Mental Health Hospital/Maternity Home Birmingham 1947 - 18 Highcroft Road

[iolaus]

My father remembers being told that he was born in a mental hospital, apparently the ground floor was being used as a maternity unit until a maternity hospital was built.

Anyone have any ideas where this would be and if it is true?  The address on his birth certificate is what looks like 18 Higharge Road (he lived in Lawley Street as his dad worked at the Sidings there if that is any help as to the locations)

[iluleah]

Not sure if this is any help at all, but many previous workhouses were later used as mental hospitals and maternity homes http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Birmingham/

[ankerdine]

An interesting link, Iluleah.

Judy

[jim1]

Can you show us the address from the birth cert.

[ankerdine]

Loveday Street Maternity Hospital wasn't that far away.

Yes, Jim, I wondered if it was Highgate Road or Vicarage Road so it would be better to view that snippet of the birth certificate.

Judy

[iolaus]

Hope this works

[ankerdine]

It's Highcroft Road.

There was a mental Hospital in Highcroft Road some years ago but I believe it is closed down now.

I should know about Highcroft, unfortunately, because I was once a resident there!

Over 40 years ago, after the birth of my second son, I suffered from severe post-natal depression and spent several weeks receiving treatment.

I was cured but it was a sad time.

Judy

[jim1]

If we're talking about the one in Erdington it's now luxury apartments.

[iolaus]

Thank you - once the ending of croft came up as a possibility I could see it and it clearly is, and from the powers of google it was indeed a mental health hospital (and previously workhouse) which was used as a maternity home in the post war baby boom