Old records found in cellars at the site of a former infirmary are providing a fascinating insight into life at Kingswood Hall in Kington, Herefordshire, before, during and after World War I.
Kingswood Hall was build on the site of a workhouse in 1900 and was used as a Red Cross Hospital during World War I, later becoming a Residential Home before being demolished.
The records - 13 ledgers, including births and deaths, infantry stock books, petty cash and salaries from about 1914-1963 - were unearthed as site owners South Shropshire Housing Association (SSHA) prepared this month to build 12 new homes for people with strong local links to the area.
SSHA Senior Development Officer, Darren Luter has handed over the ledgers to Herefordshire registrar, Elizabeth Newman at Kington Registry Office in Market Hall Street, Kington, and to Deputy Mayor and local historian, Alan Lloyd.
Elizabeth Newman said: “These records fill an important gap in local social history and will be of particular interest for many people trying to trace their family histories in the local area. We are extremely lucky that the value of the old ledgers was recognised and that they can now be safely preserved. We hear only too often of irreplaceable historic items ending up in skips, and we are delighted that these avoided that fate. “
Alan Lloyd, who is now examining the records, which will then be sent to local archives, explained that a workhouse on the site had been built in 1837 to hold 150 inmates. The infirmary was built at a cost of £3,000, in 1900
For SSHA, Darren Luter said: “The site has always played an important role in the local community. Finding the old ledgers was a complete surprise and we are delighted that they will now be preserved for posterity.
“The site will continue to play its role in the local community. The new homes are being designed to use solar panels and to be energy efficient and are specifically being built to enable people who have strong work, family or social ties to the area to be able to afford to live here.”
The new homes will be a mix of houses, bungalows and apartments and will be available for rent, shared ownership and through equity mortgage schemes through SSHA. All the homes will incorporate solar panels to provide hot water and to reduce overall energy bills and they are expected to be completed by summer 2009.