From Bombs to Baby Bottles: The Hall’s WWII Story

On May 8, 1945, the world rejoiced as Victory in Europe was declared.

VE Day marked the end of nearly six years of devastating global conflict, during which the United Kingdom stood steadfast against Nazi Germany. From the dark days of the Blitz to the beaches of Normandy, Britain played a vital role in the struggle for freedom and the liberation of Europe.

At home, places like The Hall bore witness to the war years, whether through the echo of wartime efforts or simply standing as a place of quiet resilience amid uncertainty. Now, 80 years on from that historic moment when the guns fell silent and the global conflict drew to a close, we pause to reflect and honour the immense courage, sacrifice, and resilience of those who lived, served, and endured through those extraordinary times.

To pay tribute to this important anniversary, we are sharing stories about The Hall’s wartime role and the lives our historic Grade I-listed Jacobean mansion touched. These stories powerfully remind us that even in times of great turmoil, The Hall stood as a place of care, hope, and community.

The Hall Becomes a Maternity Home

During the Second World War, the government requisitioned country houses across the United Kingdom for the war effort. No house was exempt, with the grandest stately homes re-purposed to house everything from schools to maternity homes, from military hospitals to war supply depots.

The Hall was no exception and was temporarily used as a home for evacuee expectant mothers. Women were sent to Bradford on Avon from the East of London for the final month of pregnancy. A far cry from the rubble-strewn streets of East London, which had sustained a campaign of aerial bombing attacks at the height of the Second World War.

A Life That Began at The Hall

In a deeply moving moment, The Hall welcomed a special visitor just a few years ago—Margaret, a woman who had been born on the estate in December 1944 as one of the many evacuee babies during the Second World War.

Now a grandmother, Margaret returned for the first time since infancy, accompanied by her son, daughter-in-law, and two grandsons. Her visit bridged generations and stirred powerful memories of a time when The Hall served as a quiet refuge from the turmoil of war.

Margaret’s mother, Lillie, had been evacuated from Woolwich Road in London’s East End, arriving in Bradford on Avon with her own mother, Amy, amid a heavy snowfall. The Hall offered the relative safety of the countryside, though conditions were far from comfortable—it was sparsely furnished and bitterly cold.

Lillie stayed at The Hall with her newborn daughter until the end of December before returning to London. Margaret’s father, James, made the journey to visit his wife and meet his baby for the first time. In the challenging circumstances of wartime Britain, he found nowhere to stay and spent the night sleeping on the porch of a local pub while mother and daughter rested inside The Hall.

Service and Faith

Alice Moulton, grandmother of Alex Moulton, was the head of The Hall during the events of the Second World War. Years previously, Alice had lost not only her husband but also her two sons, so when The Hall was requisitioned as a maternity home, the widowed Mrs Moulton who was also the District Commissioner for the Girl Guides would keep a firm but hospitable eye on the young expecting mothers during their stay at The Hall.

Her eldest grandchild, John Moulton, would later recall his grandmother's reserve and strength as a widow in hosting a mother and baby home during the height of war amidst her own heartache and loss.

“We know that Granny never really got over the loss of her three men, and for a long time, the subject was hurtful to her. However, she must have quickly seen where her duty lay, and by sheer strength of character and supported by a strong religious faith, was able to steer the estate safely through the financial shocks of the Depression, then the Second War and finally her own last illness.”

A Patriotic Young Man

During the Second World War, Alex Moulton sought to serve his country during a time of great upheaval.

Alex Moulton, who was in his early to mid-20s during the war, attempted to enlist, eager to contribute to the war effort. However, his path took an unexpected turn and instead of joining the military, Alex found himself in a different, yet equally pivotal role, working in the engineering department of the Bristol Aeroplane Company. There, he worked under the esteemed Sir Roy Fedden, a figurehead in British aeronautical engineering.

Although he didn’t follow the path he had initially envisioned, Alex’s time at Bristol Aeroplane would prove formative, allowing him to hone his technical expertise and lay the groundwork for his later successes in engineering.