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yard overhung by beautiful trees, where the mothers and babies may sit when it
is warm enough, and almost fancy that they are in the country. The Centre was
fortunate in that it was the development of lectures, classes and other work for
women and girls of all ages, and had been going for many years in the parish of
St. Peter, Saffron Hill. Those who were responsible for this earlier work together
with many of the mothers and babies who had profited by it, formed the nucleus
of the new venture. Mrs. Colman, M.D., kindly promised to act as Hon. Medical
Officer of the Centre, and Miss Pearson, a fully qualified whole-time Superintendent,
was appointed.
Medical Consultations are held every Wednesday from 2.30 to 5 p.m. A
needlework and instruction class for mothers is held every Monday afternoon.
The Health Visitor attends every Monday and Wednesday afternoon to assist in
the work. Since Christmas there has also been a class on Thursdays for mothers
expecting their first babies at which informal advice and instruction are given
and teaching in the making of baby clothes.
In the invalid kitchen 2,420 meals were provided for invalids and nursing
mothers. There is also a Provident Club into which 53 of the mothers are paying.
From the time of opening to the end of the year 90 Holborn infants attended,
and of these 35 were still attending at the beginning of 1916.
(c) Branch Centre at London Medical Mission.
In January, 1916, a Branch with fortnightly consultations on Tuesday
afternoons was started by kind permission of Miss Stansfield at the London
Medical Mission, Short's Gardens, Endell Street, Dr. Goonetelleke, the Medical
Officer, kindly giving his services.
(d) Kingsway Crèche.
The Kingsway Creche, formed on the opening of the new building of the
West London Mission in December, 1911, has some large airy and well lighted
rooms at the top of the building. A School for Mothers in connection with the
Creche was begun in May, 1915. There were 32 infants on the register at the
end of the year and of these 9 were residents of Holborn.
On account of the opening of the Holborn Maternity Centre and the Branch
in Short's Gardens, this work has been discontinued since February, 1916, and it
is now again being continued only as a Creche, although Dr. Lydia Leney still
attends weekly as Hon. Medical Officer. About 50 babies and young children are
received daily.