Duckworth Family Collection (No. 1): Maternity & Infant Welfare Centre

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Duckworth Family Collection (No. 1): Maternity & Infant Welfare Centre

Image displayed may not be an exact representation of the image in the library. Colour and contrast may differ.


Image Details

Title Dr. Henry Duckworth: Wife with child in a Nursing Home 1921 or 1924
Description Black and white photograph showing a maternity ward.

In 1926 Mrs Duckworth appeared in a picture in the Ross Gazette (February 11, 1926, page 7) when she played the role of "The Duchess" in a Ross Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society production of "King of Cadonia". That picture confirms the woman in the corner bed of this photograph is Dr. Duckworth's wife, Sylvia.

Dr and Mrs Duckworth had three children - two daughters and a son. Both of their daughters, Joan and Sylvia, were born in Cheltenham. Their son, John, was born in Ross.

The children's birth announcements appeared in the Ross Gazette (publication date and page number in brackets):

JOAN FLORENCE ANNA (July 14 1921, page 5)
"DUCKWORTH.- July 10, in the Royal Parade, Cheltenham, the wife of H. L. D'Olier Duckworth, M.B., 6, St. Mary's Street, Ross, a daughter."

SYLVIA IRENE (January 3 1924, page 5)
"DUCKWORTH. - December 30, at the Imperial Nursing Home, Cheltenham, the wife of H.L.D'olier Duckworth, M.B., 6, St. Mary's Street, of a daughter."

JOHN ALEXANDER D'OLIER (February 7 1929, page 5)
"DUCKWORTH. - On January 31st to Sylvia wife of H. L. D'Olier Duckworth , B.A., M.B., a son."
Unlike his sisters, the name of the hospital/nursing home where he was born is not specified. His birth detail records at Herefordshire Archives and Record Centre give his place of birth as "Nursing Home, Ross". This implies he was not born at The Cottage Hospital or Alton Street Hospital. It could also not be the Maternity Home at 46 Broad Street as this had closed in March 1928.

Mrs. Duckworth looks younger in this photograph than in photograph No.1. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the baby she is holding is either Joan or Sylvia.

In conclusion, this photograph was most likely taken in either the Royal Parade or the Imperial Nursing Home (now called Imperial House) in Cheltenham and not in Ross.
Photographer / artist Unknown
Publisher Ross Gazette
Contributor(s)
Date unknown
Type Image
Format Photograph
Identifier RGE029
Area Ross-on-Wye
Collection Holder Ross Gazette Photograph Collection