Prudhoe & District Local History Society
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  • About Prudhoe
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  • Images & lists of soldiers killed in WWI & WWII
  • St Mary Magdalene Cemetery/2
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  • Gallery
    • 1. Places >
      • 1.1 Eltringham
      • 1.2 High Prudhoe
      • 1.3 Low Prudhoe
      • 1.4 West Wylam
      • 1.5 Mickley
      • 1.6 Hexham
      • 1.7 Stocksfield
      • 1.8 Ovingham/Ovington
      • 1.9 West Prudhoe
      • 1.10 Road Ends, Front Street and Stonyflat Bank
      • 1.11 Castle Road and Western Avenue
    • 2. Activities >
      • 2.1 Entertainment
      • 2.2 Football
      • 2.3 Cricket
      • 2.4 Bowls
      • 2.5 Athletics
      • 2.6 Cycling
      • 2.7 Swimming
      • 2.8 Golf
      • 2.9 Other Sports
    • 3. Public Services and Occasions >
      • 3.1 Public Services
      • 3.2 Fire Service
      • 3.3 Post Boxes
      • 3.4 Public Occasions
      • 3.5 Wars and Victory
      • 3.6 War Memorials
      • 3.7 Maps
      • 3.8 Wells of Prudhoe
      • 3.9 End of the Penny Toll
      • 3.10 Prudhoe By-Pass Construction
    • 4. Church and School >
      • 4.1 Church and Chapel
      • 4.2 Schools
    • 5. Commerce and Industry >
      • 5.1 Shops
      • 5.2 Industry
      • 5.3 Mining
      • 5.4 Public Houses
      • 5.5 Agriculture/Horticulture
      • 5.6 Other Commerce
      • 5.7 Coking in Prudhoe
    • 6. Travel >
      • 6.1 Crossing the Tyne
      • 6.2 Transport
    • 7. Castle/Hall/Hospital >
      • 7.1 Prudhoe Castle
      • 7.2 Prudhoe Hall
      • 7.3 Prudhoe Hospital
      • 7.4 Prudhoe Hospital Walled Garden
    • 8. People >
      • 8.1 Social Groups
    • 9 General >
      • 9.1 Now and Then
      • 9.2 Other
    • Liddle family photographs
    • Guest Area - North Tyne
  • Poss Sticks Book Launch 2012
  • St Mary Magdalene Cemetery/1
  • Extracts from 'A Prudhoe Likeness'
    • Section 1 >
      • PROUD HEIGHTS OR PRUDHA’S HILL
      • FROM VILLAGE TO TOWN
      • OUT OF OVINGHAM AND MICKLEY
      • IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO FELL
      • RAIDS AND RATIONING
      • JOHN WESLEY SPARKS A FLAME
      • STARTED BY EIGHT MEN FROM WYLAM!
      • FROM FAMILY SEAT TO HOSPITAL & PLACE OF WORSHIP
      • PALACE OR POLLUTED ‘RAA’?
      • WATER FOR MAN AND BEAST
    • Section 2 >
      • END OF THE PENNY TOLL
      • “THE LITTLE VILLAGE DOWN THE BANK”
      • INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION
      • FROM LIME TO DEMOLITION
      • TRAGEDY FOR PRUDHOE
      • FIRE! STOKE THE BOILER!
      • A CANNY PINT AND MORE BESIDES
      • THE COAL BOOM BRINGS SCHOOLS
      • “FALCONER’S ACADEMY”
      • PRUDHOE NATIONAL SCHOOL
    • Section 3 >
      • FOUNDED BY THE LIDDELLS
      • A TRANSIENT POPULATION, SCHOOL FEES & EPIDEMICS
      • THE NEW SCHOOLS
      • EDUCATION FOR YOUNG AND OLD
      • LET THERE BE LIGHT
      • THE EDGE WELL
      • A NEW USE FOR THE CASTLE?
      • ALONG THE FRONT STREET
      • FAMILY ENTERPRISES
      • UP “THE TOON”
    • Section 4 >
      • HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
      • THE WIDER WORLD OPENS UP
      • STATION GATE Eltringham
      • THE POINTS
      • A PROUD SPORTING TRADITION
      • MEN OF SPORTING TALENT
      • THE MEN IN WHITES
      • ON THE GREEN
      • IT BEGAN BESIDE ‘THE SUEY
      • FROM THE REX TO WATERWORLD
    • Section 5 >
      • OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY
      • FANCIERS OF FEATHER
      • A SLAP-UP TEA AND A GOSSIP
  • Personal Memories
    • Margaret Hepworth
    • Nancy Snaith
    • Marian Smailes
    • Jim and Anne Standish
    • Marcus Gatenby
    • Bill Hunter
    • Norman Roberts
    • Peggy Ballantyne
    • Ronnie Howson
    • Bernard Stewart (West Wylam)
    • Joe Wallis
    • John Currey
    • Dr Donald Golightly
    • Interviews with woman from Heddon
Photographs relating to this article, including those in this extract, may be found in Gallery 7.1
In 1943 an Executive Committee was formed with Rev R E Robson as Chairman. The objective was to raise £20,000 for Prudhoe’s own cottage hospital. The Committee favoured a cottage hospital rather than a maternity hospital.

Money was to be raised by various means, street collections, trades union to recommend a weekly contribution from their members, bring and buy sales, hospital saving certificates, concerts organised by Mr Wright at the cinema, and families were asked how much they were prepared to subscribe.

Builders and contractors thought that the Castle could be converted into a cottage hospital. Therefore, Mr Potts who held a 20 year lease on Prudhoe Castle and had 13 years still to run, was asked if he was willing to vacate the castle if suitable accommodation could be found.

Although many initiatives were started to raise money, it became obvious to the Committee that they would need a substantial boost to their fund. They then asked the neighbouring villages of Wylam, Ovingham, Ovington and Stocksfield to co-operate and raise sufficient money to endow a ward. The name of the fund was changed to Prudhoe and District to accommodate this.

In September 1947, four years after the Memorial Hospital fund was started, a financial statement showed only:

£790.14s5d in the General Fund and

£23.3s.5d in the Administration Fund

The fund fell well short of its target of £20,000 and owing to lack of public support it was closed.

Then began the task of disposal of funds. Public notices were put in the papers requesting subscribers to apply for a refund, or give instructions as to how they wished their funds to be disposed of. Prudhoe Urban District Council and ICI workers sent in forms for a refund (they had been paying 2s.2d per week). Many workers gave their refund to the Royal Victoria Infirmary. Mr Wright at the Rio Cinema, who had held concerts, had his refund of £65 .0s.3d returned and given to the Cinematography Trade and Benevolent Fund.

When all monies that could be refunded were paid £511 .3s.2d remained in the fund. It was suggested by T Philipson in a letter to the Rev R E Robson that the balance went towards a large concert hail, reading room and café.