The History of our Hospice

View our Timeline...

• 1787
• 1879
• 1950
• 1952
• 1971
• 1986
• 1993
• 1998
• 2000

The Foundress - Mother Mary Aikenhead

Born on the 19th January 1787 in Grand Parade, Cork
Baptised on the 4th of April into the Anglican Communion
Father was Dr. David Aikenhead, Scots Protestant
Mother was Mary Stacpole, a Catholic
Children - They had 3 girls and 1 boy
Died - Novitiate - at Harold's Cross on 22nd July 1850

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Harold's Cross Hospice Opened

Harold's Cross was first opened as a Hospice for the terminally ill on the 9th of December 1879.

First House Opened

The first Hospice House was opened on the 24th May 1950, in Millbrae Crescent, with 19 patients.

Second House Opened

The Hospice opened a Second House in 1952, in Mill Rd.

New Building Opened

St. Margaret's Hospice, East Barns Street was opened in 1971 with 60 patients, plus 50 Home Care patients.

The Royal Visit

Queen Elizabeth II paid a visit to the Hospice in 1986, much to the delight of our patients and staff alike.

Second Floor and Refurbishment Completed

In 1993 the Hospice expanded to open a Second Floor to the building and also underwent some refurbishment to the ground floor.

Education Centre Opened

Our Sir Patrick Hamill Education Centre opened on the 20th October 1998.

Pool and Spa Opened

Our Latest development was the opening of our Therapy Pool and Spa in 2000.

St. Margaret's Hospice, as it has been known since 1950, has changed it's name to St. Margaret of Scotland Hospice. As Queen of Scotland, Margaret's great influence was in the care of the poor and charity. She founded several churches including the Abbey of Dunfermline. She was a famous philanthropist who was raised to Saintly status in recognition of her charitable work.

Fifty five years ago, a Sister of Charity who had fairly recently come to Clydebank to help with the work of the Parish and school, was approached by a gentleman with advanced throat cancer who told her that he had nowhere to go, and did not know what to do, as her felt he was growing steadily worse and had no-one to care for him. As a result of this, the Sister contacted Dublin to ask if it might be possible for them to send over a Sister trained in nursing who would look after this man and others like him - thus began the Hospice, growing steadily as the demand arose.

All the houses in the Congregation made a real effort to find money to send to Clydebank. With help from the local Churches and the local community sufficient money was raised to buy a house in Millbrae Crescent, plus equipment and other things necessary to establish a small Hospice. This gentleman was the first patient admitted. The first house was quickly outgrown and the house next door was bought and taken into use. But again, in a very short time it was obvious that something further would need to be done if the needs of the sick were to be met. Once again, the Sisters decided that a purpose-built Hospice would be the only answer.

The first turf of the new Hospice was cut on the 19th July 1969 and on the 29th September 1971 the new Hospice was opened to accommodate sixty patients. In 1989 the Appeal Fund was launched for the re-development and upgrading of the Hospice, and, on the 22nd September 1993 the second floor was opened, as well as a new Day Care Centre. The 20th October 1998 marked the opening of the new state of the art Education Centre and in October 2000, a new Hydrotherapy Pool was opened.

As a result of this decision we are now responding to patient needs by building a purpose-built thirty bedded unit for patients, giving more choice and comfort at a difficult time in their lives.

View the New-Build Project Appeal.