Isolation Hospital - Clacton-on-Sea

[Lyn54]

Hello - I wonder if anyone can throw any ideas on this:

My great-grandmother, who was living in Oswestry, Shropshire in 1901 gave birth to an illegitimate child in the same year in Judd Street, St Pancras.  The baby later died aged 18 months at the Isolation Hospital in Clacton-on-Sea (which had only newly opened in 1901).  The baby died from diphtheria and it was noted on her death cert that the mother (my GGM) was living in Birmingham supposedly as a ladies' companion. 

Surely there would have been isolation hospitals closer to Birmingham?  Do you think this could have been a case of baby farming practice?

My GGM, although never marrying, went on to have 5 other children but managed to keep them all with her.

The Isolation hospital doesn't seem to exist anymore but would anyone know if it is part of a larger hospital now and would there be any records available after all this time?  A big ask I know!!

Thanks for your time.

Lyn

[Dyingout]

Was the death in the summer?
Maybe her companion and herself were on holiday in Clacton-on-sea

[Lyn54]

Thanks for your reply.  The death was at the beginning of April but an interesting thought that she may have been on holiday. 

[Dyingout]

Also remember that sea air was seen as a panacea for many breathing disorders, so could have been on medical advice.

[Lyn54]

Yes, that's true - thank you.

[olleym]

http://www.childrenshomes.org.uk/ClactonGroom/

This may be of interest

[Lyn54]

Many thanks for that olleym - interested that there were connections with London (where the child was born) and Clacton-on-Sea.  The Isolation Hospital where she died was in Rush Green - I don't know how that fits with the orphanages mentioned.

[Lyn54]

olleym - Just looked at the child's birth cert and she was born in Judd Street, St Pancras - less than a mile away from Clerkenwell!