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Westminster Homes records
Posted: 11 May 2018 13:52
by JohnnyO
Hi all, still on the trail of my wife's elusive great grandfather.
I popped into Liverpool library yesterday evening, and found his burial record at Anfield from July 1951. His last abode was Westminster Homes. Talking to one of the assistants, and looking at the indexes, they are closed records, but she said that I may be able to contact Liverpool Records Office who may be able to give me some information about admittance and discharge dates etc. Not sure if it would have his previous address on record or why he was admitted. A charge of about £20 was mentioned, but my wife would have to prove her relationship, which may be hard without documentation.
Many thanks, John
Re: Westminster Homes records
Posted: 11 May 2018 22:30
by MaryA
I'm inclined to think that at that date the Kirkdale Homes which I imagine is the same place by a different name, was a hospital, albeit possibly what they used to call "geriatric" wards, I know my grandmother was admitted there, a bleak place, but it was due to either an illness or accident.
Yes I expect records may tell you his previous address, but you may be able to find this from street directories? The death certificate will probably give you the reason he was admitted, not 100% definite on that but likely, and also the death certificate might be the proof the Record Office need.
Re: Westminster Homes records
Posted: 12 May 2018 11:07
by JohnnyO
Hi Mary, I think it is the Kirkdale Homes. Looking at some articles, it seemed to start off as a children's home and then later became an adult establishment. It said that a lot of dementia patients ended up there, but also those with old age.
Would the library be the best place for street directories, or are they on Ancestry and FMP also? Time to look for another death certificate from GRO!
Re: Westminster Homes records
Posted: 12 May 2018 13:39
by Blue70
If you have an idea of the area where he lived you can search/browse the electoral registers on Ancestry. Use Search at 5 year intervals, then browse in between. I found my great grandfather recorded at St Joseph's Home in Belmont Road in 1955.
Blue
Re: Westminster Homes records
Posted: 12 May 2018 23:08
by JohnnyO
Thanks Blue. He was in Westminster House in 1950; not sure where he was in 1945. Must speak to one of my wife's elderly aunts and see who has all the certificates!
Re: Westminster Homes records
Posted: 13 May 2018 00:38
by Blue70
See if he was there in 1949, 1948 etc. At the 1950 electoral record take a note of the ward and polling district at the top of the page and where the image is in the collection. Then change the year and look for a similar page in a previous year.
Blue
Re: Westminster Homes records
Posted: 13 May 2018 15:04
by JohnnyO
I had a look and following on from your tip Blue got the Kirkdale Home records for 1949 (presume it changed its name to Westminster House afterwards) but no Clifford Smith there, so will have to see where he was then.
In 1920, 1925 and 1930 it looks like he was in Candia Street Kirkdale, firstly with Alice Maud, and then latterly with different people, a man in 1925 and a couple in 1930. Maybe he rented a room to them?
Re: Westminster Homes records
Posted: 13 May 2018 16:01
by Bertieone
1950,
Re: Westminster Homes records
Posted: 13 May 2018 16:29
by JohnnyO
Thanks Bertie; that is the record for 1950 I have, and he was there in 1951 when he died. He must have been there for about 12 months. I need to speak to relatives to see where he went after 1930 and Candia Street. He was not a popular man with his family, so most of them will not have much interest in him.
Re: Westminster Homes records
Posted: 13 May 2018 21:22
by Katie
There is a Register of deaths for Westminster House, these are not closed, and are open. It may be worthwhile looking at them to see if it gives a admission date etc etc.
Re: Westminster Homes records
Posted: 13 May 2018 22:08
by JohnnyO
Katie wrote: ↑13 May 2018 21:22
There is a Register of deaths for Westminster House, these are not closed, and are open. It may be worthwhile looking at them to see if it gives a admission date etc etc.
Thanks Katie. Are these held at Liverpool library?
Re: Westminster Homes records
Posted: 14 May 2018 09:19
by JohnnyO
JohnnyO wrote: ↑13 May 2018 22:08
Katie wrote: ↑13 May 2018 21:22
There is a Register of deaths for Westminster House, these are not closed, and are open. It may be worthwhile looking at them to see if it gives a admission date etc etc.
Thanks Katie. Are these held at Liverpool library? I had totally forgotten but I received an email from GRO saying that my copy death certificate for Clifford Smith was awaiting download. I had ordered it on 4th May and totally forgot about it, and was going to order it again today by accident!
When and where died was 241 Westminster Road (Kirkdale Homes). Dock labourer of no fixed abode. He died of heart disease and chronic bronchitis, so not dementia as I thought might have been the case. It is definitely the correct Clifford Smith as the informant was my wife's grandfather, whose address is correct and known.
Would still be interested to see when he was admitted and previous address if on record.
Thanks, John
Re: Westminster Homes records
Posted: 14 May 2018 09:23
by Katie
Yes John, they are at Liverpool Archives. 352 SOC
Re: Westminster Homes records
Posted: 14 May 2018 09:25
by JohnnyO
Katie wrote: ↑14 May 2018 09:23
Yes John, they are at Liverpool Archives. 352 SOC
Smashing, many thanks Katie. A visit is in order
ps not that it makes much difference, but the forum clock is an hour slow
Re: Westminster Homes records
Posted: 14 May 2018 14:57
by MaryA
JohnnyO wrote: ↑14 May 2018 09:25
ps not that it makes much difference, but the forum clock is an hour slow
I did look into this recently and discovered that it is the user's own settings that need to be amended.
Click on your name to get your Profile
Then click on the Edit Profile
Then the Board Preferences tab
Your timezone needs to be UTC +1 hour - Europe/London - or of course the timezone for wherever you live.
Re: Westminster Homes records
Posted: 14 May 2018 15:16
by JohnnyO
Thanks Mary, time now sorted
Re: Westminster Homes records
Posted: 17 May 2018 14:56
by Blue70
JohnnyO wrote: ↑13 May 2018 15:04
I had a look and following on from your tip Blue got the Kirkdale Home records for 1949 (presume it changed its name to Westminster House afterwards) but no Clifford Smith there, so will have to see where he was then.
In 1920, 1925 and 1930 it looks like he was in Candia Street Kirkdale, firstly with Alice Maud, and then latterly with different people, a man in 1925 and a couple in 1930. Maybe he rented a room to them?
Found him at Kirkdale Homes in 1949 but he was not there in 1948:-
Blue
Re: Westminster Homes records
Posted: 18 May 2018 08:46
by JohnnyO
Thanks Blue, didn't have that one. I also popped in to the library in Liverpool to look at the record as suggested by Katie, but had to order it as it is not available immediately, so booked a slot and going again tomorrow.
Depending on what that shows, I may have to order a paid search from the archivist to look at the closed record.
Re: Westminster Homes records
Posted: 20 May 2018 12:13
by JohnnyO
I called in to Liverpool library yesterday and viewed the record for Clifford Smith. He was admitted on 10th September 1946. I would like to post an image as I could do with some help on the record, but since photobucket has gone I can't find the instructions to embed an image.
Thanks, John
Re: Westminster Homes records
Posted: 20 May 2018 12:24
by Bertieone