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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Lancashire => Topic started by: shell50 on Friday 23 March 12 20:57 GMT (UK)
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Hi I was wondering if anyone was born in Doris Court Whalley Range under the Diocese of Salford in the 1950's.It appears all their adoption records are missing. This was a Catholic Mother and Baby Home, but i was born Jewish and really need some more information.
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If you don't get any contacts by your post here, would it be an idea to write a lettter to the local newspaper asking the same question?
charlotte
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Does this help?
http://www.adoptionsearchreunion.org.uk/search/adoptionrecords/homeDetail.aspx?id=423
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I had a baby there in 1960 and I am neither Jewish, nor Catholic. It was an ordinary Maternity Home, but the matron took in unmarried pregnant girls and used them as unpaid staff prior to the birth of their babies. Fortunately for me, there were already too many pregnant girls in the maternity home acting as skivvies for the matron and staff when I was pregnant, so I was sent to stay with a lovely lady and her two young sons until I went into labour, when I was taken to Doriscourt. My baby was born on 13 May 1960 and I left her there when my parents came to take me home about 20 May 1960.
Happily, in about 2005, my daughter found me and her adopted father was an amateur photographer who had photographed her life from the day they took her from the maternity home to 2005 when she contacted me. Her adoptive parents drove from Staffordshire to the home and were just given my baby. ::) For years I worried about this private adoption, but fortunately, my daughter had a good life with wonderful parents, who were so worried about the way they'd obtained a baby they went straight to the social services department (or whatever it was called in 1960) to tell them they had a baby they wanted to adopt. Unlike today, they were allowed to keep the baby without too much fuss and just worried until they knew I'd signed the adoption papers.
You might be interested in the following court case involving Doris Court and an apparent Jewish baby. http://chaimsimons.net/B.html one sentence is particularly interesting: "This establishment was mainly a nursing home but it was also known that unmarried mothers could go there and receive help regarding the birth of their babies and that if they so wished, the matron, Miss W, would make arrangements for the baby to be placed for adoption"
In fact, as being an unmarried mother was a stigma in 1960, girls like myself were told that adoption was the best option for the baby. Not only that, but I was told by the Matron that when I signed the adoption papers as was required by law, I had to tell the adoption officer that I had decided to have the baby adopted without coercian and that I had chosen the parents myself. ::) Unlike 19 year olds today, I (and the other girls in the home) just went along with this without querying it.
If you scroll down to the bottom of the article, you will see that you can click on a link to Selected Documents Quoted in Paper. If you click on "to view" you will see some newspaper cuttings. Amongst the articles is a comment that it was believed the Matron ran a private maternity service there from 1951 to 1967, I think it probably was a private maternity home which is why I and the other girls like me were there - our parents could probably pay towards the costs - but I'm certain the Matron also ran a private adoption service. Whether that was illegal in the 1950s and 1960s I don't know, but I would guess it was.
Lizzie
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Lizzie, how very thoughtful and gracious of you to tell us,and particularly shell50, what you have.
Thank you,
charlotte
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I to was born at Doris Court, in 1957 and was intrigued to read about it. It reminds me of the the story of "Angela's Ashes". How appauling and distressing it must have been for the girls of that era............ and you wonder how many of them are still going through life wondering what happened to their babies............ I am in the middle of trying to trace my blood mother, but I don't think one needs the information from there to trace them, that was just a part of the process and in my opinion best not got hung up about. Good luck to anyone out there trying to trace families. And thankyou to the brave lady who explained it from the other side of it.
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Good luck with your search LizMyrra.
The way my daughter (helped by her adoptive father) found me, having got her original birth certificate giving my name, was to get my birth certificate to find out who my parents were, then look for a marriage cert for me, got that and checked it was correct by checking my father's name as given on my birth certificate.
There were too many people sharing my married name and my husband's first name to find us on electoral rolls. So she looked for children of my marriage and wrote to the address given on the birth of the last child. The people there didn't know my family but were very helpful and asked the neighbours who knew where we'd moved to. Unfortunately, that house had been sold a couple of times too after we left it and the trail went cold. So my daughter's adoptive father went back to the library to look at electoral rolls to see if he could find my children. One of my sons has an uncommon name and there were only 6 people of that name on the electoral rolls, so he decided he would 'phone them all. The first one he rang was my son. ::)
He just told my son he was doing family history research and asked him a few questions about the family and my whereabouts. My son gave him my 'phone number but told him I was moving house soon. Rather than ring me, my daughter looked in the 'phone book for our address (thank goodness I wasn't ex directory) and wrote to me. Unfortunately, as I hadn't told anyone about her, not even my husband, it took me over 18 months before I got round to telling my husband and then the rest of the family.
This might not be the best way to proceed, but as far as I can see it is the way they search for the TV programme Long Lost Family.
Lizzie
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:)
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Hi Lizzie what a great and honest lady you are, and how hard this must have been for you all, I hope you don't think me too cheeky but i would love to ask you two questions but please do not feel you have to answer them.its something i have always wondered about, how did you husband and family take the news? and did you manage to get on with life or was your daughter always in your mind?i have my own and can't imagine going through separation like that......... thanks Liz
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Hi Liz
When I eventually told my husband he just asked why I'd not told him as soon as my daughter had got in touch and his next question was "When are we going to see her?". My husband and I have met her a few times and my husband loves her as I do.
My husband and I have 6 children (oddly we have 5 of our own and also one we adopted!). They are 1 daughter and 5 sons. Our sons were totally unphased when I told them they had a half sister, and one of them and his wife has met her, but our daughter doesn't want anything to do with her half-sister, which is difficult to say the least. Her brothers reckon it's because having thought she was the firstborn she now feels pushed out of her position in the family.
My adopted daughter doesn't live in UK and one of my sons lives in USA so it's not easy for us all to meet up anyway. I'm sure we'll work things out sooner or later though.
Lizzie
ps. My OH and I have also met the couple who adopted my daughter, they welcomed us with open arms and were so grateful to me for the daughter I gave them, whereas I feel grateful for the fact that they adopted her and gave her a wonderful life.
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my Husband was born in 1956.I've been under the impression that this was a 'Private Maternity Hospital.'As My Mother-in-Law didn't want a NHS Hospital.From what My Mother-in-Law has always said.My Husband and I Live just 10 mins from where it was.My In laws were not Catholics but C of E.So could anyone give Birth there and keep their Babies?
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Dear lizzie, Many thanks for answering my questions, I want you to know my adopted family are wonderful and I have had a marvellous childhood, so hold no grudge about my adoption, i feel sure i will trace my birth mother, only hoping she is still alive...... but i would like her to know that I am ok and have had a good life surrounded by people who have loved and cared for me unconditionally..... i am sure all weren't so lucky........... As i get older though i do feel some responsability to find her and hopefully put her mind at rest that she did right by me..... I only hope that she too had a good life following what must have been a traumatic time.......
Thankyou for being so open it really has helped me and made me more determined to find her...
Love Liz x
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So could anyone give Birth there and keep their Babies?
lib58
Yes, I got the impression when I was there, that apart from me and the other unmarried girls, the other women were married and probably fairly middle class. I always assumed that it was a private nursing home and that the girls who were there as unpaid skivvies had parents who could afford to pay for their upkeep and the fees for the home. The married women, who were generally older than me, so probably in their mid to late 20s always had their husbands visiting them and other visitors in the afternoons, whereas the girls like me were lucky if anyone visited. My parents came after I'd had the baby, but not before although I was in from Monday to Friday before she was born and then they didn't come again until the day I left, when they came to collect me, but they never saw my baby. It seems unbelievable today but "what the neighbours thought" was far more important than what their unmarried daughter wanted. Oh well c'est la vie.
Lizzie
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Thanks LizzieW for your reply.My Mother-in-Law wasn't middle class or had money she was in her late 20's married.both My In laws weren't from Wealthy Families just local to the area but she had a Local Jewish Doctor so maybe she got the idea from him!I think it was more to impress people.My Husband was brought up in a Council House from being born.I just found it shocking and sad that there were Young Girls giving up their Babies when My Husband was born.I told My Husband it wasn't so 'Private' as his Mother made it out to be.In My own Family going back to 1905 there were babies born out of wedlock but the Relatives kept their Babies no matter what anyone thought.I can't imagine what a young Mum must of gone through when they had to hand their Baby over and then when the Adopted Children look for their Mothers.Also I'm Catholic from that area and so many times at School the Children's Rescue Society was always wanting donations.I'm just so shocked by coming across this.
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Hi lib58
I guess the girls who went to Doriscourt, were slightly luckier than the ones who had to go to mother and baby homes. The saving grace, although it didn't seem like it at the time, was that you went home after 10 days after giving birth(that was the norm in those days) and left the baby behind, whereas in the mother and baby homes, it was common for the girls to have to look after their babies for 3 months before handing them over for adoption.
The reason I went there to have the baby was probably because my dad spoke to one of his friends who was a Jewish doctor. I was fortunate, as I've said before, that there was no room for me to live there prior to the birth, so I stayed with a lovely lady and her two young sons. She was divorced (from a famous TV celeb of the time) and for that she was also almost an outcast, so I guess she was glad for the company of another adult (well I was 19) and some money from my parents.
Lizzie
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Lizzie,
Fascinating coming across your account of Doriscourt! I've just joined the forum today after googling the name and coming across your entry.
My mother would have started working there around May 1960 (she was an SRN from Southern Ireland but I imagine she may well have been one of the skiffies!)
I was born at the end of July although a birth certificate has an address in London (it's a hotel!) a few days later in August. Just pulled some old documentation, the Guardian ad Litem report, in which the Matron mentions my mother continued working there until mid Oct. Strange seeing my mothers handwriten note consenting to any kinnoculations etc - turquoise ballpoint!
Believe I have a b/w postcard of the nursing home - was it quite a large place? May be able to do an attachment at a later date if you're interested.
Thank you very much for renewing my interest and giving me a feel for the place.
Regards, Paddy
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Hi Paddy
I'd love a copy of the postcard you have. It's a long time ago now, but I seem to remember that it was like a very large Victorian house. I remember a corridor and there must have been rooms off it, but I can only remember a toilet and a delivery room at the end of the corridor where my baby was born. After that I seem to remember being in an upstairs room where there were 3 or 4 other women, and my parents came to see me but didn't see the baby. None of the babies were kept in the wards like today, when it wasn't time to feed them (4 hourly) they were all kept in the nursery. I remember being in a downstairs room with a bay window when my mother came to collect me to take me home. My mind is a total blank about everything else during the 10 days I was there. I suppose I've blanked it out because it wasn't a happy experience. As I can remember everything about my stays in other maternity homes after my other children were born.
I don't remember signing anything relating to innoculations etc, but I suppose I must have done if your mother did.
Lizzie
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Lizzie,
Must apologize! After reading your description of the building I realised it didn't sound like the one on the postcard. I'd been led to believe it was Doriscourt but I'm now sure it's a different address and it's Stockport Sunday School!
My apologies once more - then again, at least I've learn't that whilst it isn't Doriscourt, I have an idea of what it was like from your recollections. Thank you.
Paddy
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Paddy - If it is Stockport Sunday School where the children of workers went for their education in the 1800s, I'd be happy to see a copy of it in any case. Many of my husband's ancestors attended Stockport Sunday School.
Lizzie
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That's the one! There's a Wikipedia entry for it describing it as the biggest of its type. I'm currently limited to a tablet for my emails and it'll be a while before I can do a scan on my laptop and attach it.
Have to say that actually it's a bit superfluous to my archives and I could happily post it to you. As I'm new to this forum I'm not sure if there's a protocol re PMs/ email address exchange.
If you don't mind waiting a few weks I'll hopefully get around to it.
Paddy
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As you've now made 3 posts, I can send you a PM with my e-mail address.
Regards
Lizzie
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Does anyone have the address of the road that Doris Court was on.My Mother in law used to tell me it was upper chorlton rd.I live 10 mins from this rd.I'd be interested to know if the building is still there.Some large houses are still on this rd in parts.
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I'm wondering if it is the building which was used for a catholic housing association up until a few years ago on upper chorlton road.
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The address is given as Upper Chorlton Rd on a letterhead in my research. I was told by my mother that it had been pulled down - I'd assume early 60's.
I suspect you could be right about its location being where there was a Catholic housing asociation, there is a strong Catholic link and I notice that Caritas, a Catholic organisation, are mentioned regarding archives.
Before getting anyones hopes up, I believe all records are no longer in existence.
In my own case, it looks like my mother was referred to this location by a religious Order, possibly in Dublin. Whilst I'm not familiar with the different Orders and their distribution, there does appear to be a link to the same Order having some involvement at Doriscourt.
Could you give me the approximate location on Upr Ch Rd., please?
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I was there in May 1960 and I have no recollection of it being a Catholic nursing home then (I'm not), I don't remember any crosses on walls etc. In fact if you read the link I posted a year ago http://chaimsimons.net/B.html it would seem that the matron took in unmarried mothers and "arranged" the adoption of their babies. These were definitely private, and very informal, adoptions and I worried for years as to whether my baby had had a happy life. I kept wondering who the parents were who were unable to adopt through normal channels. It turns out, private adoptions weren't illegal in 1960 and at least the people who adopted my baby went straight to the social services (or whatever it was called then) to tell them they had received a baby they wished to adopt.
Of course, I'm not saying that a Catholic housing association didn't take it over later on.
Lizzie
ps. By the way it wasn't a home for unmarried mothers, it was actually a private maternity hospital where the matron appeared to have a sideline in providing babies for adoption.
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I was born in Doris Court in 1957; my brother (1959) and sister (1960) followed on too. It was, I always understood, a private maternity home. I'm sort of curious as to the address, if only to relate it to where I remember my family living in Manchester (Great Stone Road) until 1962/63.
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Peter - It was a private nursing home, but they took in unmarried pregnant girls who worked there as unpaid skivvies, for their board and lodging and then following the birth of their babies they arranged for private adoptions. I was fortunate in that they didn't have room for another skivvy when I was pregnant, in 1960, so I stayed with a family in Chorlton cum Hardy until I went into labour. I stayed 10 days with my baby and on the day I left, my baby's new parents came to get her. Fortunately she contacted me 45 years later and her father had a photographic record of her from the day they collected her to the time she contacted me, so at least I know what she looked like when she was growing up, where she lived and who her adoptive parents are.
I'm not sure if many of the married mothers knew what was going on at the home, I suspect they did as most of us unmarried girls didn't have visitors, whilst they obviously had husbands and family visiting them.
Lizzie
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Hi,
I wanted to register on this site to answer the question about the address of Doris Court. My uncle is visiting me today (he lives in Switzerland) and we've just been to see where he was born- Doris Court. The address was 157 Upper Chorlton Road, but it has now been knocked down and has been replaced by private and housing association flats.
If anyone has a photo of the original building I would really like to see it- he was so thrilled to see where he was born.
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All I can remember is that it was a large Victorian house. I'd love to see a photo too if anyone has one.
Lizzie
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I was born in Doris Court in 1951 and was always told that it was a Nursing Home owned by my father's employers. What a load of nonsense as I have discovered as I have recently visited a vets near there with a sick rabbit. I think the house has gone but there must be a photograph somewhere if only an aerial view. My relationship with my parents was so poor I am almost relieved to see that in view of the adoption aspect of Doris Court that they may not have been my natural parents although certain genes have come out such as mental illness,
Peridot >:(
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Lizzie, you are correct that the Matron (Miss Mary Walsh) ran a private adoption service there. It was, however, perfectly legal at that time.
What is most unfortunate for me and many others who were adopted via her service is that she apparently felt that keeping records would not be a good idea. So she kept none.
I was adopted via Mary Walsh, although I was born in St. Thomas Hospital, Lambeth, in November 1967 and was moved up to Knutsford days after being born.
So there are now many of us who have little information regarding our birth parents and seemingly no obvious way of finding anything out.
I'd be very interested to hear from anyone else in this situation and of any experiences, positive or otherwise, which might help me in my own quest.
Regards to all.
Neil.
...but I'm certain the Matron also ran a private adoption service. Whether that was illegal in the 1950s and 1960s I don't know, but I would guess it was.
Lizzie
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Neil - If you are adopted I think you can apply for your adoption records which should give you your mum's name. You can also probably get your own birth certificate (if you know what your original name was) which will also give you your mum's name, but if your mother was not married, your father's name will not be on the records, unless she actually named him.
My daughter and her adoptive father found me themselves after having got her birth certificate and doing lots of research into my marriage and children etc. I must ask her how she knew what her original name was, I guess they must have had her adoption papers although I know they certainly didn't use social services to trace me.
Lizzie
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Hi Lizzie.
Thanks for your reply.
That's a good outcome to your story. :-)
I do actually have my birth mother's name and my original name - thankfully, my parents were forward thinking enough to keep a certain amount of information, so there is quite a bit that I do know. It is just that the final piece of the puzzle is taking a while to fall into place and I may yet need to try a tracing agent of some sort. I am currently awaiting information from an acquaintance who traces people for probate purposes (a sort of 'heir-hunter', for want of a better description). He has various resources at his disposal and is going to give me some further advice.
Your daughter may have got her original name from the county courts, as they hold various pieces of information which can be used to tie things together.
Unfortunately, all I got from my local court - the one through which my adoption was completed, was a fairly standard letter saying there are no data other that those I have.
I'll keep digging! :-)
All the best,
Neil.
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Neil
Just send a reply to this - even saying OK will do. Then you will have made 3 posts and I will be able to send you a PM (Private Message) telling you how my daughter and her father found me. It might be helpful for you.
Lizzie
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Hi Lizzie.
Thanks for this.
All help is hugely appreciated.
I'll look forward to the PM
Neil :-)
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Neil
The way I was traced was that my daughter and her adoptive father, used her birth certificate to find my name. From that they looked for a marriage and also my birth, just to check that they had the correct marriage as both give father's names. I suppose if I'd been illegitimate too, that might not have worked.
Having found my married name they then searched for any children I might have had, as you can search for a birth of say Smith, and quote the mother's maiden name, say Brown for all births from 1912 onwards. Having found the very last child, they wrote to the address on the birth certificate in case we were still there. We weren't as we tend to move around with my husband's work. The people in the house were very helpful and said where they thought we'd moved to, but we couldn't be found there either - of course we'd already moved. Eventually, my daughter's adoptive father (Mr M) decided to search through electoral rolls to see if he could find me and my husband but he said there were too many with our names, so he thought he'd look for our children (well our sons anyway) to see if that was easier. Fortunately one of our sons is called Guy, and there were only 4 of that name and our surname in the electoral rolls. Mr M decided to ring each one, but struck lucky first time. He just told our son that he was doing family research and that he thought he had a connection with my family. He gave my son my name and his dad's name, plus the names of his siblings to show he knew what he was talking about. My son gave him my 'phone number but said we were moving soon. However, they looked us up in the 'phone book, we're not x-directory, to find my address. Then my daughter wrote a letter to me, on the lines of that she knew me many years ago in 1960 and would like to get in touch again, so that if anyone else saw it, it wouldn't mean anything to them.
Of course, I'd not told anyone about my first daughter, not even my husband, but I wrote back to her and said I'd have to tell my family. It took me about a year to pluck up courage, but my husband was wonderful and just said "When are we going to see her then". My sons were all happy for me and one of my sons and his wife have met my daughter. However, my daughter with my husband was not happy and doesn't want to know anything about her.
My daughter's adoptive parents said that from the day they picked her up from Doriscourt, they were adamant that one day they would find me, as they felt that the happiness they'd got was outweighed by the sadness I must have felt. I've actually met them more than my daughter, as she doesn't live in the UK, and they are always so grateful that I gave them my daughter - of course I didn't know who she was going to.
Hopefully, you might be able to trace your birth mother using the methods Mr M used. In fact he did most of the searching as he lives in UK and is retired and he had to spend hours in the library looking through electoral rolls, and I guess BMDs as he didn't have a PC at the time.
Good luck - but tread carefully if you do find your birth mother as you might be her secret. Just write her a letter saying that you knew each other in (whatever year you were born) and that you'd like to get in touch with her again. You could even sign the letter with the name she gave you so that she'd know who you were. Be ready for the fact that she may not want to have any contact with you though.
Lizzie
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here is a photo of the sign.It is a block of flats and has been for years.Years ago I used to clean them not knowing that it's where my husband was born.
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I walk past this Landmark today.I used to think it was the building next door but one to it.Seems a mysterious place.My Husband had a difficult relationship with his parents and although his Mother claims she had him there he has over the years he has been wondering if he was adopted or something else went on.As his parents always claimed they wanted a daughter.Maybe it's my husband trying to fathom out his relationship with them.
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If he was adopted, he'd have an adoption certificate rather than a birth certificate.
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I think he has a birth certificate with his parents it was a strained relationship.I think he might be reading into it too much.He thinks he was born there for other reasons but his parents doctor was a local jewish doctor and my mother in law has always been into paying private if she can for medical issues.
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The doctor who sent me there was Jewish, and we lived a good 15+ miles from the place. The doc was a friend of my dad, not our usual GP, and he was a private GP, so my guess is that it was the private GPs who sent patients, married or not, to Doriscourt.
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The Doctor who My Mother-in-law went to was a Dr Shamirate...I don't know how you spell it properly but he had a surgery I think on Stretford Road Old Trafford 10 mins away from the nursing home.When you said about an adoption Birth Certificate what does it look like or say?My husband was born in Sept 1956 there.
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The Block of Flats is called Russell Court where Doriscourt stood.
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lib58 - An adoption certificate looks like a birth certificate, but although it gives date of birth, it gives names of adoptive parents and is (from memory) red rather than green of the birth certificates. It also has a heading saying something about adoption.
It's easy to check if your husband was adopted, go to www.freebmd.org.uk, (as the name suggests it is a free site), put in your husband's name, year of birth - it asks for date range, so just put Sept 1956 to Dec 1956 - as it gives the quarter the birth was registered and someone being born in September, might have been registered in the October-December quarter, and Lancashire for the county. You can also put his mother's maiden name, if your husband knows it. If his birth shows up then he will have been born to his parents. If it doesn't then it's possible he was adopted and given a new name.
If your husband has a passport he will have had to show his birth certificate (or adoption certificate) to get it.
Lizzie
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Thanks for that it does show his mother's maiden name...Doesn't look like he was adopted.
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I guess he just didn't get on with his parents then. Not unusual for people born in the 1940s or 50s I would suggest, unlike today where the children seem to be friends with their parents and don't want to leave home. I couldn't wait to leave home and a friend of mine just moved out and went to live with her gran, only a couple of doors away from her parents, but she never saw her parents. ::)
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I have just picked up a new copy of my Birth certificate and it turns out that I was also born in Doris Court, Whalley Range in 1960. I always had been told that I was born in a nursing home near Stretford from my mother but now I know it's name. I have no details of the history of the building or even if it still exists but I will try to research. I'm hopeful of finding some old archive photo's? My family are all Church of England.
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Hi Michael, welcome to Rootschat :D
If you go to Manchester Local Image Collection
http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass
and enter Doriscourt (all one word) into the Search box, you will get two photos from around 1960, one of which has already been mentioned in an earlier post by lib58 on March 31st.
Double-click on the Image Collection photos to enlarge them
:) Barbara
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Thank you Barbara! I have now downloaded. they were taken the year I was born so it's how the building looked at the time.... Super!
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I was also born at Doris Court and would really appreciate a bit of help. I never got to find my birth mother and guess I never will. I am, however a writer and am researching about my past and the plight of others like me and indeed our birth mothers at around this time. Here is a link to a radio interview to the BBC in Northern Ireland which is where I now live
https://audioboom.com/boos/2351232-big-interview-nickmgarbutt-s-story-of-his-childhood-adoption-bbcnolan
I would be very grateful if any of you could share with me any details you can remember of Mary Walsh, what she was like, how she looked, anything like that plus any details any of you can remember from your time there, how you were treated, what the staff were like what the "skivvie" work involved anything at all would be really helpful
Nick
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Nick - thank you for the nudge on another thread.
I'm sorry I can't help you. I have a vague memory of a large Victorian House, I don't remember anything about Mary Walsh, I can't even picture her build never mind her face. I was only there from Monday to Friday when my baby was born (I was suffering from severe backache) and I slept in a small room with just enough room for a single bed, on the Friday I must have been in labour. I remember walking along a hallway, oddly I don't remember any labour pains apart from backache. My baby was born and I stayed there for 10 days. I don't remember being treated badly as a patient, I can picture the first ward I was in which I think was upstairs (although I seem to remember the labour ward was downstairs) and my parents came to visit, then the next thing I can remember is the day I was going home and my mother came to collect me, (they didn't visit me the rest of the time I was there). I was in a downstairs ward by then and I had to leave my baby behind. Of course in those days babies weren't left with mums all the time, they were just brought to you to feed them and then taken back to the nursery. I know I must have been allowed to go out to the shops because I bought a beautiful dress for my daughter - I now have a photograph of her wearing it when she was a bit older.
My daughter asked me about it when she found me again but I couldn't bring anything to mind to tell her either. I know the date of her birth but I have no idea what time of day it was. I guess I've blanked it all out.
As I wasn't one of the skivvies, my parents having found a nice lady for me to stay with, I don't know how they were treated or what jobs they had to do. I imagine it must have been cleaning the wards, helping out with meals etc. maybe even laundering baby clothes and nappies - in those days mums didn't bring in their own baby clothes until the day they took the baby home and, of course, there weren't any disposable nappies then.
Lizzie
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Lizzie -
Thank you so much for your kindness in responding. It was generous of you to share your thoughts. I'm not surprised that so much of that time is a blank - the whole experience must have been so traumatic. Even telling me that is very helpful as I try to understand the past. I will never be able to trace my birth mother now (the name Mary Brennan is very common in Ireland, the only address she gave was Doris Court itself and the space for my father was left blank, and as you know Mary Walsh did not keep records, I never bothered with the court records as I'm pretty sure they are more about whether mum and dad were suitable people to adopt) It is also obvious she was wanting to keep it all secret, and I respect that, nevertheless I think about her every year on my birthday, and hope she is okay and that all her wounds are healed.
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Nick - the only thing I can say is that when I left Doriscourt when my baby was 10 days old, her new parents collected her the same day. They have said there was no check on them or anything and they were so worried about this that they went straight to the social services (or whatever it was called over 50 years ago) to report the fact they had this new baby for adoption. It seemed that after a few years of marriage they hadn't been able to produce a baby and they were told, possibly by their GP, about Doriscourt. They applied there to have a baby and they had mine.
I did meet one of the girls who'd had to work there prior to giving birth, some months later. (I would liked to have kept in touch but my mother forbid me, in case anyone found out how we'd met!) By coincidence, although she lived some long way from me, her grandparents lived quite near me. What she did say was that she too, and other girls that had been there the same time as her, just left their babies behind at 10 days, so I assume their new parents just picked them up too. It seems that Mary Walsh was running a private adoption scheme, at least as far as my baby was concerned no money changed hands, but whether this was the norm I don't know.
I know I was told not to mention to anyone when I went to sign the adoption papers that I'd just left the baby, I was to say that I'd decided to let some people my parents knew adopt the baby.
I'm sorry you've not been able to find your birth mother. I used to worry that, because of the nature of the adoption, my daughter's parents were either too old, or something else was wrong that had stopped them going through the normal channels, but as it turned out they were absolutely fine - and as often happens they produced their own child just over a year later. The last time I went to see them (the adoptive parents) the mum said if people ask how many children she has she always says 2, then she looked at me and said "You don't mind me saying that do you, because 1 of them is yours really" Of course I told her I didn't mind and that her daughter was no longer mine. They were adamant from the day they picked up my daughter that when she was an adult they would find me, and when they did her father had photographs of the whole of her lifetime ready for me, which is wonderful.
Lizzie
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I am so pleased to hear this Lizzie. I think it is wonderful that things worked out so well in the end right down to being able to see those precious pictures. Further evidence for me of how good people are ...
I'm also as certain as I can be that no money changed hands at Doriscourt. From all my mum and dad told me Mary Walsh was actually a good woman who was helping people escape from the dreadful things that were done to "fallen women" at that time and the reason why there were so many Catholic and Jewish girls there at the time was because of how they might otherwise have been treated ... the launderies, those terrible childrens' homes with the physical and sexual abuse, the forced migrations to Australia and the USA etc. I had a happy home and a happy life and count myself very lucky ... I just wish my birth mother knew that and never felt bad about it .
Nick
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Nick
Thank you for that info. Although I'm neither Catholic nor Jewish, my dad's friend who arranged for me to have the baby there was a Jewish GP, perhaps Mary Walsh was well known within Catholic and Jewish communities.
Lizzie
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I think she was known to both of these religions. She did do a great deal of good work helping many that others would not help.there was a Doctor also involved with Doriscourt called Dr C E B Rickards .
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Strangely, I don't remember seeing any doctors at all. I stayed with a local family but I can't remember having any ante-natal care. Perhaps I just blocked it all out. Then again I don't remember having any ante-natal care in 1962 when I was married and pregnant with another child. All I remember is going to work until I was about 8 months pregnant, then mooching around at home until the baby was born. Within a couple of weeks my husband and I and the baby had moved about 30 miles away from where she was born and I don't remember any post natal care either.
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Does anyone know or can remember how many women were married who gave birth at the home?Also was there some kind of segregation of married mother's and unmarried.Just listened to the Nolan Clip very moving.
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I can't remember how many were married, but it was a larger percentage than the unmarried - at least when I was there, and no there wasn't any segregation, it might have been better if there had been. We were put in the same small wards as the married women, then at visiting time we had no visitor, so they all guessed we were unmarried.
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We have received the following letter as transcribed from a Lady called "A" who wished for me to post this letter on her behalf. The lady kindly included two photographs taken at the time.
Re: DorisCourt Nursing Home, 157 Upper Chorlton Road Whalley Range
I was an married mother 1958-1959. I had had some nursing experience with babies so
I went there early in my pregnancy Nov 1958 to Oct 1959.
I have been wanting to for a long time to correct the false impression that has been given of the treatment of unmarried mother's and the role of Matron Walsh.
Matron was hard working who ran the nursing home, delivering mothers at the drop of a hat,
there is not set time for babies arriving. When necessary she also washed nappies to
describe as being treated skivvies???? I find hard to believe, in the years that I was at Doris court I never saw any skivvies.
Everyone ate the same meals patients, staff and unmarried girls cooked fresh every day by
the cook. The matron cared very deeply about babies that went for adoption and to the very
best of good homes. Met many new parents
At the beginning of 1959 Matron had a heart attack and she stayed at Doris Court and we
looked after her for a few weeks then she was up and about.
During the time I was at Doris Court I made friends with the girls, I was invited to two
weddings.
I trained as a midwife in 1959 parts 1 & 2 and I continued working at Doris Court until 1962-3
Best Wishes
"A"
I have tried my best to contact this lady by email but have not heard back, this could be that I do not have the email address correct maybe due to the handwriting? I do have a postal address so will try to send a letter.
If the lady who sent the letter is reading this post and wishes to contact us again, you can do this by clicking on the red "contact support" button that appears at the bottom of RootsChat front webpage :)
Regards
Sarah
Words in Blue are my best guess of the word
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Two Photographs included taken in 1960
1.The Front of DorisCourt Nursing home Staff member in Car
2. Inside the entrance of Doriscourt 2 staff members
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Very interesting post from another point of view.I find it interesting that records were lost or disposed of.My Mother in Law remembers the matron as a Matron was back in those days.She told me of the procedure after birth regarding breast feeding and having their nipples dabbed with some ointment by the Staff as they stood in line.She also told me of having to giving birth in stirups!and having to lie down in an afternoon and the babies being brought from the nursery for feeding.Maybe the Lady who replied to the posts might furnish everyone with more of what actually went on there.
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I think it is important to say ,it was not unusual for women to give birth with stirrups in those years and subsequent ones in hospitals as well and babies would be brought from nursery to feed this happened till the 1980s/1990s ,don't understand the last comments
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Sorry I also meant to say treating nipples at the time was excellent practice as it helped to prevent cracked nipples
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I was just quoting my mother in laws experience at Doris Court in 1956. I know in certain maternity delivery units stirrups were used and bringing the baby to the mother from the nursery.I've given birth to nine myself bottle fed my first breast fed the other eight.My mother in law used to tell me about her experience as she only had my husband.
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I don't think many mothers gave birth in stirrups in the 1950s and 1960s. I certainly didn't, not at Doriscourt, or later when I had my other "legitimate" children in the 1960s. It is true that in all maternity homes and hospitals, babies were only brought to mothers for feeding and then went back to the nursery, I know today's mothers wouldn't like that, but we did at least get a good rest so that when we went home we were fit and well and able to care for our babies, most of whom had got into a routine of 4 hourly feeding, rather than the feeding on demand that most mothers are used to today.
I trained as a midwife in the 1970s and babies stayed with the mothers then, (so much earlier than the 1980/90s Joan67) although they were taken away to the nursery at night so the mothers could get a good sleep. Some mothers wanted to be woken to feed their babies during the night, others were happy for their babies to be given a bottle during the night. It made absolutely no difference to the babies.
I've already sent a PM to Sarah regarding the letter from "A" with more of my side of the Doriscourt story but I don't want to post it on here.
Sarah - I don't know why I called "A" Anne, I was feeling a bit under the weather the other day (I think I'd had food poisoning after a meal out and was just recovering) and must have just read it as Anne. No wonder you were surprised, you must have thought I knew who had written the letter.
Lizzie
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I never had my babies removed to the nursery.Had my first in 1978 the ninth in 1999.Some Ladies might of had a Stirrup experience for other reasons.My Mother in Law seemed to think it was common practice when I had my first.I walk past where Doris Court was and often it makes me think of its hidden past when I see the number still on the Gate Post.Only last Friday I was looking at it.
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I was asked to look for his Brother by my Nephew, he had been born at Doris Court as had his Brother who had been adopted, I went through all the official channels but the records were lost in a fire and despite paying to have searches done by them who had then found out his adopted surname I couldn't locate him as he didn't reply to any of the letters that were sent out.
His Mum had been a midwife, maybe even at the home, not sure but it was Dec 1962.
She has passed away now and my nephew wonder if they had shared the same Father? Very sad that no records were left, it would be very hard for anyone to trace her without someone having the information that I have and to be able to tell them what she was like she let this adoption a very tight secret for all of her life??
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sorry can someone tell me exactly where this was located as my nephew now lives in USA and I may pop over and take a photo for him
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It's now a block of flats Russell court. I'm 5 mins from it.So I'm going to take a photo tomorrow as I'm out shopping so I walk past it
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It's Upper Chorlton Road.
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Lynda - attached are 2 photos of Doriscourt, not that you can see much of the house.
copyright images removed
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Some photos I took today. Where it was.
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Hi Lib58,
There is a topic at the bottom of this thread for helping post image on RootsChat :)
Regards
Sarah
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I was also born at Doris Court and would really appreciate a bit of help. I never got to find my birth mother and guess I never will. I am, however a writer and am researching about my past and the plight of others like me and indeed our birth mothers at around this time. Here is a link to a radio interview to the BBC in Northern Ireland which is where I now live
https://audioboom.com/boos/2351232-big-interview-nickmgarbutt-s-story-of-his-childhood-adoption-bbcnolan
I would be very grateful if any of you could share with me any details you can remember of Mary Walsh, what she was like, how she looked, anything like that plus any details any of you can remember from your time there, how you were treated, what the staff were like what the "skivvie" work involved anything at all would be really helpful
Nick
My husband was born in Doris Court in 1954. I met Mary Walsh many years later when she was visiting his adoptive mother. She had fair/grey hair then and was a bit plump. I am struggling to remember. I think she had an Irish accent. I don't think I took any photos of her. Unfortunately most of my mother-in-laws photos were taken away by her other adopted son who we never see now.
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I was adopted through Doriscourt in 1958 although Mary Walsh had transferred my mother to hospital for the birth.... I have a handwritten letter from Mary Walsh to my adopted mother giving her a date and time to come and see me... I am new to this site
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I might have mentioned somewhere else on this thread but it's too long to search through, that the couple who adopted my baby, were given the details of Doriscourt by their GP and then basically just asked for a baby. Presumably they were told what they had to do and presumably were advised that a suitable baby was available, as they turned up the day I was leaving Doriscourt to go home, collected my baby and drove away with her.
In 1960 without motorways they had a long journey home - probably only about an hour now with motorways - and they stopped on the side of the road to feed and change my baby. They told me that someone also stopped, saw the baby and congratulated the mother on the birth of such a beautiful baby. The adoptive mum said she felt really guilty because she didn't feel it was her baby and she vowed there and then that she would do all possible to reunite the baby and me when the baby had grown up - and she and her husband kept their word and traced me so that I have been reunited with my daughter.
I have photographs that her father took of her throughout her babyhood, childhood, teenage years and on into adulthood and parenthood, so that although I wasn't with her, I have seen what she was like growing up, becoming an adult and having children of her own. My daughter in law has said I've probably got more of a record of a my daughter's life than I have of my other children, or her parents have of her and her sisters, so in that respect I am lucky.
The adoptive parents said that they felt the way they had got a baby wasn't right and the following day they went straight to social services to get things sorted out properly. Thankfully, they were loving parents to my daughter - the one thing that most mums who give up a baby for adoption worry about - and she had a lovely childhood. As often happens, her parents who had given up on having a baby of their own, produced their own son a year or so after they took my daughter, but the two get on very well.
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I was also born at Doriscourt in 1959. My birth mother was a 38 year old divorcee who found herself pregnant while working and looking after 12 year old twins. It would have been impossible for her to support another child so she probably did the best thing for me in her view. I bear her no ill will for her decision.
I traced my birth family unfortunately after my birth mother had died, so I have enough information to realise that I had a more comfortable home than my half-siblings did. However, the unconventional way that adoptions from the home were handled meant that I was adopted by a couple who would never have been allowed to adopt through the normal channels, so I had a very difficult upbringing, always being known as 'the adopted daughter' and never really feeling I belonged. My adoptive mother was a personal friend of one of the doctors attached to Doriscourt and had apparently visited and rejected a number of babies before they finally 'bought' me (she was very proud of the fact that they had paid for me!). She told me herself that she rejected one little boy on the grounds that he had ginger hair!
When I went through the process of tracing my birth family in the 1980s, I was counselled and advised by Manchester Social Services, who had some sketchy information about the circumstances of my birth and provided my original birth certificate, and I would advise anyone who is looking to trace their birth family to go down the same route as their advice, support and signposting was invaluable.
I too would be interested to see any photographs from around the late 50's, as I try to piece together my history.
Thanks in advance...
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However, the unconventional way that adoptions from the home were handled meant that I was adopted by a couple who would never have been allowed to adopt through the normal channels
That is what worried me the most, that the adoptive parents of my daughter must have been unsuitable to go through the normal adoption procedure, especially when I was told by the matron at Doriscourt to just tell social services - when I went to sign the adoption papers - that the couple adopting were friends of the family.
Fortunately, for me and more importantly my daughter, the adoptive parents were wonderful to her and the only reason they chose the Doriscourt route was to save time. At the time her adoptive father was 35 and social services were beginning to say he and his wife were too old to adopt.
I've met my daughter's adoptive parents and get on really well with them, they sent me loads of photos of her growing up and I've visited them quite a few times - in fact I've seen them more often than my adopted daughter as she lives in another country.
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Hi iam new to this site have vvisited it many times but now feel inspired to join.I was born in doriscourt In1960 my mum was unmarried and 19. Mary Walsh organisedmy adoption through tthe Catholic Church. I had a very happy childhood and managed to trace my mum although she died before we met.i am planning to travel to Manchester this week to the site of doriscourt I know it is no longer there but feel the need to go and thanks for the photos whoever posted them.im happy to correspond with anyone in the same boat :)
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Hi iam new to this site have vvisited it many times but now feel inspired to join.I was born in doriscourt In1960 my mum was unmarried and 19. Mary Walsh organisedmy adoption through tthe Catholic Church. I had a very happy childhood and managed to trace my mum although she died before we met.i am planning to travel to Manchester this week to the site of doriscourt I know it is no longer there but feel the need to go and thanks for the photos whoever posted them.im happy to correspond with anyone in the same boat :)
Did you manage to see where Doris Court was?I live 5 mins from the place. My husband was born there in September 1956.It's now called Russell Court.Whenever I walk past with my husband I always say the secrets untold.Unfortunately my husband no longer speaks to his mother so I can only remember what she said in the past.
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Hi lib58 yes I did find what was Doris court the garden Wall still appears to be the same we walked into the garden and round the back felt very emotional, took some photos and thought about my birth mum.a place of many different stories I guess....glad I went
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My husband was born at Doris Court in 1954. We have just found out that he had a brother born there in June 1960 named Paul Yates who was also adopted. If anyone knows him please reply. Thanks.
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I have been going through old photographs of an event which Mary Walsh attended. My husband is not very sure but thinks this may be a photo of her. Can any mothers please check and either confirm or reject. Thanks.
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Hi I am new to this sight and was wondering if anyone has heard of a Julie Anne Whitaker born 1960 in January.
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I have been going through old photographs of an event which Mary Walsh attended. My husband is not very sure but thinks this may be a photo of her. Can any mothers please check and either confirm or reject. Thanks.
Okay this is not Mary Walsh but I will shortly post some that are.
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I have found some old photo albums which belonged to my Mother-in-Law. She adopted my husband in 1954. The photos were said to be of 'Mary' and 'Owen' in Dublin in 1951. I got my husband to look at the photos, without telling him the name and he immediately identified Mary Walsh. (He met her lots of times in his childhood). The child I presume is Owen. We don't know who he is. The other two adults are my husband's adoptive parents. More photos to follow
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Mary Walsh
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Mary Walsh behind
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Mary Walsh
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Those photos look like a younger version of your original photo of Mary Walsh.
I'm a bit confused as to who the man is with Mary Walsh is that your father in law? I think the man, Mary Walsh and the child all have a likeness. Could the man and Mary be brother and sister and perhaps Owen a child of Mary's or a nephew. He seems very comfortable with all the adults, as if he's very close to them.
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LizzieW Yes the man is my Father-in-Law and I don't think he was related to Mary at all. The only link with Mary Walsh is that my Mother-in-Law used to work for Mary and then adopted one of the babies - my husband. Unfortunately my Father-in-Law died when my husband was 7. We have no idea who Owen is.
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My mum had a boy at Doris Court but has no birth cert or adoption cert for him. Anyone any idea how I could find out anything about him? He was born in 1961 and her name was Norma Ridgeway.
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Was Ridgeway your mum's maiden name? If so, there is no birth registered for a baby born to a mother called Ridgeway between 1955 and 1965 in the correct area, unless she registered the baby with a different surname. I had a baby at Doriscourt whilst unmarried and the birth is clearly shown on FreeBMD, so I know if the baby was born at Doriscourt it would have been registered there, as the registrar came to the nursing home to register all babies (not just the ones of unmarried mums).
In any case, even if you get the birth certificate it will only show that the baby was adopted and there is nothing you can do, apart from your mum registering her interest with the Adoption Contact Register www.gov.uk/adoption-records/the-adoption-contact-register and hope that the child has also registered. Mums cannot find adopted children, only the adopted children can find their mums.
Unless, of course, you try a programme like Long Lost Family and see if they can help.
ps. I haven't got my daughter's birth certificate, but I could get it if I wanted to as I can see the reference on FreeBMD. I know my daughter got her birth certificate so she could trace me, which she did about 12 years ago.
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Hi Lizzie. Thank you for answering my question. Where did you look to check the surname? She could have also registered under Whalley (her married name - but baby wasn’t his.) Or Singleton. Who I suspect the baby was fathered by?
Xxx
Was Ridgeway your mum's maiden name? If so, there is no birth registered for a baby born to a mother called Ridgeway between 1955 and 1965 in the correct area, unless she registered the baby with a different surname. I had a baby at Doriscourt whilst unmarried and the birth is clearly shown on FreeBMD, so I know if the baby was born at Doriscourt it would have been registered there, as the registrar came to the nursing home to register all babies (not just the ones of unmarried mums).
In any case, even if you get the birth certificate it will only show that the baby was adopted and there is nothing you can do, apart from your mum registering her interest with the Adoption Contact Register www.gov.uk/adoption-records/the-adoption-contact-register and hope that the child has also registered. Mums cannot find adopted children, only the adopted children can find their mums.
Unless, of course, you try a programme like Long Lost Family and see if they can help.
ps. I haven't got my daughter's birth certificate, but I could get it if I wanted to as I can see the reference on FreeBMD. I know my daughter got her birth certificate so she could trace me, which she did about 12 years ago.
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I looked on FreeBMD, which as the name implies is free to search - www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl Just click on births, put in the name Whalley, mother's surname Ridgeway and under District click on Manchester (from 1939), leave Counties as All Counties.
There is a Robert Whalley, mother's surname Ridgway registered Apr-Jun quarter 1961, reference Manchester, vol 10e page 127. If you want to buy the certificate you need to go to
www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/default.asp and follow the instructions. If you are not registered with GRO you will need to register, free to register, certificate will cost you £9.25.
Of course, you don't need all that information to find a birth, marriage or death, just put in what you know, which is usually just a name and dates. If that is not the right child, just do a search with every combination of names you've given me.
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Oh my word Lizzie. Thank you. The name Singleton that I gave you is my dad (who I’m pretty sure is baby’s dad) Was called Robert!
I’ll do some more investigating
Many thanks Erika xxx
I looked on FreeBMD, which as the name implies is free to search - www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl Just click on births, put in the name Whalley, mother's surname Ridgeway and under District click on Manchester (from 1939), leave Counties as All Counties.
There is a Robert Whalley, mother's surname Ridgway registered Apr-Jun quarter 1961, reference Manchester, vol 10e page 127. If you want to buy the certificate you need to go to
www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/default.asp and follow the instructions. If you are not registered with GRO you will need to register, free to register, certificate will cost you £9.25.
Of course, you don't need all that information to find a birth, marriage or death, just put in what you know, which is usually just a name and dates. If that is not the right child, just do a search with every combination of names you've given me.
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Hello All
I'm one of twin boys that were adopted from DorisCourt in August/September 1958.
Does anyone remember anything about twin boys or DorisCourt generally at this time?
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I was very interested to read the accounts and info on this thread. I was born at Doriscourt Nursing Home, Whalley Range in April 1961. My birth mother was pregnant as the result of an extra marital affair. Her husband was prepared to forgive her and the keep the family together (they already had a daughter) on condition that she gave the baby up for adoption. They went to Marriage Guidance and were referred to the Manchester and District Child Adoption Society in November 1960. I don’t know how long my birth mother was confined at Doriscourt but at 9 days of age I went to stay with a lady in Bramhall, for payment, foster mother? I was there for three weeks when I was transferred to my adoptive parents. They had already adopted three babies through the Adoption Society and had expressed a desire for a fourth (girl) baby so had been waiting for a suitable candidate! It appears from my records that it was all quite well organised through the appropriate channels. I contacted my birth mother through a post-adoption agency 15 or so years ago but sadly she didn’t want to know. She was still with her husband so probably not the easiest situation. Any comments welcome!
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I looked on FreeBMD, which as the name implies is free to search - www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl Just click on births, put in the name Whalley, mother's surname Ridgeway and under District click on Manchester (from 1939), leave Counties as All Counties.
There is a Robert Whalley, mother's surname Ridgway registered Apr-Jun quarter 1961, reference Manchester, vol 10e page 127. If you want to buy the certificate you need to go to
www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/default.asp and follow the instructions. If you are not registered with GRO you will need to register, free to register, certificate will cost you £9.25.
Of course, you don't need all that information to find a birth, marriage or death, just put in what you know, which is usually just a name and dates. If that is not the right child, just do a search with every combination of names you've given me.
LizzieW how do i find some info using freembd.? I cant seem to work this site very well. Not sure if its because im using my phone and not a laptop xx
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Hi Simark, I was also born at Doriscourt, a few years after you. I'm afraid I can't answer your question. As far as I know I was a single birth. However, I've always had a deep rooted feeling I was a twin and grew up constantly asking my mum if I was a twin. May I ask, were you both adopted separately or together? Did Mary Walsh inform your parents you were a twin? I understand if you prefer not to answer these questions. Wishing you all the best with your search for information. Many thanks.
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Hi,
I'm new to the site so only just seen the posts about Doris Court Nursing Home and Mary Walsh. Mary was my mother in law. My husband Owen was born in the 1940's At Crumpsall Hospital and was adopted by Mary soon after his birth. We have his original birth certificate with his birth mothers details but no other information about his adoption. He remembers growing up at Doris Court until being sent to school in Ireland. Mary passed away in Manchester in February 1994 aged 86.
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Hi Golborne20, My birth mother remembered your husband. They were a similar age at the time she was at Doris Court and he very kindly helped her once. Is he the little boy pictured with Mary Walsh in the photographs listed earlier on in the chat? Kind regards
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Hi Hettie99. Owen is indeed the little boy in the photograph with Mary Walsh his mother. He doesn't know who the gentleman is but he is not related. Regards
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was born there - then was moved to nazareth house in birkenhead on the wirral, it was run by nuns and a canon mchugh - then was adopted from there .
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Hello All
I'm one of twin boys that were adopted from DorisCourt in August/September 1958.
Does anyone remember anything about twin boys or DorisCourt generally at this time?
Hello Simark,
I have just registered on this site and hope this reply reaches you.
Although I cannot offer any information about your adoption, I myself was adopted from DorisCourt in December 1958. I can remember my adoptive parents telling me, that they were first offered twin boys but that family members had decided to take them. I have often thought about these twins and I am guessing, that maybe you are one of them. I do hope you had a happy adoption.
All best wishes
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Hi
I have not written for quite a while
I was adopted in 1957 and a few years ago I found my birth mother.. long story
Anyway she couldn’t really tell me anything I didn’t already know either because she had forgotten or simply didn’t want to tell me
To cut the story short, my wonderful mum ( not BM) told me my adoption was private also funnily enough by a nameless Dr
No money changed hands
The BM very unhelpful
Apparently she mysteriously knew my adopted name as it’s on the birth certificate she registered ( no fathers name) the BM was going to call me something else
She is Jewish as we’re my most loved parents
I spent a long time trying to find more details of Doris Court but no records
She told me (BM) that she was put to work and that Doris Court was a private home and she has no clue who paid
My mum told me that I was supposed to be going to another family but just before I was born the lady was diagnosed with something nasty so they literally got a phone call when I was 2 days old to come quickly if they wanted a baby
Apparently an anti semitic comment was made by whoever took them to see me
BM refuses to name my biological father
The relationship with her lasted a couple of years but we were strangers so I decided to pull away
Luckily I had the most idyllic childhood
Just wish I knew my health records and more about who really did arrange my adoption
Here to support anyone in any way
Lots more happened but I don’t want to write too much
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I would take a DNA Test if I was looking for answers.
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Does anyone know the name of the Doctor that helped organise the private adoptions
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Does anyone know the name of the Doctor that helped organise the private adoptions
http://chaimsimons.net/B.html
This refers to an adoption that refers to a Dr F who performed a circumcision on a Baby boy at the home.
There was a Dr Samuel Fine whose surgery was on Seymour Grove Old Trafford this was not far from the home
He was from Ireland and Jewish.Another Jewish Doctor was in Hulme Chester rd who must of had a connection to this home as he was the Family Doctor of my Husband's family my husband was born at Doris Court in 1956.
He was my family doctor until he retired in the early 80's
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Just re-read all the posts on here. Happy to say I'm still in touch with the daughter I had who was adopted. We see each other occasionally, she now lives partly abroad and partly in the UK to be near her aged mother, but we keep in touch frequently via WhatsApp etc. Sadly her adopted father died a few years ago and when my husband and I went to his funeral, I was introduced to her brother, sister in law and loads of friends who all knew about me. I felt as though I had a second family.
Lizzie
ps. Ironically, as Doriscourt seemed to have links to Jewish and Catholic GPs,although I didn't know it at the time, my g.grandfather turns out to have had a Jewish mother!