Forest of Dean FHT Forum - Staff and History - Isolation hospital at Littledean

Staff and History - Isolation hospital at Littledean (reply)

Jefff — Wed, 04 May 2011 22:11:31 +0000

Re the location of "The Wilderness", I only know of one and that's the aforementioned centre on Plump Hill overlooking Mitcheldean. Wrt the census this is clearly the Abenhall / Abinghall locations. Extensive searches of internet, minds & books find no reference whatsoever to Alvenhall, I'm sure this is just another variation of Abenhall, perhaps a transcription misread. Similarly I know of no Wilderness near Cinderford St Johns though await correction, maybe the rocky outcrops below the church area ?, but no hospital.

For more references to the two FoD Isolation Hospitals see this link written in 2004 by our friend Slowhands.
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/ENG-GLOS-FOREST-DEAN/2004-11/1100936249

While researching these locations I was pleased to learn my first place of employment as a Rank Xerox apprentice in 1978, the old Wintle's Brewery, was built 110 years earlier from red sandstone from the Wilderness Quarry. Indeed, it seems the original Mitcheldean Manor House of the late 1600s was at Court Farm which was swallowed by Ranks warehousing re-development in the 70s.

Staff and History - Isolation hospital at Littledean (reply)

m p griffiths — Sun, 01 May 2011 07:15:41 +0000

There may be census records.

On the 1891 census, Mitcheldean, District 32, page 26 of 26

next to the Congregational Chapel

Wildernefs

Arthur BALDWIN - head M 30 - Gardener Domestic Servant, born Glos. Mitcheldean
Emily wife - age 29, born Longhope
James Son - 7 - Scholar, born Mitcheldean
George - 6 - ditto
Henry - 4 - ditto (christened at Drybrook 1 August 1886 - residence The Wilderness)
Ernest - 3 ditto
Kate - 1 - ditto
Annie - 3 months - ditto
Elizabeth REED - Servant - as - General Servant, born Glos. Taynton.

If you use the Advance Search - burials e.g. : The Wilderness or Wilderness : there are about 17 inc.

Heenrietta DAVIES 1877, The Wilderness age 86
Mary Ann COOK 1837, The Wilderness Abenhall age 31
Maynard COLCHESTER 1860, The Wilderness, Mitcheldean, age 74
Ann Turner BROWN - 1917 - The Wilderness, Abenhall age 78 years
Emily Ima ELLWAY, - 1932 - Hospital The Wilderness, Alvenhall - age 8

Wilderness seems to be in different places i.e. Cinderford St John, Abinghall, Mitcheldean, Alvenhall

Staff and History - Isolation hospital at Littledean (reply)

Andrew Bluett — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:45:38 +0000

The isolation hospital at Littledean was in George Lane, about 1 mile outside the village towards the Flaxley / Mitcheldean road (north). The building is still there, now a private house but I'm not aware of any records in existence relating to staff etc. The hospital was a typical victorian establishment, meant primarily for those suffering from TB.

Staff and History - Wilderness Isolation Hospital (reply)

unknown — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 19:01:46 +0000

For more information on Mitcheldean & the Wilderness have a look at;

www.british-history.ac.uk and search for WILDERNESS ISOLATION HOSPITAL

Happy hunting
Forester

Staff and History - Wilderness Isolation Hospital

annabarton — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 15:14:41 +0000

According to my grandmother, my great-great grandmother Eliza Workman (nee Dobbs) worked in an isolation hospital. ?1870s/80s

The family lived in Mitcheldean, so at a guess it was the old The Wilderness Isolation Hospital,especially as there is a story of her coming home (against the rules) to see her children, leaving her work clothes in the coalhouse.

Are there any records still available about the hospital or the staff that worked there? (I see it's now an out-of-bound centre).

I also see from your forum there was also another one at Little Dean?

Thank you,
Anna