A BRONZE plaque from the former Lucy Baldwin Hospital, which was assumed stolen, has been found.

The plaque was erected at the Stourport site to mark the opening of the hospital on April 16, 1929 by Prime Minister and husband of Lucy Baldwin, Stanley Baldwin.

After the mental health unit of the hospital was closed, valuable items, including the plaque, were transferred to Kidderminster Hospital, where they have been in storage ever since.

Andy Baker, who works at Kidderminster Hospital, remembered reading an article in The Shuttle last year about the plaque going missing.

He searched through boxes which were brought from Stourport and found the plaque alongside the other valuable items.

He then contacted Pauline Annis, who had been behind the search for the missing plaque for the past four years.

Mrs Annis said: “I’m delighted - I couldn’t believe it had been found. There was vandalism to the inside of the hospital and was clear to see that people had got in there.

“The building had been emptied before it was demolished but nobody knew where the plaque had been taken to. We thought metal thieves had got to it as, being bronze, it’s really heavy so would have a lot of value to it.”

Alongside the plaque, the findings included two portraits of Lucy Baldwin and a water colour painting of the original hospital.

Mrs Annis said: “Hopefully we can take the items back to Stourport and put them on display in the new library or somewhere in the civic centre.

“They need to be on display somewhere people can actually see them as a lot of people in Stourport where born at the maternity unit in the hospital so will bring good memories.

“I’m sure everyone in the town will be happy to see the plaque found.”