A nurse in an institution in Gourock, Renfrew in 1911

[tishgibbons]

Hi!
I've found an ancestor - Mary Ann RAE - listed in 1911 Census in Gourock, Renfrew one of a dozen nurses in some institution which has a Governor, Medical Officer and several nursing assistants. Two questions - what kind of an institution was/is there, a hospital? Where might she have trained or did nurses formally train at that time. She was born in 1864 (in Cluny and the family later lived in Aberdeen) so I suppose she may have 'trained' anytime from 1882 onwards? In 1905, according to her mother's death certificate, she was living in Plymouth, Devon. I've noted that she was a nurse in a nursing home for sailors but I haven't recorded how I knew that (I know, I know!) ...
Any ideas?
Tish

[AndrewP]

Hi Tish,

When you go to the ScotlandsPeople page where you click to view the census page, there should be a button near the top to take you to the header pages. These are the first few pages of the census book. Normally these pages will describe the location of the census place (area or institution), and show various summary statistics of that book data. If the census book is for that institution alone, then that will be described in these pages (once there, see the page forward / backward buttons). These pages are free of charge to view, once you have paid to view the initial census page.

All the best,

AndrewP

[Currie]

There was a Mariners' Asylum in the vicinity.

"Set in the heart of the West End of Greenock Sir Gabriel Wood's Mariners' Home is a Scottish Registered Charity care home held in trust by the Sailors' Society. We provide quality dedicated care to elderly male/female Alzheimer's, dementia and special needs. Originally for sea-farers we now provide care for non sea-farers."
http://www.sirgabrielwoods-marinershome.org/

Maybe that's it?
Alan

[tishgibbons]

Thank you both! Enlightening!!

[tishgibbons]

Hi
Andrew - thank you - I found the Header page (never knew about that) and it seems the institution was the Smithston Poorhouse and Parochial Asylum - hope it hasn't a horrendous history!
Thanks for your help
Tish

[tishgibbons]

Found this online, in case anyone's curious:

"The Smithston Poorhouse & Asylum still exists but is now called Ravenscraig Hospital ........
http://www.specialistinfo.com/data2/ARGCJ7.html


It opened in 1879 providing accommodation for 750 inmates.
During the First World War it was taken over by the military as a hospital for soldiers wounded and invalided home from France and Belgium and again it was requisitioned by the Admiralty between 1939 - 1941, it was then given to the Canadian Navy who used it as a base calling it HMCS Niobe, it returned to it's original use in 1947 and the following year it was taken over by the National Health Service and renamed Ravenscraig Hospital."

Hmmm...

Tish

[AndrewP]

Hi Tish,

I didn't get your link above to work.

See:
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Greenock/
http://renfrewshirefhs.co.uk/smithston- ... -greenock/
https://canmore.org.uk/site/181018/gree ... and-asylum
https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/a ... 31706ac6c2
https://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/h ... F3ibPZ2uUk
viewtopic.php?t=12605

All the best,

AndrewP

[Currie]

Hello Tish,

The Smithston Poorhouse and Parochial Asylum did have a pretty horrendous history.


The Evening Telegraph and Post, Wednesday, February 01, 1911;

NURSES' BATHS.

Running the Gauntlet of a Draughty Corner.

Opposing a proposal to provide bathroom accommodation in the hospital department of Smithston Poorhouse for the benefit of the nursing staff, Mr Neal Haughey, at Greenock Parish Council meeting last night expressed the opinion that as the present arrangements had been in existence since the institution was erected 30 years ago no great hardship was inflicted. Many ratepayers, when they indulged in the luxury of a bath (Laughter) had to walk a good deal further than the length of a corridor or so, and pay at the end of their journey. (Laughter.)

In seconding, Mr M'Giveran said they should be consistent, and not "throw away a bath," when no desire had been expressed for such facilities during the previous year.

Mr Lyon, who supported the proposal, was surprised that there had been no serious complaints made in the past. The time was opportune for effecting the necessary alterations. Some of those who had been opposed to the granting of the desired accommodation had changed their minds when they saw the length that the nurses had to go for a bath.

Answering Mr Haughey, Mr Lyon admitted that the existing accommodation was all inside the buildings, but to reach it the nurses had to go down three stairs and along a corridor.

There was one part of that corridor, commented Mr Laurie, so draughty that it almost took the hair off one's head. (Laughter.) It was a great mistake to make a song about the matter. The spending of £6 was not likely to "burst them." Nurses nowadays he continued, were a very much superior body —he would not say to his own mind—but undoubtedly they were so in their own, and in the opinion of doctors. Therefore, they demanded more to-day and got it. (Laughter.) He would like to remind Mr M'Giveran they were not "throwing a bath away"; they were taking one in. (Laughter.)

The motion was carried by a majority of three vote.

All the best,
Alan

[tishgibbons]

Andrew - thanks again! No, that link wouldn't work for me either but the information provided beneath it was useful to me. All of your links work - thank you!
Alan - very interesting piece - nurses here in Ireland are currently on strike and the attitude to them seems a little bit like the Mr Haughey of 1911! - thank you - it adds a bit of 'colour' to my tree!

Thanks both

Tish