PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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The Devonport Maternity Home in Cumberland Road, Devonport, was formerly the Military Families' Hospital, built in 1890 as part of Raglan Barracks. When the National Health Service took over the running of hospitals in 1948 the Army ceased to use the building and the War Department transferred it to the Ministry of Health. In 1952 it was used as a tuberculosis hospital but that closed in 1956. On Wednesday July 31st 1957 it was re-opened as the Devonport Maternity Home, with 18 beds. It cost £7,000 to complete the conversion. The ceremony was performed by Sir Havergal Downes-Shaw, chairman of the South West Regional Hospital Board in the presence of Alderman H E Wright, chairman of the Plymouth, South Devon, and East Cornwall General Hospital Management Committee. The sister-in-charge was Miss M Dodd, working under the Matron of the Plymouth Maternity Hospitals, Miss G Wollaston. The long single-storey building with its stucco frontage and red-brick rear was decorated in pastel shades of yellow, blue, green and pink.
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