As thoughts turn to Christmas at Northampton General Hospital, we look back through the years and we see how attitudes have changed to decorating the wards ready for the Christmas celebrations.
No doubt ‘Health and Safety’ concerns figure large in these changes, especially at the moment.
We can see in this photo below that in the early 20th century crepe paper streamers and greenery was fashionable.
Each ward competed to see who could produce the best decorations and we have in the archive the much coveted cup given to the best decorated ward at St Edmunds hospital, gifted by Alderman W E Coldham.
[caption id="attachment_5184" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The Old Men’s Ward St Edmund’s Hospital[/caption] I wonder if this ward won the cup, as it was photographed for a reason.
The idea of a competition to see which ward or department could rise to the challenge carried on in the 21st century.
A few more photos of Christmas past from the NGH Archive.....
....and finally, a Nativity Tableau photographed in St.
Luke’s Chapel mid-20th Century.
Written by Julia Corps Volunteer at NGH Historical Archive and Musuem.