Place

Type: Hospital

The Mission Hall at (New) Seaham was used as the 22nd Durham Voluntary Aid Detachment Hospital during the First World War. It has since been demolished.

The following information comes from records held at the archives at the Museum of the Order of St John, and is used with their kind permission. Reference OSJ/1/1/12/17:

The Mission House Hospital, New Seaham
September 14th 1917

Commandant: Mrs Swallow

Hospital: This is a house kindly lent by the churchwardens of Christ Church, New Seaham, for the purpose of a hospital.

Beds: 25 beds in
6 wards

Trained staff: 1 Sister-in-Charge

Massage: There is no trained masseuse at this hospital.

VADs: 12 work in shifts. All live out with the exception of one.

Paid help: 1 Cook
2 Maids

Remarks: This little convalescent is in good order. There are all the necessary conveniences for patients, who are well cared for and happy, and the staff.

Signed: SA Swift


For further information:
Museum of the Order of St John http://museumstjohn.org.uk/research/st-john-archive/
VAD Hospitals in Northumberland and Durham 1914-1918 http://www.donmouth.co.uk/local_history/VAD/VAD_hospitals.html
Scarlet Finders http://www.scarletfinders.co.uk/181.html

Civil Parish: Dalton le Dale

Contributed by Durham County Council Archaeology Section | Durham County Record Office