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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => London & Middlesex Lookup Requests => London and Middlesex => England => London & Middlesex Completed Lookup Requests => Topic started by: Tricia_2 on Sunday 19 April 09 17:25 BST (UK)
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Hi :)
My gt gt uncle died at 77a Highgate Hill, Islington, London.
When I discovered that this was not his home address, I googled it to find out whether it was, perhaps, a hospital.
I discovered that several other people had had relatives who had died there ~ and some, like me, were trying to find out what sort of place it was.
Does anyone know, please?
Thank you. :))
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Hi there
You don't mention a particular period, but looking at my 1948 Street Atlas I suspect it may have been the Islington Infirmary.
Some information here:
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html?Islington/Islington.shtml
Dave
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Thank you Dave. :)
That would make sense!
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Hi,
In 1891 nos 77 and 79 Highgate Hill, Islington were shops but in between there is The Lodge, Highgate Smallpox hospital.
Rg12/141 6/ 9
So it could be likely it was used as a hospital of some sort at other times, depending when your g g uncle died .
Best wishes
Cathy
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Hi,
In 1891 nos 77 and 79 Highgate Hill, Islington were shops but in between there is The Lodge, Highgate Smallpox hospital.
Rg12/141 6/ 9
So it could be likely it was used as a hospital of some sort at other times, depending when your g g uncle died .
Best wishes
Cathy
Well spotted Cathy...According to the above link the Islington Infirmary on Highgate Hill appears to have been built on the site occupied by the Smallpox Hospital!
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Yes, thank you both! :) :)
I have now had a read of some relevant websites & it seems that the building evolved through various 'medical' phases over the years.
It's interesting that just the address, an not the name of the hospital, was put on death certificates.
I get the impression that quite a few people have had this problem when researching.
My g g uncle died in 1931.
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Speaking as an ex-local, this is the Whittington Hospital. Several of my family demised there over the years.
Dave
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Thanks Dave.
I noticed that the Whittington ~ named after Dick Whittington, I think it said ~ was the hospital had evolved into. :)
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My Dad was born at 77a Highgate Hill in Oct 1919. His mum was unmarried and lived in Stoke Newington. My dad was subsequently adopted.
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Hello,
I've just seen this correspondence and it is very helpful, so many thanks. My maternal grandmother died at 77a, Highgate Hill in January, 1926, and I have been trying to discover what the property was. I know that the Whittington Hospital is there now so I'm not surprised to discover the information about 77a which has been published in this topic.
What I need to discover now is where my grandmother was buried - Highgate Cemetery is a possibility I suppose.
Lawrence.
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Good luck in your quest
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Hang on half a mo' Lawrence - it ain't that simple! Most Londoners have been interred in the vast municipal cemeteries that fringe outer London. If your Grandmother was an Islington resident, she may well be buried at Islington Cemetery, here is a link:
www.islington.gov.uk/Environment/cemeteries/islington.asp
A search, based on date of death, if successful, will provide a plot number.
Finding it in the cemetery would be an expedition in itself - but be prepared for the common grave, where up to 14 (unrelated folk) can be buried. My uncle's grave, at Islington Cemetery (as an example) has 6 marker stones on it. None of which relate to him.
Hope this helps
Dave
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Thanks for your reply Dave. Believe me, everything concerning my grandmother has been a nightmare which I have battled with for years until I had a big breakthrough when the 1911 census was released a year ago. So I'm not expecting anything to be easy!
Indeed, I know about common graves as my father is buried in one in Alperton cemetery.
Thanks for the tip about Islington cemetery, I'll give it a whirl. My grandmother lived in Corbyn Street, Islington, according to the death certificate, so she might well be in that cemetery.
All the best,
Lawrence.
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Hello Dave,
Bingo! Islington Cemetery has confirmed that my grandmother is buried there - in a common grave. So that's that problem solved. I am most grateful for your helpful guidance. All the best. Lawrence.
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Well done - please to have been of assiostance.
Dave
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This thread is a God-Send ! ;)
I have recieved a DC today for my Great Aunt, who died in 1937 at 77a Highgate Hill. She died following problems with a birth (to be honest, I can not understand the full extent of her Cause of death on the certificate). She was only 22. :-[
There is a residence address given as "Pounda Street, Islington" .. I think it's a "P" but it could be a "B" .... any suggestions please? ???
My interest also lies with the name ... her Maiden name was WHITTINGTON ....
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There is a residence address given as "Pounda Street, Islington" .. I think it's a "P" but it could be a "B" .... any suggestions please? ???
Dorinda Street http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,460319.msg3210931.html#msg3210931
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that's me .. thanks .. I scanned the address on after .... thanks :)
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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
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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
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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
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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.
:)
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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/
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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 :)
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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. :)
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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
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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
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Many thanks....that makes more sense lol