Professional nurse 1911

[AlanBoyd]

4 August 1900: Croydon's Weekly Standard

[an item in what seems to be an editorial section]

Changes have taken place in the ownership and occupation of residences in Newport Pagnell during the past few years, but the most recent change is that of the purchase of Tickford Lodge (the late residence of Mr. A. Bullard) by Sister Louisa Mary for the purpose of converting it into a Convalescent or Home of Rest. With this object in view the residence has undergone some extensive alterations, especially in the matter of drainage, so that its sanitary arrangements are now perfect, and it is admirably fitted for what its proprietoress has intended it to be. This work has been performed under the instructions of one of the most prominent Sanitary Engineers in the country, and a gold medalist of the International Health Exhibition, Mr. F. C. Lynde, of Manchester, and the practical carrying out of the work has been entrusted to Mr. Broad, builder, of Malvern, and under his trusted foreman, Mr Tomkiss, and a number of clever and experienced workmen, has been carried out in a most successful and highly satisfactory manner. The Home, which will in future be known as St Margaret's, is situated immediately adjoining the London road and therefore is especially convenient for approach, whilst on its western side are prettily laid out grounds and a very extensive and commanding view of the open country beyond, with the famous Brickhill hills in the distance. That Newport Pagnell should therefore have been chosen as a place for convalescents or a home in which to find rest we are not at all surprised, for it is undoubtedly a healthy town as proved by medical certificates, and is situated in a district which ought to command greater attention by reason of its natural charms than it has hitherto done. We trust the Home in question will therefore be successful, and that the town of Newport Pagnell may be still further regarded as a health resort either in a public or private sense, for it will tend not only to popularise the town but also bring increased prosperity. To this end we have laboured –our desire being to foster and encourage anything calculated to improve and benefit Newport Pagnell– but though the result has been slow, there is, we hope, an upward tendency towards increased advancement and progress, and it is by such initial steps to which we have alluded that we sincerely trust the town will mount to a higher state of prosperity, and cause it to be not in name only, but in fact, the undoubted Metropolis of North Bucks.

[Andy J2022]

My immediate reaction was to think about how nurses could be unprofessional

Leaving  aside why she was in the household, I think your comment above is itself worthy of comment. The professionalisation of nursing is a comparatively new thing, in the overall history of medicine. We are all aware of the enormous changes in nursing practices advocated by Florence Nightingale but are perhaps less aware that these took decades to be universally recognised. Even at the end of the nineteenth century only around half of all nurses were being formally trained, as opposed to be being trained on the job. And it wasn't until 1919 that anyone thought it necessary to maintain a formal register of qualified nurses. I suspect that Ethel Helmore especially proud of being a professional nurse, at a time when many were still untrained.

[AlanBoyd]

It seems that Sister Louisa and Miss Sterling Stuart were in partnership from the outset (27 July 1901: Croydon's Weekly Standard).

[Darnity]

Thanks everyone for the additional info.

I now have Ms Stirling Stuart's Will which doesn't say anything very useful - just that she leaves her entire estate to her niece Mrs Helen Constance Stuart Stevenson with no information about what this might comprise of such as the house.

She also leaves some small bequests - £100 to her lady's maid Elizabeth Potter and £50 to Arthur Johnson "if still in my service at the time of my death".

Re the names Tickford Lodge and St Margaret's 80 Tickford Street - 80 Tickford Street was known as Tickford Lodge when Mr Bullard lived there. When he moved to other premises in Tickford Street he took the name Tickford Lodge with him to his new home and so 80 Tickford Street was renamed St Margaret's.

Amazing what social and local history an entry on a census can lead to.

Thanks again to everyone who has contributed to this thread.

[MollyC]

You might want to check that date

There were Registries of Deeds in three counties only, for many years previously: Middlesex, Yorkshire WR & NR.  The WR one was wound up in 1971, I don't know about the others, so there is a three year gap in records there.  There was nothing in Bucks. in 1981 - I have recently been involved with the sale of a house there, which was not registered.