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Semon Emergency Maternity Hospital

A Memory of Ilkley.

I was born at the Semon Emergency Maternity Hospital in 1943 even though my parents lived in Bradford at the time.
I have always assumed this was because of the threat of bombing during the war, though I have never been sure if this is correct.
I viewed an map of Ilkley at the time recently and noted where the Hospital once stood, and have since been to see the location and wondered what it must have looked like in the surrounding area at that time.
It would be interesting to know if any records still exist of the births at the Hospital.

Added 20 August 2010

#229384

Comments & Feedback

Hi my mum was born at Semon Emergency Maternity Hospital in 1943 January she too was puzzled as to why she wasn't born in Bradford. Sadly my mum passed away may 14th this year, but I have spent many a happy hour up on the moors in Ilkley with my children and husband and then I found out my dad was born there aswell in 1942 October. All I can say is it must of look beautiful back then looking over the moors.

By darcy.mcclenaghan on Wed Sep 2nd 2015, at 10:13 pm

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I was also born at Semon Home in June 1945. My mum always said it was an overflow from St. Lukes......we did live in Bradford, but St. Lukes was treating soldiers at the time.
I would like to know where the house actually stood. At the moment I am living in Ilkley and could go and find the site, if anyone knows where it was.

By dianneg.biw on Mon May 28th 2018, at 3:36 pm

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I was born there in October 1945. My mum said I was the last one to be born there. It was up the top of White Wells Road just past a junction with a road that went onto the moors and there is a Darwin Gardens close by, which has stepping stones dedicated to the memory of loved ones.

By mjcannar on Sun Dec 30th 2018, at 10:35 am

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I was born there in March 1944, but my parents moved down to London from Bradford when I was three, so never got to see the hospital. It is lovely to see a picture of the home. Thank you

By diane.clarkson on Sat Apr 27th 2019, at 3:16 pm

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Just thought,I am assuming that it has been demolished ! Would love to know what happened to it. My email isdiane.clarkson@btinternet.com
Or whether there are any more memories of it?

By diane.clarkson on Sat Apr 27th 2019, at 3:26 pm

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I was born at the Semon hospital on the 8th March 1945 to an Audrey Salt. My birth name Patricia Anne Salt.
I live in Australia and am searching birth records and my original family. I am told I am related to Sir Titus Salt. Thank you for any information.

By Brenda Broomhead on Thu Dec 31st 2020, at 3:23 am

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I was born in the Sermon in September 1944 my Mother having been evacuated from London, I have been researching my family tree and am looking for photos of various birthplaces, I have found several also graves but so far have been unable to locate exactly
where the Sermon was.

By Mike Harrison on Thu May 6th 2021, at 10:19 am

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I was born at the Semon Emergency Maternity Hospital on July 22nd 1943. The ambulance that carried my mum and another patient from St Luke's hospital made an emergency stop at Harry Ramsden's Fish and Chip shop for her fellow passenger to give birth. I held on until we got to Ilkley Moor. Between the two of us you can't get better Yorkshire credentials.

By Roger Burnett on Wed Sep 24th 2025, at 11:02 am

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