THE Aspland Maternity Home on Higham Lane, Gee Cross was the pride of the area when it opened as a hospital on October 1, 1931 and for more than 40 years served the community.Its closure in November 1973 was a sad time for a lot of local people who held this place of haven in very high regard....even people who weren't fortunate enough to have been born there.
The grounds were first opened as a public park on 29th July 1922 before the house was converted into the maternity hospital.
In 1932, the fee for a 16-day stay and delivery at the home cost the family a staggering £4 and 10 shillings !
Sadly, the building was demolished in 1987 and the land was sold to make room for private housing.
These wonderful photos were donated by Nick Clarke who was one of the lucky people who can proudly call the Aspland their place of birth.
Thanks very much for sharing, Nick :)
49 comments:
I must have slept during school since I haven't caught up with this blog. Nice to see that you are still blogging and a blog with a clear purpose. All too much of local history gets lost. Kudos to you!
And a very interesting read it is.
My sister-in-law was born at Aspland Maternity home back in 1963. The Matron at the time was called Janet and my Mother-in-Law named her baby girl Janet after the Matron. Janet '63 moved to Oz in 1990 and her Mum & Dad arrived here in 1992. We all live within a few minutes drive from each other.
I was born in Aspland in August of 1950. I was sad when on one of my visits back to the UK it had disappeared. Four years ago I brought my wife and all my four children back to Hyde to do the "Roots tour" and took them to the area of the home and then took them to where I grew up at in 5 Sykes Street and that was demolished also. We sat in our rented cars in what we used to call "The back" a cinder based empty spot behind the houses on Sykes street and Stockport Road and looked at a pile of weeds that was my childhood home. My history was disappearing.
Great pics Nancy. My better half was born here in 1970 - I'll show her this post tomorrow. I never saw the building, but whenever we walk past the site she mentions it.
Just noticed the Raleigh Chopper in the 2nd pic! That must've been somebodys pride & joy back in what I'm guessing is the early '80s, but I don't envy whoever owned it pedalling up Higham Lane ;>D
My youngest daughter was born in the Aspland in Jan 1960 and I recall trying to walk up the hill from the bus stop with Ice and snow on the ground, it was one step forward and two back most of the way a lot different to life in Oz.
Hey Nancy...
I bet you didn't know was born in Asplands in 1964! What a fabulous year :)
Charlie Woods age 46 and 3/4 LOL
just before aspland was closed a couple called tommy and may bedall were the caretakers till it was demolished they lived in the lodge it was used at the end as a nurses training centre i did a couple of weeks relief caretaking when the bedalls went away when i worked at hyde hospital in 1978
I was born at Aspland Maternity Home 1n 1942,and my brother Peter in 1948.
The large stone gate posts that were at the entrance were re erected across the road at the entrance of the car park of the Werneth Low visitors centre.
Hi Terry
Thank you for commenting... I've not been up to the visitors centre in a while... the next time I go I'll get a picture of the gate post...
Hi I was born in Aspland Maternity Home on Christmas Day 1954 I still have the newspaper clipping from my birth.
Hi my name is Carol Davenport and I was born in Aspland Maternity Home on Christmas day 1954, I still have the newspaper clippings as there was two babies born on hat day.
Hello there Carol..
Thank you for commenting... if you'd like to scan the clipping and email it to us I will include it in the post... we are always very grateful for having such items sent in, they give the posting a bit of a personal touch.
I love these pictures of the Aspland. Does any one have any pictures of the inside of Aspland Maternity home. I was born there in 1946, and I had my second daughter there in Feb 1972. I arrived there at midnight on the 22 and the place was so full, that my daughter was born in the corridor outside the delivery room, the staff were run off their feet, when my daughter was born she was quite blue and her airways were full of mucus so she didn't cry for a few minutes and I was worried, but sister Proctor got her breathing, that lady was wonderful. A few hours later I was moved to the small room that only had six beds, very cosy and the view from the window was lovely. What a great place to have a baby. My "little girl" is going to be forty on Thursday, can't believe it was so long ago, I remember it all so clearly. From Trish
Hi Trish..
What a great comment... makes our work here worth while when we get comments like this... thank you.. We have not come by any picture of the inside which is a pity.. lets hope someone read these comment and sends some in.
Lovely to hear people talking about the great Aspland .I was born there in 1943, & my two daughters Elaine & Julie were also born there in 1961 & 1964,.love all the stories.Beryl Saxon
I was born at the Aspland in 1970. My grandparents were May and Tom Beddall who were the caretakers. I have great memories of growing up in the caretakers lodge and exploring the house and gardens.
I was born at the Aspland in 1970. My grandparents were May and Tom Beddall who were the caretakers. I have great memories of growing up in the caretakers lodge and exploring the house and gardens.
I WAS BORN IN ASPLAND ON 9,2,1967 .Jacqueline Valerie Later my mums name was then Jacqueline Later.Its lovely to see that i was born in such a nice place not just any hospital ,thanks for the Pictures.Jacqui
I was born there 18th Feb 1961.
A shame that they demolished it.
In fact if as I understand it, it was was presented to the town of Hyde I'm surprised they where allowed to demolish it and it should have been a listed building.
Who actually owned it at that time?
My name is Catherine. I was born at Aspland Maternity Home in October 1967. It is the first time I have seen pictures of it. I googled it out of interest and was surprised to see so much. Quite emotional really.
Like the majority of these post's, I also was born at Aspland Maternity Home, May 1959. I have passed it's site many times since and still remark to myself or whomever I'm with, that that was the area where I was delivered, sad it's gone, c'est la vie...
I was born at aspland at 10.20 150766 and then my sister in August 1971. I still recall going to collecther with dad and mum must have seen us pullup in silver mk1 escort _she came top of steps and said she was just getting baby! I've just seen pix of the place for. 1st time since that day!! P.Herrick _ Denton
I lived just 200yds away from Aspland when i was just a young girl..such a great shame its gone , it was very regal building , none of my 3 children were born there unfortunatly,,booked in but circumstances changed things. I do remember though the matron having a reputation for being very strict, we had to do as we were told in those days ..I expect she would be very shocked at some of the ways today ...regards Anita
I was born there on 7 March 1947, I would have loved to have seen it. I am about to return to Hyde after half a century living overseas and always wondered what it looked like.
I was born in Aspland in March 1947 and was about to return after 50 odd years. Sorry to hear it is not there any longer. Heard many stories from my mother about trudging up the steep hill in the snow the day I was born.
Thanks for this! It's wonderful to see the old Aspland. I was born there in 1953
It's wonderful to see the old Aspland! I was born there in 1953. We lived in Fernally St. (where Morrison's supermarket is now)
I was born at Aspland Maternity home in September 1969, I remember going to pick my sister up in 1973 (she was rushed to Tameside because of complications, but mum returned to have her weeks rest) and having to stand at the bottom of a big staircase as children weren't allowed inside lol
Great photos.
I was born in Aspland February 4th 1968. I feel a bit 'blessed' that I was, when compared to my little brother who was born in Tameside General just 3 and a half years later.
I was born there in January 1945 during a very bad winter.We had to live with my grandmother in Hyde for a while because we had run out of coal,it being wartime.My parents played tennis there in the 1930's when the grounds were open to the public.
My Mum was born at Aspland in 1938Sad to hear it is no longer there
i believe the property was left in perpituity for the health or youth of the area, does anyone have more information?
I was born here 18th February 1967 I then lived with my nan at Ashton
I was born here 18th February 1967 then lived with my nan at Ashton
I was born there in 1957 my mother also worked there, Nigel Bowden. Marion Bowden born 1938 to 2014 RIP mother spent all her years as a carer. Walk the dogs every day and still look at the pillars.
Hi
So lovely to see photos of where I was born in July 1953. Such a shame I ever got to see it and now its too late. Having said that I must have seen it because I love old houses and veranda's. I have moved numerous times in my life and if you asked me my ideal home I would describe exactly what the Apland looks like,even down to the colourand to be somewhere rural too! how strange.
Thank you
Judith Burgess
Hi - I was born here on 19th Feb 1963. I'd never have guessed that this site even existed - so glad it does. Well done to Nancy, Dave, Paul and Tom for keeping this local history alive - vital work.
Thanks
Phil B
Charming photographs. I was born at Aspland 19 June 1946; my brother in 1943. Grim times then but a beautiful place through which to come into the world.
I was born here 26th September 1969, I went to collect my sister 4 years later and remember the staircase inside.....I wasn't allowed to go up them (no children allowed) so had to wait at the bottom for my dad to go get them lol, Id love to see photos of the inside.
Just stumbled across this blog as I Googled the home after watching Call the Midwife! I was born at the home in 1965 and it is great to see the pictures!
Just stumbled across this blog as I Googled the home after watching Call the Midwife! I was born at the home in 1965 and it is great to see the pictures!
I was born here on the 13th January 1971, first time i am seeing the place after looking at my Birth Certificate, but surprised how it looks..lol
I also just googled the maternity home after watching Call The Midwife, as the episode was about closing maternity homes. I now live in Australia. My mum had her first child at Tameside Hospital on 9 Feb 1965 but the remaining 4 of her 5 children were born at Aspland in Hyde on 2 Jun 1967, 12 Feb 1969 (me), 28 Mar 1970 and lastly 22 Feb 1972. I noticed somebody else posted that she arrived at Aspland at midnight 22 Feb 1972 and had her daughter in the corridor. She would have been there at the same time as my mum had my younger brother. My dad says he remembers walking up the hill in the snow to come and visit when I was born.
I was born in Aspland in 1970 probably just before it closed
I too was born in the Aspland in March 1970
I have seen many external photos of the Aspland but none of the inside does anyone have any photos to share please x
Please consider having a fb page. I too was born at the maternity home and am loving reading these posts
Just seen the pic on fb, I was born there May 26th 1960, I knew nothing about the place, I assumed on growing up it wasn't there anymore, kind of upsetting in a way it was still there and I didn't realise x
I was born in Aspland maternity home in February 1970, lovely reading about it.
My eldest son was born there on 4th January 1972 I often wonder what happened to a Dr Gatley who had interest in that place
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