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St Neots QuadsThe St Neots quads are a set of quadruplets who were born in 1935 to Doris Miles, living in Eynesbury, in St Neots,[1] Huntingdonshire, England. A family doctor ensured that special attention was given to their care, and they were the first British quadruplets to survive more than a few days. They were regarded as a sensation by the press, and were sponsored by a baby formula manufacturer; they were frequently called on to be present at events for publicity purposes. As of 2024, they are still living and are the oldest quadruplets in the world. Birth and after On 28 November 1935, Doris Miles gave birth to quadruplets. They were the first British quadruplets babies to survive more than a few days. In ante-natal check-ups Mrs Miles had been led to believe she was expecting twins, but later an X-ray indicated triplets. Dr E H Harrisson, District Nurse Mailing, and Mrs Miles' mother delivered the babies. They were seven weeks premature, and were very underweight. Their toenails and fingernails had not yet formed, and they were unable to maintain body temperature without artificial aid. The fourth baby to be born needed artificial respiration for 50 minutes before he started to breathe independently.[2] The babies were Ann, weighing 3 lb 12+1⁄2 oz (1,720 g), Ernest 3 lb 5 oz (1,500 g), Paul 3 lb 7 oz (1,600 g), and Michael at 2 lb 13 oz (1,300 g). The babies were also unable to suckle properly at first, and were fed from a teaspoon by Mrs Miles' mother.[2]  Newspaper reports soon publicised the birth:
Initial media attentionThe birth attracted worldwide attention. The British press immediately called them "The St Neots quads", and frequent reports of their progress were published in British and overseas newspapers. The Times newspaper reported:
The familyMrs Miles and her husband Walter lived at 13 Ferrars Avenue, Eynesbury and already had a 2-year-old son, Gordon. Walter Miles was a lorry driver, and Doris Miles was a homemaker.[2][5] Mr Miles was 28 and worked at Rowlatt Brothers in St Neots; he said "I am no longer Walter Miles, lorry driver: I am the father of the St Neots quads."[6]
Post-natal care Medical knowledge about the care of premature babies was remarkably advanced in 1935, and it was quickly identified that specialist care would be essential. This could not be provided properly in the Miles home, and the quads were taken on 30 November to the home of Dr Ernest Harrisson at the Shrubbery in Church Street, St Neots. A dedicated nursery was provided there in a south-facing bedroom in Harrisson’s home. It was necessary to keep them in a germ-free environment, with the temperature maintained at 78 deg F (26 deg C) and a humid atmosphere. A team of four nurses from Great Ormond Street Hospital attended to them, free of charge,[note 1] to attend to their care. Milk was brought twice a day from Queen Charlotte's Hospital, London; it was skimmed and diluted with water to enable the babies to digest it. They were not bathed in water, but were rubbed with olive oil. The danger of infection meant that their parents were permitted only infrequent visits to their new babies.[2] The Times newspaper elaborated:
Childhood bronchitis On 27 July 1939, the Times newspaper reported:
Fund raising Mr Miles' income at the time was £3 a week. Harrisson estimated that the care of the quads would be extremely expensive, amounting to about £5,000, and he started a public fund raising appeal. A limited contribution was available to the family in the form of a Royal Bounty, first established by Queen Victoria in 1849, for each child of a multiple birth "to enable the parents to meet sudden expenses thrown upon them". Mrs Miles received a bounty of £4 soon after the birth of the babies. A local newspaper, the St Neots Advertiser, started an appeal fund on 29 November, and donations came from local people and those who lived much further away. The quads continued to thrive, and on 1 February 1936 they were given a first bath with soap and water. Their lives continued to be carefully regulated and their diets were monitored daily. Gradually they were able to digest ordinary breast milk and then moved on to unsweetened condensed milk with added sugar.[2] Public eventsSt Bartholomew's Hospital in London held a children's fun event in July 1939. As well as funfair entertainments, and some gruesome medical exhibits, the St Neots Quads made an appearance on 5 July 1939.[9] When they were 21 years old, an event was staged in Grosvenor House in London at which they and three other sets of quadruplets took part. The other quads were 8, 8, and 6 years old respectively. Ann Miles cut an elaborate cake which her mother had baked. The event was portrayed in a Pathé newsreel as the Miles Quads' birthday party, but it was obviously a media stunt.[10] Sponsorship and newsreel appearancesSoon after the birth, the babies moved to Cow & Gate 'Frailac', a formula milk, followed by Cow & Gate Half-cream Milk, and this began a longstanding connection with the Cow & Gate Company. The company supported the Miles Quads for many years, and when the family moved to a new home at 27 New Street, St Neots,[note 2] Cow & Gate gave financial assistance toward making a nursery there, as well as providing baby milk and weaning foods, and giving them birthday presents. When they reached 21 years of age in 1956, in those days considered reaching adulthood, Cow & Gate paid for a grand 21st birthday party. The Quads appeared in many Cow & Gate advertising campaigns, and the income this provided helped Mr and Mrs Miles with the expense.[2] Blue plaque A blue plaque commemorating the birth of the quads has been fixed to the building at 27 New Street (in the Tan Yard elevation), stating "This house was home to the St Neots Quads. Born at Ferrers (sic) Avenue, Eynesbury on 28th November 1935 to Mr and Mrs Miles, they attracted national interest. A nursery was added to this house by H F Bull and sons and opened by the Minister of Health on 30th June 1936". On Wednesday 9 March three of the quads, Paul, Ernest and Ann, returned to unveil the blue plaque; Michael was unable to attend as he lives in South Africa.[11] 79th birthdayThe Mirror (newspaper) ran a headline on the 79th birthday in 2014, "Fourmidable: The world's oldest quads toast their 79th birthday against all the odds". Some information about their adult life was published in the article:
The St Neots quads are thought to be the oldest quads in the world.[6] Other multiple birthsThe St Neots Quads were the first quadruplets to survive in the United Kingdom, but two other surviving multiple births had taken place. The Dionne quintuplets, identical girls, had been born in Canada on 28 May 1934,[13] and the Johnson quadruplets in New Zealand.[14] Notes
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