Carol Stead: Hello Carol
The Stone House building still exists. It opened as the Battle Union Workhouse in 1834 and became a cottage hospital c1929. When I was still living in Battle (up to 1976) it was a hospital for geriatric patients but it closed in the early 1990s and after standing empty for a few years was developed into apartments. It’s called Thatcher Place after Frederick Thatcher the original architect from 1834.
I checked the birth registration index for the June quarter of 1928 and there is an entry for Nora R Penfold, in the Battle district, mother’s maiden name Western . There is no other registration for a Penfold birth at Battle district in that quarter, nor a death, so if it is true that your mother was one of twins the other baby must have been a stillbirth. There is no public index of stillbirths.
I am from Battle myself, although I have now moved away. Most of my families come from Battle and surrounding towns and villages and I have been researching my family history for many years. I also research professionally, specialising in East Sussex.
I hope this is of help to you.
Kind regards
Caroline
5 responses to “The Stone House”
Hi Caroline, you gave me some info in 2006. I have left another message but it will not show till tomorrow. If you have any more info i would be grateful if you can e-mail me.- [reveal email] My mother had another sister called Nancy . She was in the old Battle workhouse when my mother was born. Her other sibling Vera K penfold was born in 1925 in Eastbourne, so i am assuming Nancy was born after Vera. When my mother was born, her mother Agnes went to live at an address in Kent, but i don’t think Jesse went. Ithink they might have seperated . yet to find out if Nancy was Jesse’s child.
Carol
Not sure if you can help me. Searching for wifes Great Grandmother Louisa Stimson. Although I have birth date I cannot find a birth record but would like to know more about what her role would have been as she gave birth to her children at Stone House. One of her children was born there in 1925. I take it that she would not have been a slave to the workhouse and that this was a cottage hospital at this period. I am also unable to find any further info on where she worked as she stated on her sons birth certificate that she was a domestic servant at Clarence House, Chandler Road, Bexhill. What was this place? Was it just your normal everyday domestic household and she was employed by them. Going back to the hosptal, I have photos of her with groups of children as if she is some sort of nanny. Would this have been typical at a cottage hospital and would I find any record of her there? Sorry to ask so many questions but I am having difficulty outlining her life whilst in these places.
Hope you can help.
Thank you
Anthony
The info posted by Caroline Lancaster was very helpful (my mother-in-law was born in the Stone House) and I am trying to get further information about her mother) but the link no longer works. Does anyone have further information or an up to date link please?
The website has moved. You’ll find the Battle Workhouse (The Stone House) at www.workhouses.org.uk/Battle/
Best wishes,
Caroline
Thank you Caroline
Would anyone know how to get details on residents after 1930 please (especially in 1939 and potentially on to 1944).
Kind regards,
Jonathan