ada Bayliss) and unknown serviceman outside the flat at Tollington Court. |
TO BE CONTINUED...
Wonderfully written as always and a "page turner"! I'm particularly enjoying how you have plenty of space to bring so much background detail to the story than you were able to when telling this story in the past. For a non-family member like myself, this blog has been a delightful and fascinating read!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for the comment, Cerpts. One of the most enjoyable things about doing the blog is digging out background material, a lot of which is new to me. A good example is The Three Counties Hospital which now has a whole website devoted to its history. Seems it was still being used as an asylum alongside the purely medical wards at the time my mother was there. The building is now preserved and has become luxury flats. I've also just obtained a photo of the actual house in Inver Road where I was conceived which I shall post, hopefully, later today.
ReplyDeleteAnother great Article Ernest the letter from the hospital is such a great touch. I always end up not only enjoying a great account of your families exploits but a great insite into the period.The photos are just wonderfull you must really treasure them.I al eager for the next installment.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ian. It means a lo get feedback from family and friends both here and on Facebook. There's lots more to come.
ReplyDelete