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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Peeblesshire => Topic started by: osprey28 on Sunday 27 July 14 10:24 BST (UK)
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One of my lot - a four year old boy, died of diphtheria in 1926. His death certificate gives the place of death as 'Fever Hospital Peebles'. His home address was at Eshiels just around a mile east of Peebles.
What was commonly known as the 'Fever Hospital' was at the Peel some 12 miles east of Peebles - but that was not until 1939. Originally built to treat injured servicemen and then as a nurses training school and hospital etc.
Could the fever hospital in Peebles in 1926 been what is now Hay Lodge Hospital near to Haylodge Park in Peebles? Any suggestions gratefully received.
This wee boy (George)would have been an older brother of my father (not born until 1929) - my aim is to trace where George is buried and to visit him there and lay a tribute for him. The family moved away from the area the year after George died and I'm fairly sure that no one has visited his grave since.
Thanks
Osprey
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After a bit more searching it seems that Hay Lodge Hospital didn't open until 1983 - so I can discount that.
Some or the bigger houses on the east side of Tweed Green in Peebles were converted to hospitals for WW1 casualties. After the war the part at Morelands House at Tweed Green was gifted to Peebles as a small community hospital.
Maybe this is where the fever hospital was - does anyone have any info related to that?
Thanks lots
Osprey
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Hi,
We believe the fever hospital was the hospital which used to be opposite Kingsland School (not the new Kingsland School on Neidpath Road). Here is a link to its location on the National Library of Scotland's 1949 OS map, still showing the location as a hospital at that time and across the road you can see the old poor house and the school.
http://maps.nls.uk/view/75652508#zoom=6&lat=3510&lon=5731&layers=BT
Here is the link to the location on the modern Google map: https://goo.gl/maps/EkvWd
My husband thinks he has seen an old photo, Keepasakes antiques in Innerleithen (just a few miles away form Peebles) have loads of local photos and a lot of local knowledge, they may have a photo or know where one is: http://www.keepsakesantiques.co.uk/
Emma
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there were 2 hospitals in peebles before haylodge opened.
the war memorial on tweed green & the county hospital on rosetta road. the county hospital was known by the locals as the fever hospital
regards
margaret
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I should have said that the county hospital was demolished & has been replaced with private housing. the war memorial is now a nursing home.
margaret
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Hi Emma & Margaret
Many thanks for your prompt and informative replies - both are extremely helpful and have solved the location issue. I know the area well and know exactly where the hospital was now thanks to your help.
Thanks too for the tip about the antique shop in Innerleithen - I pass through there every day on my way to work in Edinburgh - unfortunately not at a time when the shop is open - but I will make the effort at a weekend.
I don't know if you have seen this book before - http://www.historyofpeebles.com/Page245.html
The pages linked to provide details of the doctors in the town in early1900s -one of them - Dr Wilson signed my relatives death cert. I have submitted an enquiry form to Borders Council to check if they have a burial record for wee George.
Thanks again for your help - much appreciated
Osprey
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Just a wee update. A wonderful lady called Angie at Borders Council emailed me today telling that wee George is buried at Peebles Cemetery in lair 1571 - not only that - but she also sent me a site plan and an arial shot of the site and marked the lair location on it. What a wonderful service and so helpful too - I can't thank her enough.
I'll now make time (hopefully soon) to go and find it to lay some flowers for the wee soul. It will be terrific if there is a headstone - but I wouldn't hold out too much hope for that.
Many thanks to Margaret and Emma for the suggestions and assistance.
Regards
Osprey
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Osprey, I had hoped you would be able to get something on this...so glad you did with people's help :)
Monica
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Monica
As usual Rootschatters help out - makes this forum stand out doesn't it.
Regards
Osprey
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Managed to go there today and found the grave - sadly no headstone for wee George - but I will arrange for a small memorial to put there to mark his memory.
RIP George.
Osprey
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Fever Hospital in the early 1970s
(http://s10.postimg.org/8jw9ofgq1/734106_4238458448356_1757758649_n.jpg)
Opposite (where the police station now is) was the poor house
(http://s8.postimg.org/vl8l0z185/395077_10151158323404633_568606115_n.jpg)
(both photos came from peebles auld bletherers page).
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Brilliant - thanks very much for posting these two photos - I really appreciate it. It all helps to add to the story of George's short life.
Regards
Osprey
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The fever hospital became the County Hospital on Rosetta Road opposite the County Buildings
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Thanks Andrew - I think it has now been redeveloped - but I know exactly where it is now.
Thanks again
Osprey
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Placed a small memorial vase there for George this week - at least now there is something to mark his short life. RIP George.
Osprey
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Photo Here
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:) You have my hero feather today. I want to cry seeing that photo...in a good happy way. Amazing of you to have done this for George :-*
Big hugs, Osprey.
Monica
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Thanks Monica
The credit is not exclusively mine - I have a fantastic cousin (our fathers were brothers of George)he is into genealogy too and we share our research - we split the cost of the memorial and laid it together. We must have looked a suspicious pair on Saturday wandering into the graveyard during a heavy rain shower whilst carrying a spade.
I remember wandering around there for hours looking in vain for the grave around 15 years ago - thank goodness that the council have digitised the records now. You can't search them personally but there is an on line contact form and they will search for you. We all know that occasionally going over your old research can pay dividends - it did for me this time.
I have attached a photo - George is the youngest boy with 2 of his older brothers - I date this in the summer 1925 - he died of Diphtheria in January the following year. His two younger siblings aged 2 (my cousin's father) and a baby all had it at the same time - they survived. At the time the photo was taken my Grandmother's spinster sister was visiting them - she had a bronchitis attack and died in their house - she was only 45. It must have been a tough time for my grandparents then.
Osprey
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Thanks for adding the photo. Always help to make things more personal, rather than the written word of dates, places and names.
How lucky you have your cousin to research with :)
Monica
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Hi Osprey28
I worked at the County Hospital in Peebles in the 80's and helped move to Hay Lodge Hospital.
One of the things I insisted we take were the old ledgers of admissions, discharges and deaths, when it operated as a fever hospital.
They were in my office (Ward Sister) on ward 1 until 1992 but have no idea what happened to them since.
I was absolutely fascinated by these huge leather bound, hand written records at the time and remember two of them. It may be worth a call to the hospital to see if they are still there.
Good luck and best wishes,
Kate Farrow (formerly Dowds)
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Hi Kate
Thanks for that - it would be an interesting treasure - I'll see what I can find. I suppose that maybe the problem will be getting them to release information. Wee George obviously did not have any descendants and his siblings are all dead now. I suppose I might be the closest thing to a next of kin - so I'll go down that route.
They sound a bit like a book of doom - but hopefully they are still in storage somewhere.
Thanks lots
Osprey