Fond Memories

A Memory of Brentwood.

I remember St Faith's hospital very well. I was the Head Porter there for a number of years until it was closed down. I met my wife there. She was a catering assistant. We were engaged with two other couples in the social club.That was thirty years ago. I didnt think of the patients as patients. They became more like friends. I have only fond memories of the time I worked there. To me it felt a friendly building, although as a workhouse it must have been very bleak. I remember that most of it was brown and green paintwork. One of the wards was used as a unit for women in service that were pregnant. As I understand it, if they agreed to have the baby adopted then they could go back to their job. If not.. well who knows what happened to them. I was contacted by an elderly gentleman whose mother was in there and agreed to have him adopted. He asked if I might be able to help him. It took a while but by pure luck she was on an list I found in a mass of old records. Her name was Mary. A few phone calls to the registrar and I managed to find where she was. He was over 80 and she had of course died. She was buried in the London Road cemetary. Next to the hospital. It did however give him the chance to find his mother. Very sad, but it did end his search of many years. I have moved from Brentwood, but seeing that horrible building there now, to me that's very sad. If you look at the front of the building over the entrance to the left at the top. was my office. The remaining patients were transfered to Highwood Hospital. I spent a while at Highwood then transfered to Brentwood District hospital, yet another old, warm building. I was shocked when I saw the wooden greehouse that has replaced it.