General Hospital Birmingham

[ColinB]

Does anyone know if the Chapel at the old General Hospital survived when it was changed to the Children's Hospital,and if its still open to the public.I last saw it in the early 70's when I went to meetings at the Hospital

Colin

 

[mazbeth]

I went in the Chapel when my son was in the (new) Children's hospital about 6 1/2 years ago...
whether it's the old one retained I'm not sure.

 

[shady]

What a nice picture , I was looking at this thread wondering if any photos of the general hospital were on the forum...I recall inside the hospital there was a lovely chapel and was wondering if any photos were available of the inside of the hospital???

General Hospital Birmingham

Does anyone know if the Chapel at the old General Hospital survived when it was changed to the Children's Hospital,and if its still open to the public.I last saw it in the early 70's when I went to meetings at the Hospital Colin

birminghamhistory.co.uk

 

[Sakura]

I only just found this thread. That is a nice post card of the hospital. I worked there before I got married so brings back memories. Mo

 

[Sakura]

Those views are more familiar to me, as I walked arose the forecourt every day that is in your 2nd picture or I would go through emergency if I used the parking lot. I actually remember the trams although I don't remember when they stopped running. Mo
(Photo replaced with what I think is the original)

 

[jennyann]

Great photos. Looks like that might be the last tram leaving Steelhouse Laneon that one photo. I remember when my Mother was hospitalized in 1985 seeing the cornerstone in the front forecourt laid by Queen Victoria on my way through. I wish I had a pound for every time I passed the General Hospital on a bus or tram over the years. I was always fascinated by those open arches which eventually were filled in.
Had my broken wrist fixed there years ago.

Lower Steelhouse Lane was always interesting to pass through. The back of the Law Courts, The Police Station, The General Hospital, Pickford's corner and The Fire
Station over in Lancaster Place.

 

[Sakura]

Jenny - Some people on here may have been born at Loveday Street, just across the road from the general. That was also a very old building I had to go over from time to time. The place I hated to go was the dental hospital that had those lifts like boxes and you had to leap in or out as you went past your floor.:shocked: Mo

 

[anthea]

Great pictures of the General Hospital - and grand architecture too. My husband spent a couple of weeks there in 1985/6 after an operation and I was working at Aston University at the time and was allowed time off to visit him during visiting hours.

Anthea

 

[jennyann]

Hi Mo: When I was living in Brum for five months in 1972 I applied for a job at the Dental Hospital. I remember those lifts very well and I had never seen them before. I waited until no one was around before I jumped in the first time. Got the job but decided I didn't want to work there in the end.

Here's a photo of a similar lift. They have proved quite dangerous in some medical facilities I remember reading about.

 

[mikejee]

Those lifts were in the university as well. Some students got into the habit of staying on them as they went over the top. Apparently there were large cogged wheels up there that the lifts ran on. Even before "Health & Safety" the authorities were not very happy
mike

 

[mw0njm.]

what a good hospital,and staff,very kind,and,(was going to say patient)i remember it well.the smell of CLEAN and antiseptic always linger'd in a/e

 

[anthea]

At Aston University where I worked there were lifts similar to your 'photo Jennyann, and they were know as Paternoster lifts. (a lift consisting of a series of linked doorless compartments moving continuously on a circular belt). They were especially dangerous when students decided to play tricks with them.:redface: The lifts were eventually sealed up.

Anthea

 

[Sakura]

Mike I always wondered what happened if you went over the top, I assumed they stayed upright. Glad I wasn't the only one that didn't like them. From what has been said here I guess there aren't any used now. We were used to using the stairs at the General as were not supposed to us the lifts. The one flight of stairs went past the lab and if they were short of blood you might get grabbed so sometimes it was worth getting caught in the lift. The matron was very strict. Mo

 

[Sakura]

I guess Loveday Street is not there now? They are good. Mo

 

[fuseman]

Hello everyone, this is my first post on this forum so I hope its in the correct place. Trying to find the final resting place of a relation who died in the General Hospital Birmingham in 1915, the only referance to a general hospital I can find for this date is the 1st southern general hospital which appears to be military? would civilians have been admitted and treated here? also assuming no family were avalable to lay this chap to rest where would the hospital have sent him for burial? would Witton cemetery be a good starting place?. many thanks for any advise you can give

 

[smtr]

Hi fuseman

Welcome to the forum

Are you able to give the name of your relative as people on here may be able to search burial records for you?

Suzanne

 

[fuseman]

Hi fuseman

Welcome to the forum

Are you able to give the name of your relative as people on here may be able to search burial records for you?

Suzanne

Hi and thanks for the reply, yes the person who's burial place I would like to find is, Thomas Winter who died in the general hospital Birmingham on 27th March 1915. once again thank you

 

[ColinB]

fuseman, Welcome to the forum,
The Birmingham General Hospital was located on the corner of Steelhouse Lane and Loveday Street it is now the Birmingham Childrens Hospital. https://www.bhamb14.co.uk/index_files/BIRMINGHAMGENERALHOSPITAL.htm
The 1st Southern General Hospital https://www.bhamb14.co.uk/index_files/THEWARYEARS.htm was a group of hospital used for the treatment of WW1 wounded, so is it possible he may have been a casualty of war.
If he died as a war casualty there is a good chance he could be traced but as Suzanne says more information is required.

Colin

 

[smtr]

Hi fuseman

The only Thomas Winter I can find who died in 1915 is one born 1845 and buried in Coventry and BMD suggests he died OND quarter so not your man. If yours is the one born c1875 died 1915 in Bham the burial search isn't throwing anything up I'm afraid for Warwickshire or Staffordshire

Suzanne

 

[fuseman]

Hi, yes he is the one born 1875, he died from liver cancer. he was not in the forces so not sure how he came to be in this particular hospital, at the time of his death his address was in Walsall, but I have searched all the burial records for Walsall and drawn a blank thats why I thought the hospital may have buried him, is there a possibility that he was cremated?

 

[retroboy19]

Hi can anyone help me locate the final resting place of my dads sister Annie Randell who died 21/12/1927, she died at the 28 Loveday Street Birmingham and was only 5 months old.Was the address Lveday Street Hospital and if not can anyone tell me who lived their?
The family home at the time was at 83 Lancaster Street which is located just over the road where General hospital was,now i believe is the childrens hospital, any help anyone can give me would be most appreciated.
I am also looking for the final resting place of my dads aunt who was also Annie Randell who died accidental death on 21/11/1908 at Birmingham General Hospital and the family lived then at 13 Court 7 House Lancaster Street.

Thankyou

 

[ColinB]

retroboy, your assumptions are correct, 28, Loveday Street was the generic address for Loveday Street Maternity Hospital and the old General hospital is now the Children's Hospital.

Colin

 

[Wendy]

I have checked the indexes Key Hill and Warstone Lane cemeteries with no luck. It is possible they are in Witton cemetery.

 

[retroboy19]

Hi can anyone help me locate the final resting place of my dads sister Annie Randell who died 21/12/1927, she died at the 28 Loveday Street Birmingham and was only 5 months old.Was the address Loveday Street Hospital and if not can anyone tell me who lived their?
The family home at the time was at 83 Lancaster Street which is located just over the road where General hospital was,now i believe is the childrens hospital, any help anyone can give me would be most appreciated.
I am also looking for the final resting place of my dads aunt who was also Annie Randell who died accidental death on 21/11/1908 at Birmingham General Hospital and the family lived then at 13 Court 7 House Lancaster Street.

Thankyou

I have tryed Witton for both burials but have drawn a blank,thanks wendy for looking and Colin confirming that 28 Loveday Street was the Maternity Hospital, im not sure where else to try for these burials any ideas?

 

[Astonian]

HI There, yes i can recall the old general for the simple fact that when i got knocked down on aston rd north outside the astoria pic in1954
which became the atv studios when the surgeon witness me be knocked down in a hit and run a well operated on me at the general where he worked
and sen me through back to life ; but what was funny my grand dad ; came out of the general the day before after havening is toes removed and the following day i was taken into there and the same ward and the excact same bed he left from ; coincenced or what ; faith may be ;?
they say your patteren of life is made out for you ; ha;
best wishes astonian ;;

 

[Wendy]

A long shot have you tried Yardley Cemetery?

 

[ipi0avs]

Hi All,
I wonder if anyone has any information about what happened to all the administration and archives for the general hospital when it was closed. I am trying to trace an endowment that was left in the care of trustees at general hospital and I'm not sure where to begin! The fund is made reference to on this monument to David Owen in the entrance to Birmingham Cathedral.
Any help would be much appreciated,
Anna
Birmingham Cathedral

 

[BernardR]

I may be wrong but assume the reference to the trustees was relative to the General prior to the NHS and therefore long before 'The General' was closed to become the 'Childrens Hospital'. There may be a general statement somewhere about formerly local authority or otherwise funded hospitals, that became part of the NHS.

 

[ipi0avs]

Thanks Bernard, I will do some more digging, an see if I can turn up a general statement. I am wondering who the solicitors were dealing with the legalities of the hospital closing - I tought it possible that the trusteeship may have been passed into their hands.

 

[ColinB]

Try contacting Birmingham City Archives or The National Archives both hold documents for BGH from that period.
I know historical documents from two hospitals were sent to Birmingham Archives when they closed.

Colin