Paxton Park Maternity Home, Little Paxton, St Neots

[mikebannister]

My birth certificate states that I was born in this Maternity home, but I am having difficulty finding any information on the home, or the reason my mother would be having a child there when she lived in Lewisham London over 50 miles away. The date of my birth was 11 October 1945, so the war was over, could this still be part of an evacuation policy, I am unsure.
If anyone could provide information about this place and the uses it was put to I would appreciate your help.
Also, there was a very informative book written by David A. Broad, a local resident. It's called The History of Little Paxton and was published in 1989. The ISBN is 0-9514293-0-2. There are photos of Paxton Park in the book and plenty of information about its time as a hospital. The Print run of the book was 2000 and when David left Little Paxton he sold all the books to Barretts book shop. Apparently copies were donated to LP School and St Neots Library. However I am having difficulty tracing Barretts Bookshop or any other source of the book, once again help gratefully received
Mike Bannister
Albury Wodonga, NSW/Victoria, Australia (Lifestyle on the Murray)

[lauraloulou17]

Hi Mike,
I live in St. Neots - Little Paxton comes under this postal area - and I know a reasonable amount about Little Paxton. I have seen David Broad's book - but don't honestly know whether Barretts would still hold any copies - it was a much sought after book at the time of publishing.etc. Their e-mail address is:mail@barrettsofstneots.co.uk - but Barretts bookstore has now become part of the Ottakar's chain so may not hold such a specialised book...
Paxton Park no longer exists, most of the land has oviously been built on - the pictures are quite remarkable to see in comparison to Little Paxton today. However, it is still quite a beautiful village and is a much sought after location in terms of properties. etc.
I wish you luck with your search.
Laura

[mikebannister]

Hi,
I have emailed the bookshop to see if they still have copies. It is a longshot, but your information has brought that just a little closer to a resolution. I appreciate the time and trouble you have taken to respond.
Regards
MikeB

[lauraloulou17]

no worries - am glad to be of help. if necessary i could probably get hold of the telephone number for you - let me know how you get on.
Laura

[mikebannister]

Hi there Lauuraloulou17,
Have had no reply from Barretts despite a number of emails, would appreciate a phone number if you are still willing to obtain this on my behalf
Many thanks
Mike Bannister

[lauraloulou17]

Hi Mike,
I have found this telephone number for Barratts of St. Neots - (obviously UK) 01480 408700.
The following details may help you - the Barratts bookstore recently changed hands and became part of the Ottakars bookstore chain, good luck.

Manager: Jackie Houchin
Address: 47 Market Square
St Neots
Cambridgeshire
PE19 2BA

Tel: 01480 219586

Lauraloulou17

[mikebannister]

Many thanks will email now and if no reply phone tonight my time
I appreciate your help
Kind Regards
MikeB

[petermac]

Hi

Any luck with your search?

Happy New Year.

[mikebannister]

Hi there PeterMac,
I have procured a copy of the book, but while it has fleshed out the place and time a bit, I am still no nearer a resolution as to the whereabouts of records that would have been kept of my mothers confinement circumstances
Thanks for the reply a pleasant surprise
Happy New year from Albury Australia
Regards
Mike Bannister

[petermac]

Hi Mike

I was going to offer to scan and email the relevant pages from my copy of the book if you had no luck in finding it. I was born in Little Paxton, at that same maternity hospital in 1954!

Again, Happy New Year from Cambridgeshire.

Peter

[mikebannister]

Hi there again Peter,
Thank you for your kind offer. You could still help if you had any idea where the patient records went when the hospital closed down? Real longshot as my mother came from London and I was curious as to her circumstances at the time of my birth
Mike