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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Devon => Topic started by: littlefacey on Monday 15 February 16 19:50 GMT (UK)

Title: Mother and Baby home? Exeter.
Post by: littlefacey on Monday 15 February 16 19:50 GMT (UK)
Hello! :)

I was wondering if anyone knew if there was a mother and baby's home in exeter during the 1930's? as i an illegitimate child being born in Exeter, Devon 1936 but the family were from Dartmouth. She later married in Dartmouth and spent the rest of her life here until her death.

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks
Title: Re: Mother and Baby home? Exeter.
Post by: lizdb on Monday 15 February 16 20:09 GMT (UK)
The birth cert should give an address where the child was born.


Even if we did find there was a Mother and baby home in Exeter at that time, it wouldn't confirm this baby was born there. The mother may have been working away from home, but returned once she had had the baby. or she may have been sent away to relatives in Exeter to have the baby. All sorts of possible scenarios.
Title: Re: Mother and Baby home? Exeter.
Post by: Jebber on Monday 15 February 16 20:37 GMT (UK)
As lizdb said, the address where the  child was born will be on the birth certificate, as will the address (if different) where the mother was living at the time. You can then look and see if either addresses show up here.

http://www.childrenshomes.org.uk/list/Devon.shtml

Jebber
Title: Re: Mother and Baby home? Exeter.
Post by: Steve Davidson on Saturday 20 February 16 18:36 GMT (UK)
I have a family member who was born in the mother and baby home in Bartholomew Street in Exeter in 1940. His mother was taken to ?17 Bartholomew Street to have her baby before returning to the home, I have been told that there was another mother and baby home in Alphington Street in Exeter, I can't confirm this as being true.

exetermemories.co.uk you will find details of Bartholomew Street

Hope this helps
Title: Re: Mother and Baby home? Exeter.
Post by: Steve Davidson on Sunday 21 February 16 13:34 GMT (UK)
St Olave's Home was at 32 and 33 Bartholomew St East, and was a Diocesan Maternity Home, under the auspices of the Friendless Girls' Association. In 1941 the lady superintendent was Miss H. Hedges. It was located next to St Wilfred's Convent and St Wilfred's school,at the corner of The Mint. All were run by the nuns of St Wilfred's. The Exeter Association for the care of Friendless Girls had a refuge at St Mary's Home, 25 Mary Arches Street (just a few yards away), also connected with St Wilfred's Convent and School. I know of no St Nicholas' Church, and no church of that name is mentioned in Cresswell's 'Exeter Churches'. It is more likely that you were chistened in St Olave's, located between the other end of The Mint and Mary Arches Street.

This information was taken from Exeter Memories
Title: Re: Mother and Baby home? Exeter.
Post by: Lizzyb53 on Thursday 03 November 16 19:04 GMT (UK)
Hi, I can confirm that there was a Mother and Baby home in St Bartholomew Street , Exeter in 1969. I have no idea how long it had been there, but it was a pretty grim place! I know, as I had my baby there in 1969. I spent a month there before my baby was born, and was supposed to be there for a month after, but had my baby fostered until my grandmother took me in and I got my baby back.
Title: Re: Mother and Baby home? Exeter.
Post by: Suzanne Gill on Saturday 15 April 17 00:28 BST (UK)
Hi there was definitely a mother and baby home at st Nicholas house, alphington road, Exeter in the 1960's. I was there in the late 1963 .
Title: Re: Mother and Baby home? Exeter.
Post by: Rachael6319 on Sunday 21 January 18 20:57 GMT (UK)
I am trying to find my birth mother, as I was adopted, and on my birth certificate it shows I was born in Bartholomew street east in 1963.
Title: Re: Mother and Baby home? Exeter.
Post by: Lizzyb53 on Sunday 21 January 18 22:28 GMT (UK)
Hi
Yes, that's the mother and baby home I was in, but it was 1969 when I was there. It looked out on a cemetary, and was pretty grim.
Title: Re: Mother and Baby home? Exeter.
Post by: wendy_kelley on Wednesday 20 June 18 19:45 BST (UK)
While searching 32 Bartholomew St. East I discovered it was a home for unwed mothers.

My mother was born there in 1925. Her birth certificate actually says she was born at Rimpton House on Rimpton Road. But her registration a month later shows that her mother lived at 32 Bartholomew Street and was a domestic cook.

My grandmother was 23 years old when she had my mother. They then went to live with my grandmother’s sister for a time. My grandmother studied to be a nurse and married a few years later and raised my mother herself with her husband.

Just wanted to share my story, and to watch the thread for any new info.
Title: Re: Mother and Baby home? Exeter.
Post by: BevC on Wednesday 18 July 18 21:46 BST (UK)
My first post!
I was born in St Nicholas House, 20 Alphington Road, Exeter. My darling Mum was sent there in 1960 to have me and after my delivery had to fight to keep me. Luckily her mother, my gran, provided a roof over our heads. My full birth certificate shows my birth place as I've mentioned above. I can see from a general google search leading to (http://www.childrenshomes.org.uk/list/MB2.shtml) that St Nicholas House was a mother and babies home, but was it run by the council or by the church? I can also see that a convent was nearby. I would like to see what records, if any, are held on my Mum's confinement.
Title: Re: Mother and Baby home? Exeter.
Post by: sleepybarb on Sunday 22 July 18 17:40 BST (UK)
Not sure if it is ,but there’s a St. Nicholas Hotel in Alphington Road. I wonder if it’s the same building.
Barb
Title: Re: Mother and Baby home? Exeter.
Post by: sleepybarb on Sunday 22 July 18 17:47 BST (UK)
Hi Bev, have just checked trip advisor,yes it’s that building.
Barb
Title: Re: Mother and Baby home? Exeter.
Post by: curly girl on Thursday 21 January 21 12:55 GMT (UK)
Hi there was definitely a mother and baby home at st Nicholas house, alphington road, Exeter in the 1960's. I was there in the late 1963 .
Title: Re: Mother and Baby home? Exeter.
Post by: Brickboy on Tuesday 09 August 22 19:48 BST (UK)
My cousin had a baby in the Mother and Baby home, St Nicholas House, Alphington Road, Exeter, in late 1960s, possibly about 1968\9. I think she named him Anthony or Tony. Would like to find him. Anyone on this site think they may be that baby?