AS A midwife at Glasgow’s famous Rottenrow hospital, Jean Bertram, nee Asquith, has many memories of a wonderful job. One in particular, however, stands out.
“I had to take the Christmas baby of 1961 to Yorkhill in an incubator,” she explains.
“The baby was the first born on Christmas Day, and had exomphalos (a tummy wall defect) and a heart condition.
“I held its little hand in the incubator, as we travelled all through the streets, with the Christmas lights and people moving around in the early hours.”
Jean got in touch after reading a recent Times Past article on the history of Rottenrow – the Royal Maternity Hospital – which was established as the Glasgow Lying-In Hospital on Greyfriars Wynd in 1834.
It was highly unusual for its time because it cared for unmarried women, as well as married women. It moved to Rottenrow, the street which gave the hospital its everyday name, in 1860.
The hospital went on to lead the way in major developments in obstetrics, including Murdoch Cameron’s pioneering work in caesarean sections, Munro Kerr’s research into maternal mortality, and Ian Donald’s development of ultrasound scanning. Rottenrow also became internationally renowned as a leading training centre in midwifery.
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The maternity hospital was famous all over the world, and here in Glasgow generations of mothers and babies have fond memories of the place.
Jean, now 83, started work at Rottenrow in 1961, with Pat Hindle. She went on to work at Bellshill Maternity Hospital and then Calderbank House.
Our newspaper reported the first baby born at Rottenrow on Christmas Day, 1961, was a little boy to Mrs Anna Duncan, of Townhead, at 4.45am.
Jean added: “I have thought of that baby every Christmas Day since….”
Another reader, Helen Munro, was born at Rottenrow in 1962. She told us: “My late mother used to tell me stories of this hospital and of the hill she used to have to walk up to get to it.
“It was a good hospital. So many of us children born there will always have a warm smile remembering it. My late mother spoke fondly of it - but not of that long walk….”
Over the years, our photographers have captured many happy moments at Rottenrow.
In the 50s, we snapped Cecilia Booth, senior dietician, giving advice to patients.
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In 1998, midwife Brenda Docherty was photographed with some of the babies she looked after in Rottenrow.
In February 1973, Marjorie Muir was photographed showing pregnant women posture control.
By 2001, Rottenrow had become very dilapidated and the hospital moved into a state-of-the-art extension to nearby Glasgow Royal Infirmary. The old building was purchased by the University of Strathclyde and demolished.
A beautiful garden now stands on the site, with the entrance facade preserved and a giant safety pin statue serving as a reminder of its past.
Do you remember Rottenrow? Did you work there, or were you born there? Get in touch with Times Past to share your stories and photos. Email ann.fotheringham@glasgowtimes.co.uk or write to Ann Fotheringham, Glasgow Times, 125 Fullarton Drive, Glasgow G32 8FG.
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