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Centre, temporary accommodation was found, by the kindness of the
Vicar of St. Ann s Church, in the Memorial Hall, St. Ann's Road.
Here the activities of the Centres were carried on from April, 1916,
to August, 1918.
THE CHESTNUTS WELFARE CENTRE, ST. ANN'S
ROAD.—The late Councillor Spencer, who took much interest in the
development of the work concerning infancy and childhood, suggested
to the Council that "Chestnuts House," situated in Chestnuts Park,
St. Ann s Road, would be likely to prove suitable premises for this
important department, and with the concurrence of the Local Government
Board and the County Council, the Maternity and Child Welfare
Centre was established there in August, 1918. The Branch Library,
which up to that date was located at the "Chestnuts" was moved to
the Education Offices, Philip Lane, where it has proved to meet the
needs of a larger section of the community.
The Chestnuts allows of the following activities being carried
on. The first floor has a large weighing room, accommodating 50 to
60 mothers and their children. Here children are weighed on four
afternoons a week, viz.: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
There is a commodious waiting room, where mothers, whose babies are
to be seen by the doctor, are accommodated. This room is also used
on Wednesday afternoons for health talks by the Health Visitors. The
doctor's room is the only other one on this floor. Dr. Alice King
attends on Thursday and Friday afternoons to give advice and simple
remedies for infants referred to her ty the Health Visitors.
The second floor accommodates the Cot Centre, the Cot kitchen,
the Ante Natal Clinic and the nurses' quarters. The top floor has
the caretaker's quarters and a nurse's bedroom.
The basement gives storage room for prams, and has kitchen,
scullery and a dining room for the feeding of necessitous, expectant
and nursing mothers.
THE ANTE NATAL CLINIC was inaugurated by Dr.
Rachel McKenzie, who, when she was appointed to her present post
at Woolwich, was succeeded by Dr. Dorothy Chick. Under their able
management the Ante Natal Clinic became a feature of the Tottenham
scheme. Dr. Dorothy Chick fell a victim to the influenza scourge in