Smallpox Hospital
A Memory of Catherine-de-Barnes.
I lived as a child at number 110 henwood lane Catherine de barnes or better known as catney.The house we lived in was the lodge to the hospital. I lived with mother and father,4 sisters and 3 brothers. We spent 3 years there from 1962 untill1965.in 1962 I remember my dad and I going into the woods and looking for some where to dig an hole I was only 5 at the time and did not understand what was going on, now I know it was the Cuban missile crisis, and dad thought he was going to have to build some form of shelter. We were apparently as a family, the first people in England to be vaccinated against small pox. during are stay only one patient was admitted. My youngest brother was born in the hospital on boxing day1962.Mum was in hospital all alone ,and one midwife. It was a very isolated place in them days, and in the winter of 63 we were isolated for two weeks as the lane had 6 foot of snow on it ,but we got bye. Very fond memories. Dad said house was haunted by young girl who used to sit on top of stairs, seen her few times he said, after a bit of research, he found out that a girl had in fact died in the house of diphtheria in 1936. Scary stuff. I have since spoke to present occupiers and they tell me when digging in various locations around the outside they have unearthed different toys, one being a plastic helicopter which I remember burying .At the far rear of the hospital there was a large land fill where they would regularly tip rubbish from Solihull, and bordsley green hospitals, now heartlands ,we always rum edged through this stuff lord knows what we played with. Dad threw 1945 Vauxhall car down that hole probably still there. On Sundays dad used to pop into grounds and shoot rabbit or hare that was Sunday lunch, if we were lucky. Mum and all brothers and sisters are still alive, sadly dad passed away in2006 having worked for the health service all his life. please feel free to e mail me at any time regarding this item.helicopter777@icloud.com (fond memories)
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Some of the facts written about Catherine d Barnes in various publications do carry some errors probably due to fading memories or being given incorrect information.
My Family. the Benfields lived in Catney from the mid 1900's My Grandma and Grandad lived in Boat Cottage and both died there. My Uncle Albert and Auntie Molly lived in The Bungalow opposite with my two cousins. His Grandaughter. ( my second cousin) still lives there. My Auntie Ethel lived in Bickenhill Lane, and my Uncle Chig (Charles) and Auntie Amy lived in Lugtrout Lane with three of my cousins. The Bradleys are an old Catney family and I see my old best man regularly. He is now into his 80's We spend hours talking about the old days and of course he can go back further than I can. I dont know all the facts about Catney but I am happy to answer any questions if I can and ask my old friend Keith and his wife if I dont know the answer.