Convalescent home in Gilsland Carlisle

[Stanwix England]

Hello,

I'm researching a relative who it appears was staying in Convalescent home and Hotel in 1911 in Gilsland Carlisle run by a Mrs Thornton. That's all the details of the address and location I can find.

It's described as a convalescent home and hotel but all the non-staff are listed on the census as patients, which doesn't make it seem like a hotel.

I've tried to find something online but I'm not really having any luck. I'm wondering why a person might end up in a place like that.

Does anyone know anything about this place?

[*Sandra*]

Interesting read here............

Quote :- During its time the hotel has been a First World War military convalescent home and a Second World War maternity hospital and was known locally until recently as "The Home". The Co-operative Wholesale Society took over in 1902 and have run it ever since, the Co-operative Group being principal shareholders in the business......................etc etc

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilsland_Spa

http://www.archive.coop/collections/convalescent-homes/gil-gilsland-convalescent-home

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=129560.0

Sandra

[JenB]

I've tried to find something online but I'm not really having any luck. I'm wondering why a person might end up in a place like that.

Just 'google' 'convalescent + Gilsland' and you'll get lots of useful information.

It's a little to the north of Gilsland, rather isolated, but in a beautiful position with great views.
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1492337
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3524109

I was there recently, although it's quite a nice place the interior still has a slightly 'institutional' feel in places, a hangover from the days when it was a convalescent home/hospital.

[JenB]

If have access to Ancestry you can take a look at the 1911 enumerator's summary books.

These show that at the time the convalescent home was called Shaw's Hotel Spa Villa. Shaw's was the original name, mentioned in several of the links you can find via google. It's now simply known as Gilsland Spa.

[Stanwix England]

Hello,

Thank you everyone for that help, it was a very interesting read and it's cleared up my confusion.