Cardross - Maternity home

[Beckenham1]

Does anyone know anything about a private maternity home located at Clutha, Ardoch, Cardross. It was a large house used as maternity home before Word War 2. Some girls had their baby there to give up for adoption. Adopted. Babies.

[Currie]

Hello Beckenham1

Maternity homes were registered and inspected by local authorities in Scotland from 1927 under the provisions of the Midwives and Maternity Homes (Scotland) Act.
http://rcnarchive.rcn.org.uk/data/VOLUM ... er1927.pdf

This was replaced by the Nursing Homes Registration (Scotland) Act, 1938.
www.opsi.gov.uk/Acts/acts1938/PDF/ukpga_19380073_en.pdf

Local authority is defined in sect 10 of the 1938 Act. (Town or County Council)

If you’re looking for basic information about the Maternity home and who operated it etc. it may be available from the local Council or whichever organisation holds its Archives if any.

Hope this helps,
Alan

[joette]

This would come under the provenance of West Dumbartonshire Council.
I think you would be looking for the Archive Section at Dumbarton Library.
Failing that Greater Glasgow Health Board or perhaps Argyll Health Board would be the one to contact.

[Beckenham1]

According to the Archivist at the Mitchell Library; Clutha villa is listed in the 1934 Valuation Roll (in Cardross Parish) which shows that the house was owned and occupied by Mrs Janett S.W. Shorn. It was not owned by one of the Council's which would potentially have led on to specific records for the home, but it appears that it must have been a private maternity home run by Mrs Shorn. Any stories out there?

[LesleyB]

hi Beckenham1

If the information you are looking for concerns recent adoptions, (being a family history forum, "recent" here on TS covers just about everything after 1900-ish! ) then it may be a good idea to contact the Scottish Adoption Charity called Birthlink. They may be able to advise about the house at Cardross and any other queries you may have concerning adoption records from that area.

As I'm sure you can understand, adoption being a sensitive area, and with the dates you are looking at being relatively recent, it is a bit outwith our area here on TS.

Contact details are here:
www.birthlink.org.uk

There is also a good UK Adoption forum here:
http://www.forums.afteradoption.org.uk
Some of the members on there may know of the house.

We have some other adoption related links here:
http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5576
and an article here:
http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10327

Best wishes
Lesley

[christine1952]

you could also try the church of scotland

they do have some records on the homes they ran

also the salvation army have very complete record books on thier homes

hope this helps

chrissey