http://www.downhammarketparishes.uk/parishes/stow-bardolph I don't know if this is the web page Elizabeth referred to. This one seems to indicate the Hall was used up to WW2 as a maternity home but does not say from when and who by, then as a convalescent home. Billingford is a fair step from Stow so presumably the birth referred to was an admission well in advance of the birth-a county wide facility used by GPs for potentially difficult cases or illness during pregnancy one wonders ? All you need to know about Stow though-a wonderful website all round. Rosie

Hello Rosie, you wrote:- Billingford is a fair step from Stow so presumably the birth referred to was an admission well in advance of the birth-a county wide facility used by GPs for potentially difficult cases or illness during pregnancy one wonders ? Doris was born in the 'Old Kent Road' just south of the 'Elephant & Castle' An area of hustle & bustle and moved with her parents Welling, Kent in 1936. Despite being a small town Doris missed London. Then married & pregnant was evacuated from Kent to Billingford. After the birth returned to live in Kent as soon as possible. She could not stand the peace and quiet of Norfolk. Another point is the fact the National Health did not start until 1948. So it is very hard to see a Welling doctor contacting a doctor in Norfolk. >From this I think Stow Bardolph Emergency hospital my well have been used by evacuees. I attended a school like this in Holsworthy Devon where even the teachers were evacuees. bye DaveH