Yes behind the kids is the old main entrance, the workhouse was at the rear of the hospital on the Derby Road entrance which housed the doctors quarters and the porters lodge and the mortuary.My late mother worked there as a cleaner in the 50's until the late 70's.
Two of my great grandmothers died there in the early twentieth century. I only discovered this when researching my family tree. Both buried in paupers graves in Flaybrick. Their husbands are there too. Poor buggers were born too soon. We moan, but I don't think some of us realize how fortunate we are.
I love this photo, They've practically finished rebuilding the hospital now, so most of this is gone. I cant help but think that its such a shame things need to be upgraded. It was oddly soothing and peaceful walking down the old corridors of St Caths.
Acclaimed in its day - for the light airy window filled walls - the ward/buildings on Church Street were the first to go - with the former Workhouse 'wards' still there being used as clinics.
My poor old Nan had a morbid fear of the place (she still saw it as 'the workhouse') - especially when her health started failing....
