On 2nd September 1939, Dr E. Neil Reid, Medical Officer for health in Stirling, was charged with setting up an emergency maternity hospital under the Department of Health for Scotland’s emergency evacuation arrangements. It was noted that the Donaldsons of Airthrey Castle had spare accommodation available. The next day war was declared.
Dr Eva Cairns, a GP in charge of Stirling Infirmary Maternity Unit, agreed to accept clinical charge of the new facility.
At the castle, bedrooms were cleared, the billiard room and gunroom were dismantled. A large bedroom became the delivery room and the adjacent bathroom had planks laid along the bath to act as an examining couch (the planks were removed when someone needed a bath!).
On 12th September 1939, with 25 beds available, a group of mothers were admitted, the first of the “Airthrey Barrage Balloons”, as they were dubbed.
Following the 1941 Clydebank Blitz, Airthrey Castle filled up immediately, some mothers bringing young children who were fed and sheltered until other provision could be made for them.
The location of the castle proved to be a success; it was pleasantly situated on ground rising to about 150 feet overlooking the loch and parkland and had extensive views in all directions. However, there were also disadvantages to the more rural location. Two cottages, renovated as accommodation for nurses, were approached by tree-shaded paths, although they were regularly infested by migrations of small frogs each year and were peculiarly squelchy underfoot in the dark. Staff also reported that the long unlit drive along the loch from the main road was scary in the dark.
The castle estate offered plenty of opportunity for fun and relaxation too; tennis, fives and a boat for fishing were available and the nurses’ Christmas parties in the fire-lit, panelled hall of the castle were reputed to be memorable events. During the winter months, skating on the frozen loch was considered safe, only if the shepherd’s dog was the first to frolic on the ice, that was until the gamekeeper’s labrador fell through!
On 17th July 1964, the government announced that the first Scottish University for 400 years would be established at Airthrey Park. The University of Stirling admitted its first students in September 1967.
In September 1969, the new Maternity Unit at Stirling Royal Infirmary opened and a few weeks later the hospital at Airthrey Castle closed. About 15,000 babies had been delivered in the 25 years since its emergency beginning.
Sadly, many of the records relating to the Airthrey Castle Maternity Hospital have not survived. It would be wonderful to hear from anyone who has any photographs, letters or other information relating to that time.
Please contact the Corporate Records team in Information Governance (fv.informationgovernance@nhs.scot).
