This is one of those posts that was lost when we moved to the new site.
We have tried to recreate as many of the original comments as possible…
The Isolation or Fever Hospital on Durham Road was built in 1890. Dr M’Gonigle persuaded the Council to extend the building and to allow sick children to be admitted when the beds were not being used for fever cases. So successful was Dr M’Gonigle in this work that in 1948, when the National Health Service came in, it was officially designated as a children’s hospital.
Photograph and details courtesy of Susan McLaurin.
Picture Stockton Archive 
Sorry that my previous comments were lost.
I was in and out of Durham Lane Childrens Hospital from being a baby to around 10 years old (1963 – 1973 ish) for cleft lip & palate repair. When I was very small my mam was able to stay with me and I remember being in metal cots that had high sides. The wards were long with polished wooden floors with rows of beds either side, there was a desk for a Nurse to sit at night and watch over us. I remember Nurse Raine, Nurse Pye, Nurse Bulmer and Sister Robinson – all the Nurses were lovely. I remember being wrapped up tight and trollied outside over a courtyard to the operating theatre doors many times. I remember a few children but not their names. one boy became a friend while I was there, he was in a bed next to me – he got a new toy car with wheels that came off with levers underneath – Rob Parkin’s Brother Dave maybe? Would be a nice coincidence.
My Surgeon too was Dr Potter (always remember his Bow Tie) his first name was George and I remember being told he was a Plastic Surgeon who treated Second World War Fighter Pilots. He went to America to study a new cleft procedure, I was one of his first patients when he came back.
Thank you for the memories.
Neil Sawdon.
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As a five year old in 1942 I was hospitalized at the Durham Road Fever Hospital for eleven weeks with Diphtheria. I was brought in by ambulance (screaming) with a nurse who had exchanged my clothes for hospital gown. During my time there the nurses became my family as visitors were not allowed. My parents and granny would visit but could only see me through a window, and their gifts to me were distributed evenly among all patients so I never received them. A year later I attended the Open Air School in Norton, a long journey coming from my home near Yarm Road/Hartburn Lane area. I left Stockton in 1962 and have had a healthy life in Canada since.
Gwyneth Gale Baldry.
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I have been told I was born in this hospital( Durham Road children’s hospital) in June 1962 . My day nursery when I was old enough to go was just down the road and I believe the nursery is still there. I still live in Stockton and often drive past the hospital and smile a little .
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Can anyone remember a F NAGRI who signed the babies death certificates? He seemed to sign a lot in 1965, but have been told that there was no practicing registrar by that name. I’m confused as he signed my sisters death certificate.
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I was a nursing aide from September 1955 to October 1956. As we were under 18 we had to live in although my parents live in Norton. Keith Willis in 1913 mentions Peter Leonard, he had Spina Bifida. At some point he was given a wheelchair and used to go round the place like a whirlwind. Although he didn’t have any family he always appeared happy.
The mortuary was at the edge of the grounds right beside the cemetery wall and going there in the dark was very scary.
I had a very happy 14 months working there, though we did have our sad times.
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My brother who’s in the hospital the Bachelers came to see him on his birthday his name who’s John collins
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I was born in the Robson Maternity home in 1959 and had to be transferred to Durham road children’s hospital for a repair of a double cleft lip and palate. I was under the care of Mr Potter and the nurse I remember most were a Sister Carol and Nurse Rayne. I can remember my mam wheeling me in a pram through the grounds and of Christmas parties. I had to have treatment for a number of years and remember hospital school and speech therapy. I now live in Spain but have many memories.
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I also was in Durham Road hospital for a cleft lip .I was about two yr old when I had mine done but had a few more operations after that but didn’t need speech therapy but needed a brace for one of my teeth that had grown sideways. My time there would have been in 1956. My mam said Dr Potter had big hands for a plastic surgeon but was marvellous . I would have loved to have found my records.
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My brother lost his fight in Durham Road children’s hospital he was 4 year old
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As young children we used to run past the fever hospital as it was known in the 50’s chanting. “Touch your collar, never swallow never catch the fever”. I am not sure why we were walking along Durham Road unless we were heading to Newham Grange Park as it was a fair old walk from Parkfield but as kids we walked or cycled miles back then but had to be back home for dinner at
12.00 or tea at 4.00
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Hi I was in Durham Road Hospital 1962, having being badly scalded and requiring skin graft. Dr Potter was the best in the North and brought be back from a serious life threatening injury the Hospital staff where second to none sadly can’t remember any names, also Remember the Wacky Jackie Christmas Special coming to the Hospital. Memories that will stay with me forever Thanks always only 5 at the time.
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I was in Durham Road hospital in 1966 because I was burnt. I remember a girl called Suzanne who was also burnt I think she died and Sharon Cooper was in there because she fell into the coal fire and her fingers and forehead burnt.
.
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I badly burnt my hand as a baby (9 months old) and was a frequent patient at Durham Road Children’s hospial under the care of Mr Potter until the age of 16 years. I was then transferred to Middlesbrough General under the care of Mr Viva. I have fond memories of my care at Durham Road and remember Nurse Pye and Nurse Rain especially. I too recall having a teacher come to give lessons and being wheeled outside down to theatre at the bottom of the hill. Quite scary when you are a child. The little childrens park in the grounds where my brother and sister used to play as they were not allowed on the ward to see me. Despite lots of painful operations and skin grafts, I always felt truly looked after by the nurses. Now aged 53 years, I still have very clear memories of the “treatment” room and having my stitches taken out, ouch! Barbara Gregory (nee Dean)
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I remember when I got badly burnt in December 1966 I was under Mr Potter on E WARD I REMEMBER nurse Pye, nurse Rayne, nurse Stevenson, nurse Poole, nurse Bulmer, nurse Stout, sister Robinson I also remember the park and going down theatre I was in and out until I was 16 then was under Mr Viva at the general hosp I am now 68 years old but have fond memories of my stay there .
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This link shows the exact location of the Small Pox Hospital on what is now Hardwick estate… http://maps.nls.uk/view/101100470
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My sister Joy (Fryer) was in Durham Road hospital on a few occasions with bronchitis and I remember going to visit her there in about 1961.
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This brings back memories, I was born with a cleft lip and palate and had many operations under the care of Mr Potter at Durham road. The only stay I really remember was in 1972/3 when I was 10, yes, I can remember being wrapped up all snug in a blanket and being wheeled outside to the theater. My mam used to talk very fondly of nurse Bulmer, she must have been a great nurse/person.
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My sister Beverley thirkettle was in Durham Road childrens hospital (apparently) and I am looking for information on a Dr F Nagri who signed most of the childrens death certificate, I have a letter from London saying that no one by that name never practiced in the uk, they sent me the list.
My sister was born 11th May 1965 and apparently passed away 26th July 1965. She was registered 27th July 1965 and buried 28th July 1965?. It says on her death certificate she was 8wks but she was 11wks. My mothers name was Marlene tTirkettle. I would be grateful for any information.
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Sorry to hear of all the lost comments. This is a copy of mine from about February 2011:
My last of several stays at Durham Road Children’s Hospital was in late 1961 when I would have been 10 years old. The nurses were very kind and caring but the only one whose name I remember is nurse Bulmer.
A teacher came in on weekdays to try and keep our schooling up. It would have also helped relieve the boredom. I don’t remember a TV in the ward but there may have been one. Like Neil Sawdon, I also remember being wheeled across from the ward building to the operating theatre on a trolley, warmly wrapped up from the chilled air and looking up at the sky. Neil has also reminded me of the same surgeon, Mr Potter, whose name I had completely forgotten. After my operation I had to have regular baths, not in asses’ milk but in Dettol laden white water. Whenever I get a whiff of disinfectant it takes me straight back to those baths. I felt a long way from home and I think visiting time was only on Wednesday evening and Sunday afternoon. It was strictly controlled by a bell sounding the start and finish. I shed many a tear on the departure of my Mam and Dad, and possibly one or both of my two sisters. They had to use 3 buses (including the ‘O’ bus from North Ormesby Market Place to Stockton High Street) to get from Berwick Hills Estate in Middlesbrough. As we weren’t well off, they would keep the bus tickets and claim the fares back. My times there were significant events in my life and I regret not seeing it again before it was demolished.
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I had 90% scalds on my body when I was 3yrs old I spent lots of time in and out of this hospital from 1966 onwards. I remember doctor Potter, nurse Rainer and sister Bulmer, I had lots of good times and met lots of friends. The breakfast was great. I remember the teacher coming in on a morning and also having to be covered up to travel outside and to go down the bottom to theatre it was a great children’s hospital where you were well looked after. Kevin Woods
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During my family history research I discovered that my sister (who would have been 8 yrs older than I, but who died before I was born) died of Spinal Meningitis at the age of 14 months, in the Durham Road Fever hospital in March of 1941. It was clearly devastating for my parents who always found it difficult to talk about, even many years later.
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I recently bought an old map dated 1934, the map was made for the county engineer and surveyor, area surveyor office in sedgefield. On this map it clearly shows the smallpox hospital and it shows 6 buildings where its marked smallpox hospital. The hospital stands opposite where the horse and jockey pub now stands and to the right of the BP garage, the old building that became flats may be part of the 6 buildings marled on the map.
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I was a scarlet fevered resident at Durham Road Fever Hospital in 1933 or 34. Rather bare wards but I was never unhappy there.
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It would appear that there is some confusion re Stockton’s ‘Fever Hospital’. To the best of my knowlege and research there has only ever been one. This is the one which was located off Durham Road. It was fronted the road. It is partly surrounded by the Durham Road Cemetery (old sections) and is about 300 yard east of were the old Newham Grange water pumping station was. These datails are shown on Godfrey’s OS map of Stockton dated 1899. The map covering the SE part of Stockton has no ‘Fever Hospital’; indeed it would be surprising to find such a dedicated hospital in pre antibiotic times (1949) within a towns central area. Looking at Wards Directory’s confirms there to have been just one named and dedicated Fever Hospital. The only other in the area to my knowlege was West Lane in Middlesbrough. Durham Road was still handling fevers in 1947 (my father in law was in it). Come 1973 I know it was in general work for children but the following year it had closed.
The only possible reason for believing that there was more than one may lay in the Union Workhouse. Stocktons Workhouse ended up in Portrack, but I know from family history that it was used to isolate children with infectious deceases (whose parents were not desitute): my infant aunt having died of measles in 1909. Hope this helps.
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I was in the children’s hospital around 1955. I was in for a hernia operation, which was found on my school start medical. I remember I was in when the new Queen Elizabeth was visiting Stockton. The only thing I remember was that it was a large ward with rows of beds and I was in the end one. After my operation, a nurse brought a glass of water and a large dark brown pill. I said if I took it I would be sick. She made me take it. I duly obliged with being sick and all the bed clothes had to be changed.
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Interesting, to hear about the smallpox hospital, long before the Hardwick estate was built. Looking at old maps, it seem’s that the smallpox hospital was located about 250 feet, west of the Horse and Jockey, about the start of Etherley Walk on Harrowgate Lane and was probably a building called Summerville. (not the farm) before that. I don’t think the flats were part of the hospital, although I could be wrong on that. Before the Horse and Jockey pub, was a Summerville Cottage.
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Further to my inquiry about two fever hospitals in Stockton 11 Dec 07 not getting any replies off the site did not put me off. The second hospital on the opposite corner to the Horse and Jockey taking up a corner which is now Hardwick was a Smallpox Hospital. But that is as far as I have got there is a small block of four flats next to the BP garage could this have been part of the hospital? To Margaret O’Shea (06/12/2007) Margaret you might want to follow up this lead on the Smallpox side.
Roy Parkin
I was in the Fever hospital with Scarlet Fever when I was about 4 (1951). I can remember taking in my favourite doll and a few boxes of little puzzles and being very upset when I could not bring them home. The cemetery went behind it and then the Newham Grange Estate where I lived. We use to play in the corner of the cemetery near the back lane where there were no graves in those days. All sorts of frightening stories would be passed around about what would happen to you if you went too near the brick wall.
Susan Chatterton nee Callender
Children’s Hospital – Visiting my brother David (Dave) when he was a little boy in short pants mid 1960’s the hospital Durham Road Children’s on account it was on Durham Road. He used to spend weeks at a time in there being an asthmatic and the drugs of today just not being there. He had a big stint in there just after I had left school and learning my trade through an apprenticeship I remembered coming home from work washed changed and tea before setting off to walk down Durham Road to see my little brother hoping the shiny new car I had in my pocket would cheer him up I tried to get him one each day rushing down Lesley Browns in my dinner time. It wasn’t the fever part of the Hospital so I knew he could bring them home when discharged. Oh his jim jams weren’t short pants.
Roy Parkin
I was in the children’s hospital for about a month c.1954 for a problem I had with my legs. I wasn’t supposed to be in for that long but while I was there a child was diagnosed with (I think) diphtheria. We were then kept in isolation no visitors until things were sorted out. I remember the ward being quite big with a bathroom at the far end. The doctor who treated me was Dr. Porter and he and the nurses were very kind.
Judith Milner
I was in this hospital for about five months with a mysterious disease around 1953. I’ve since found out what it was but can’t pronounce it! They were very strict as all hospitals were then. My Mum was made to wait outside once at visiting time because I refused to eat my semolina which I hated. In the end I had to force it down or she wouldn’t have been allowed in. I was the only girl in a ward of boys. Later on in my stay we actually had a teacher who came in a couple of days a week but mostly we amused ourselves if we were well enough! We had several visits from celebrities. I developed a huge crush on Frankie Vaughan after he sat on my bed and chatted to me. He was so handsome. Lady Baden Powell came by also but the highlight was a visit from a cowboy in full Western kit on a beautiful bay horse. He trotted up and down outside showing off and we all sat looking out of the windows enthralled. I’ve never really found out who the cowboy was and my Mum didn’t believe me! Another highlight was the day we got a TV set for the ward. Our beds were all pushed up to one end of the ward so we could see the tiny screen and we watched The Cisco Kid etc. Then there was panic as the programme ended and the little white dot appeared and we all screamed “NURSE” so she could come and switch it off . (We thought it would explode if left on) Even though I had been very ill and eventually missed a whole year of school when the time came to be discharged I didn’t want to go!
Vicky Collier
I was in the children’s hospital in 1947 with Diphtheria I was only 4yrs old at the time. My memories are of a big ward and only two of us in it. Visitors had to look in through the windows. There was a girl in the ward about the same age named Mary. When we were well enough we were allowed to go in the gardens where the gardener gave me some conkers.
Robert Leslie Hogg
I WAS IN THE FEVER HOSPITAL WITH SCARLET FEVER WHEN I WAS SEVEN. 59 YEARS AGO. I WAS IN FOR 6 WEEKS. PARENTS WEREN’T ALLOWED IN AND MINE USED TO THROW GOODIES IN OVER THE PERIMETER WALLS WHEN I WAS EVENTUALLY ALLOWED OUT. MEMORIES HAVE FADED I DO REMEMBER FATHER THORNTON VISITING I WASN’T EVEN A CATHOLIC. WHEN I EVENTUALLY DID COME OUT I WAS SENT TO THE OPEN AIR SCHOOL IN RAGWORTH ROAD NORTON FOR 6 MONTHS.
Margaret Stanbrook (nee Douglas)
I was in the Durham Road Children’s Hospital in 1956 for nearly a year with TB Spinal Meningitis. I was 6 at the time and remember fondly the loving care given by the nursing staff.
Steve Robinson
I was in Durham Road hospital with scarlet fever in November 1947 or 48 for 4 weeks. I lived at 11 Durham Road. Are any of my old mates out there?
Kevin McNeill
Two Fever Hospitals Can anybody help towns and cities up and down the land all had fever or isolation hospitals why did Stockton have two. One is quite well publicised with lots of members transcribing their experiences there in but the second one alludes me knowing where it was and that it did not close until 1964. To help you out it was located at the corner of Hardwick opposite The Horse and Jockey.
Roy Parkin
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I was a long stay patient from 1951 to 1954. I had a hip complaint that meant I was on traction for about 2 years and being confined to bed with it.{barbaric by todays standards}I remember the doctors a Dr Tilley and Dr Leach as caring paediatricians. I also remember another long stay boy called Peter Leonard who used to shuffle around on his bum, I often wonder what happened to him as he didn’t seem to get any visitors. My mum often brought him something when visiting me. I clearly remember watching the Queens coronation on t.v.and being given some sweets off the Salvation Army which the nurses said don’t eat!!! Why I do not know? On hindsight maybe they wanted them as I think sweets were still on rationing..Some happy memories some not so happy…..Keith Willis
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