MEMORIES are being sought of a 19th century maternity hospital that also served as a sick bay for evacuees from London during the Second World War.

Cefn Ila was part of the Cefn Ila estate in Usk until the mansion was destroyed by fire in 1973. Women and children also lived there during the war and generations of local people have strong memories and links with the house’s history and gardens.

Coed Cadw- The Woodland Trust, which bought the estate that includes a Victorian pleasure grounds orchard in 2007, has joined with Usk Museum of Rural Life to launch the The Discover Cefn Ila project to collect memories of that time.

As well as restoring the site for wildlife and people they are seeking to preserve its history. With the help of £297,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the museum Woodland Trust, volunteers are hoping to record a range of oral histories of the site.

Vivi O’Mahoney who is leading the project said: “We know there are people around who worked in the Maternity Unit, who gave birth there and we’d like to hear their stories.”

Community Development Officer, Amelia Lake added: “The arboretum, orchard and walled garden are being restored and we’d love to hear from anyone with memories of being in those parts of the estate too.”

Barry Embling, site manager for Cefn Ila, said: “Cefn Ila is so important to the local community we’d like to make sure it’s stories aren’t lost to history and to bring people back here. That’s why the site is being restored and why we are inviting people to come and enjoy it."

The Woodland Trust is asking people to get in touch to share their memories and have them recorded during the Apple Day held at the site on October 18. 

The memories will be stored in perpetuity as well as created into a display for Usk Museum.

Anyone with a story can contact Vivi on 07842115377 or vivio’mahoney@woodlandtrust.org.uk or Amelia on amelialake@woodlandtrust.org.uk to tell your story.