Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1890-1971 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
5 linear metres
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Plaistow Maternity Hospital was founded in 1889 by Miss Katherine Twining (who became its first Matron), as St Mary's District Nurses' Home, Plaistow. The aim of the Home was to provide midwifery and nursing support for the inhabitants of South West Ham in their own homes. In 1894 the charity purchased 17 and 19 Howard's Road, which formed the basis of the District Nurses' Home. In the same year a Midwifery Training School and District Nursing Training School was opened. One of the stated aims of the Charity was to specifically instruct women for nursing work in villages and cottages.
In 1895 a Committee of Management was formed, and further land was purchased in Howard's Road which allowed the premises to be extended in 1898. In 1901 branch homes were established at the Docks, Stratford and East Ham, and in 1904 a further branch home opened at Barking. The acquisition of 24 and 26 Howard's Road in 1904 allowed for 12 in-patient beds, which increased to 20 in 1911 with the acquisition of no 28. Chesterton House was purchased in 1915 as a centre for ante natal, post natal and infant welfare activities. The in-patient accommodation was replaced by a new building at Chesterton Road, Plaistow with 36 maternity and 4 general beds, opened by Queen Mary in 1923. The name of the charity was changed in 1926 to Plaistow Maternity Hospital.
In 1938 the Central Midwives Board divided the midwifery examinations into two parts, and Plaistow Maternity Hospital was one of only a few hospitals to be recognised for parts I and II. The District Nursing Branch at East Ham was transferred to East Ham District Nursing Association in 1940. During the Second World War, the In-patient Department was evacuated to Suntrap, High Beech, Loughton, Essex. During the same period the Ministry of Health Emergency Maternity Hospital at East Haddon Hall, Northampton was staffed by Plaistow Maternity Hospital. The Hospital building and its branch homes were damaged by bombing during World War II.
The Hospital became part of the National Health service in 1948, at which time the District Home at Barking transferred to the control of Essex County Council. In 1976 the City and East London Area Health Authority (Teaching), following responses to its consultative document `Towards a changed pattern of health care', agreed to close Plaistow Maternity Hospital. Its services were transferred to Forest Gate Hospital, pending the building of a new nucleus hospital for Newham. Newham General Hospital phase 2, which included maternity provision, opened in 1985 and Forest Gate Hospital closed.
Repository
Archival history
RLHPM 1890-1971 Collection (fonds) 5 linear metres Plaistow Maternity Hospital
Plaistow Maternity Hospital was founded in 1889 by Miss Katherine Twining (who became its first Matron), as St Mary's District Nurses' Home, Plaistow. The aim of the Home was to provide midwifery and nursing support for the inhabitants of South West Ham in their own homes. In 1894 the charity purchased 17 and 19 Howard's Road, which formed the basis of the District Nurses' Home. In the same year a Midwifery Training School and District Nursing Training School was opened. One of the stated aims of the Charity was to specifically instruct women for nursing work in villages and cottages.
In 1895 a Committee of Management was formed, and further land was purchased in Howard's Road which allowed the premises to be extended in 1898. In 1901 branch homes were established at the Docks, Stratford and East Ham, and in 1904 a further branch home opened at Barking. The acquisition of 24 and 26 Howard's Road in 1904 allowed for 12 in-patient beds, which increased to 20 in 1911 with the acquisition of no 28. Chesterton House was purchased in 1915 as a centre for ante natal, post natal and infant welfare activities. The in-patient accommodation was replaced by a new building at Chesterton Road, Plaistow with 36 maternity and 4 general beds, opened by Queen Mary in 1923. The name of the charity was changed in 1926 to Plaistow Maternity Hospital.
In 1938 the Central Midwives Board divided the midwifery examinations into two parts, and Plaistow Maternity Hospital was one of only a few hospitals to be recognised for parts I and II. The District Nursing Branch at East Ham was transferred to East Ham District Nursing Association in 1940. During the Second World War, the In-patient Department was evacuated to Suntrap, High Beech, Loughton, Essex. During the same period the Ministry of Health Emergency Maternity Hospital at East Haddon Hall, Northampton was staffed by Plaistow Maternity Hospital. The Hospital building and its branch homes were damaged by bombing during World War II.
The Hospital became part of the National Health service in 1948, at which time the District Home at Barking transferred to the control of Essex County Council. In 1976 the City and East London Area Health Authority (Teaching), following responses to its consultative document `Towards a changed pattern of health care', agreed to close Plaistow Maternity Hospital. Its services were transferred to Forest Gate Hospital, pending the building of a new nucleus hospital for Newham. Newham General Hospital phase 2, which included maternity provision, opened in 1985 and Forest Gate Hospital closed.
Transferred from Stratford Local Studies Library by the Director of Leisure Services, London Borough of Newham in 1997.
Administrative records, financial records, patient records, nursing and midwifery training records.
See Scope and content.
Some material is restricted. Please contact the repository in the first instance.
Copying and digitisation services are available for unrestricted material. Researchers should contact the repository in the first instance.
English
See 'Detailed catalogue' link above.
Originally compiled by Julie Tancell as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. Updated by Clare Button, Archivist, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. June 2001, updated April 2020. Health Health policy Health services Hospitals Maternal and child health Medical institutions Medical sciences Midwifery Nursing Paramedical personnel training Patients Plaistow Maternity Hospital Social sciences Social welfare St Mary's District Nurses' Home , Plaistow Surgery Vocational training subjects
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Transferred from Stratford Local Studies Library by the Director of Leisure Services, London Borough of Newham in 1997.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Administrative records, financial records, patient records, nursing and midwifery training records.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
See Scope and content.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Some material is restricted. Please contact the repository in the first instance.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copying and digitisation services are available for unrestricted material. Researchers should contact the repository in the first instance.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
See 'Detailed catalogue' link above.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English