Walkers remember unique birthplace at Gilsland
Walkers will take a step back into their wartime babyhood this weekend.
During the Second World War Newcastle Corporation took over the Gilsland Spa Hotel in the village of Gilsland on the Cumbria-Northumberland border.
Charity walker Maureen Hart, from Haltwhistle, who was among those born at the Gilsland Spa Hotel
The aim was to provide a refuge for Tyneside mothers to give birth, safe from air raids.
More than 4,500 babies were born at the hotel.
Now 15 of the wartime babies will link up on Sunday for a walk which starts and finishes - with tea - at the hotel, which is 700ft above sea level.
The 4.5-mile outing is part of the Haltwhistle Walking Festival and has been organised by Maureen Hart, who was born at the hotel on April 27, 1944.
Her mother Sybil lived in Heaton in Newcastle and was 40 when she travelled to Gilsland by train and walked uphill to the hotel. "My mother told me she stayed at the hotel for about six weeks," said Maureen, who now lives in Haltwhistle.
"She said she loved it there and could look out of the window and see all the primroses.
"The hotel is special for me and it would be lovely to know what room I was born in."
The walkers will visit the nearby St Mary Magdalene church where many of the babies were baptised.
The walk will be led by Ashley Robson, who was also born at the hotel in 1943.
The family home was at Fenham in Newcastle and now Ashley lives in Denton in the city.
He said: "Around 25% of all Tyneside births during the war took place at the hotel, which is amazing.
"As well as being a safer place for mothers and babies I think they also wanted to free up hospital beds in Newcastle because of the expected casualties from air raids on targets like the big Vickers factory.
"Being born at the hotel is something that we all have in common."
From the turn of the last century, the hotel was used as a convalescent home for Co-operative Society members in the North of England but it also welcomed paying visitors as well as the patients.
Today, the Co-op Group owns 95% of the shares in the 93-bedroom hotel, with the rest spread among Co-op societies such as Seaton Valley and Penrith.
General manager Les Thompson said:" The whole building was taken over during the war and at that time it had around 140 rooms and would have been quite Victorian.
"We have quite a few people who call in and say they were born at the hotel."
People can join the walk at 1.30pm at the hotel. There is a ã10 charge which includes tea.
HISTORY MAKERS
Newcastle's maternity officer at the outbreak of war was Linton Snaith and he and his wife Kay moved to Gilsland to supervise the operation.
Equipment was short and wicker baskets were used as cradles for newborn babies.
Deliveries at Gilsland were: 1940, 500; 1941 600; 1942 903; 1943 957; 1944 934; 1945 623. During the war years a certificate of pregnancy entitled the mother to one pint of milk daily, cod liver oil and orange juice, extra meat and cheese on her ration card and extra clothing coupons.
FAMOUS PATIENT
The last woman to be hanged in Britain, Ruth Ellis, gave birth to a son at Gilsland in 1945.
She was executed in 1955 for shooting her boyfriend.
Her "crime passionel" was the basis 30 years later for the film "Dance with a Stranger".
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I was born in the above maternity home in August 1945.
I was born at the maternity home in May 1943 after my mother was evacuated from Newcastle. Apparently my mother didn't know what name to give me so several names were written out and put into a nurse's hat: out came 'Maureen' and I was duly registered just before a message came from my gran not to choose an Irish name! Later I became one of four girls with that same name at school!
I spent the first 18 years of my life living at Newcastle, then went to teacher-training college for three years in Yorkshire. I returned to live with my parents at Newcastle, teaching for Northumberland County Council until I moved south in 1967.
My aim is to return to my birthplace to see what it's like now.
I was born at Gilsland Spa in August 1944 my mother travelled from Dartford in Kent.
My wife was also born there in March 1945 her mother travelled from Bexley in Kent.
We were not aware of this until we were courting in the early 60s.
We have been back a few times in the past and stayed at the hotel which we both enjoyed.
On a visit to a local craft fair I bought a old print dated 1832 showing the gilsland spa
which has promted me to send this e mail.
We have been married for 45years and will be visiting our birth place in the near future.
Showing our family and friends the area of Gilsland they all agree how luckly we were being born in a beutiful part of the country
Colin and Hazel Vincent
My name is Thelma Hey nee Hart and my mother Audrey Hart who lived in Cartington Terrace Heaton gave birth to me at Gilsland May 27th 1944. My mother was 46 years old at the time of my birth and having high blood pressure she was at the home for 1month before my arrival and two months or so after as she was quite ill. Mr Snaith delivered me by Caesarian section and my mother always stated that he was a lovely man and he saved her life! I have visited the home on my visits to the North and always feel very touched to have been born in such a lovely area.
During the war my Father was employed by Vickers Armstrong as an engineer and built submarines. Being a secret operation, my mother often did not know his where abouts and spent long weeks wondering where he was or when she would see him again. Travelling from Ncle to Gilsland was no mean journey so he would stay often in a B&B in the village. I remember him telling me that the lady was prosecuted for black marketeering!!