Denton Nurses Home

Committee Proceedings

Extracts from the Committee Proceedings of the Denton Sick Nursing Association and local newspaper articles respecting Denton Nurses Home from 31 May 1897 up to 8 Feb 1904.

31 May 1897 A public meeting is held at which it is decided to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee by founding a Sick Nursing Association and building a Nurses Home.
22 Jun 1897 The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is celebrated, which includes a long procession through Denton. Full details of this appear in the Hyde Reporter on Sa, 26 Jun 1897.
23 Jun 1897 Thomas Woolfenden JP, Chairman of Denton Urban District Council (DUDC), thanks all those who helped to organise the celebrations. (John Richards was the Clerk of DUDC at this time.)
11 Oct 1897 A meeting of Subscribers for the home is held with Thomas Woolfenden in the Chair. Officers appointed are: President, Thomas Woolfenden; Vice President, William Lees of Town Ln; Treasurer, William Tweedale; Hon. Secretary, John Richards. Additionally, a General Committee of 24 ladies and gentlemen is appointed, which includes the five doctors in the district, three senior clergymen and three councillors. (The doctors were: Allkin, Griffin, Foreman, Stewart and MacGill.) Mr Woolfenden announces that William Lees of Town Ln had promised £500 towards the cost of erecting the nurses home. It is resolved that DUDC be asked to recommend a suitable plot of land for the proposed home.
8 Nov 1897 Salaries paid to nurses in other places are noted and it is agreed to appoint a nurse at
25s 0d a week (£65 per annum). Advertisements are to be placed in the Manchester Guardian and Manchester Courier.
13 Dec 1897 DUDC offers three possible sites for the home: Victoria St, Acre St and Irwin St. (None of these was used.) A short list of five nurses is drawn up and they are invited to attend for interview on Saturday next at 2:00pm. (Sat, 18 Dec 1897.) (Miss Evelyn G Eggleston of Stamford was appointed as the first nurse.)
22 Feb 1898 It is resolved that the Ladies Committee be requested to purchase such apparatus and requirements as may be absolutely necessary for carrying out the work of the association. It is resolved that the Committee cannot see their way to furnish a cottage as a home for nurses.
16 May 1898 A scale of payments and charges is considered and approved.
6 Jul 1898 It is resolved that the scale of charges suggested at the last meeting be rescinded. The nurse’s services shall be free to all the working class she may attend but voluntary contributions can be accepted. In other instances, the nurse may charge not less than
2s 6d per week or more than 1s 0d per visit. (The nurse was lodging at Whittles Farm, off the east side of Stockport Rd.)
25 Jul 1898 The treasurer presents his financial statement. The nurse made 1,737 visits to 64 patients and works 10 to 12 hours daily. William Lees offers to finance the building of a home.
3 Aug 1898 The proposed trust of the home is examined. The trustees are: William Lees, Thomas Woolfenden, Lees Broadbent, Edwin Oldham, John Wade Taylor, Frederick Bibby, Alfred Marlor, Richard Birkby and John Richards.
22 Dec 1898 The trust deed is examined for a second time and approved.
27 Feb 1899 Election of Officers.
4 Mar 1899 (The first Annual General Meeting of the Denton Sick Nursing Association is reported in the North Cheshire Herald. The employees of Denton Colliery Co Ltd donated £5.)
12 Jul 1899 Resolved that the nurse is paid £1 12s 0d per week (£83 4s 0d per annum) to cover all extras. The Ladies Committee is empowered to furnish suitable rooms for the nurse at a cost not to exceed £10. More enquiries are to be made about a site for the home. The collection of donations is discussed.
30 Sep 1899 An architect is to be engaged to produce plans, the cost of the home being £500. (The architect was Mr Luke Barlow of King St, Manchester, who also designed the manager's house at Denton Sewage Works.)
19 Mar 1900 If a doctor is present when the nurse makes a visit then she must take instruction from the doctor. Plans for the home are submitted and a Building-Sub Committee is appointed.
9 Apr 1900 The Building Sub-Committee sees tenders for the home from: Clayton (£733), Quarmby (£765), Robinson (£805) and Wallwork (£795).
21 May 1900 The Building Sub-Committee view amended plans and tenders for the home and it is agreed that they be adopted.
4 Jun 1900 Resolved that the foundation stone shall be laid on Sat, 30 Jun 1900. A trowel for this purpose is to be purchased to present to Mrs Lees (née Hannah Louisa Cartledge) who is to lay the stone.
15 Jun 1900 Messrs Birkby and Bibby are to arrange the time for the laying of the foundation stone with the Cycle Parade Demonstration Committee and for the procession to be at the foundation stone laying. A letter from Messrs S Taylor & Co, Moorfield Mills, is read and forwarded to local papers. It concerns the help received from the nurse at the recent fire at the mills and their £5 donation. William Lees is to be thanked for his donation.
21 Jun 1900 It is arranged that the foundation stone is to be laid at 2:30pm (Sat, 30 Jun 1900) and a suitable inscription is to be put on the trowel.
30 Jun 1900 (Mrs Lees laid the foundation stone at 2:30pm but the details were not recorded in the Proceedings.)
4 Aug 1900 The North Cheshire Herald reports that as a result of the recent demonstration of cycle and tradesmen that the local Sick Nursing Association benefited by £64 17s 11½d. (There was a late account of the laying of the foundation stone. Unfavourable weather and stagnation of trade were referred to. The nurse was rendering excellent services.)
11 Oct 1900 The Cycle Parade Demonstration Committee is to be thanked for their contribution to the funds. (The rest of this meeting was concerned with general business.)
25 Jan 1901 (This meeting was concerned with the purchase of apparatus and appliances, the nurse’s holidays and the particulars of three patients, namely Mrs Robinson of Old Broom Ln, Betty Collier of Taylor St and Mrs Scholes of Alpha Terrace. Mary Alice Robinson died of a stroke, aged 51 years and Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Collier died of old age and poverty, aged 85 years.
The nurse was to have one month’s holiday split into two parts.)
31 Jan 1901 An account is to be opened with the Denton Branch of the Manchester and District Banking Company (on the corner of Market St and Victoria St). A deed box is to be procured for the trust deed, which is to be deposited at the bank. The Building Sub-Committee is empowered to execute the contract with Mr Joseph Clayton to build the home.
19 Feb 1901 During the year, the nurse made 2,187 visits to 103 patients. She is praised for the work she did at the fire at Messrs Taylor’s Mill and the explosion at Messrs Joseph Wilson & Sons. The Cycle Parade Demonstration Committee is thanked again. Building of the home is now in progress. The Committee thank all those who have given donations.
20 May 1901 A further payment of £100 is to be made to Mr Joseph Clayton for building the home.
1 Jul 1901 Resolved that the Hon. Secretary is to write to Mr Joseph Clayton asking him to expedite completion of the home. The Committee express their deep sympathy to the nurse following the death of her mother.
30 Jul 1901 Resolved that the home is to be opened on the 22 Sep 1901 and that the wife of William Lees is to be invited to perform the opening ceremony at 6 o’clock. Mrs Lees is to be presented with the key. (This date was subsequently changed.) Resolved that the Liberal Club is to be asked to lend their room for a conversazione (social gathering to hear talk about and discuss topics relating to the new home) commencing at 7 o’clock. Admission to be 1s 0d, refreshments extra.
7 Aug 1901 Resolved that a sale of work is to be held on 19 Oct 1901 commencing at 2:30pm, the proceeds to go towards furnishing the home, the price of admission being 1s 0d and 6d after 7 o’clock.
29 Aug 1901 William Lees is thanked for furnishing the home and paying £50 to the institution as reimbursement of the £50 they paid DUDC for the land. The proposed sale of work is not to take place. Mrs Lees is to be asked to open the home at 4 o’clock on Sat, 19 October 1901. A gold key is to be purchased for the opening ceremony. Admission to the home to be 2s 0d and after tea, 1s 0d. Tea to be provided at the Conservative Club at 5 o’clock with entertainment at 7 o’clock. The Conservative Club is to be thanked for their annual subscription of one guinea.
17 Sep 1901 Resolved that an advertisement is placed for caretakers for the home. A married couple without encumbrances (no children), the man to follow his ordinary employment. Resolved that the nurse’s salary be reduced to £60 per annum on her removing to the home, to provide her own board, washing and uniform out of the above salary.
27 Sep 1901 Resolved that the resignation of Nurse Eggleston be accepted and that she shall be released on the 1 Nov 1901 or earlier. Steps are to be taken to appoint a successor. Salary to be £50 per annum with £5 for uniform, board and washing provided.
7 Oct 1901 The caretakers are to be Mr & Mrs J Roberts of Smith St. (The caretaker was Mrs Roberts and she worked unpaid.) A privet hedge is to be planted along the boundary of the home. £100 is to be paid to Mr Joseph Clayton in full settlement for building the home, making £700 in all. Mr Clayton is to put blue paving at the back of the home for £8 5s 0d.
15 Oct 1901 Nurse Hurley is appointed as District Nurse at £50 per annum, £5 to be allowed for a uniform, washing and board not included. A date is to be arranged for the resignation of Nurse Eggleston and the President is to give her a character reference.
19 Oct 1901 (The Proceedings did not record details of the opening ceremony but the Reporter Newspaper gave an account:
The ceremony commenced at the Town Hall where there were speeches and Mrs Lees was presented with the gold key. The gathering then processed to the Nurses Home where Mrs Lees declared the home to be open. There were then more speeches. The gathering then processed to the Conservative Club where there were more speeches. Mr Lees suggested that there should be two nurses. Accommodation is as follows: Ground Floor, two rooms, kitchen and storeroom; First Floor, five rooms and WC; Cellar, one room; Outside, rear garden with WC and garage, possibly added later.)
21 Oct 1901 A safe is to be purchased for the Committee. The home is to be insured with Sun Insurance against fire for a yearly premium of
10s 0d. (General business was conducted.)
17 Jan 1902 The question of a second nurse is postponed. The nurse is allowed to use a cab where necessary. Doctors to be notified that the emergency beds are now ready. A second nurse can be employed should the beds be used. Mr Thomas Woolfenden is unwell.
5 Feb 1902 Mrs Roberts resigns as caretaker and Mrs Carradice of Newton St, Flowery Field, is her replacement.
24 Feb 1902 (General business is conducted, including making changes to the rules. The nurse’s services shall be free to all the working classes but offerings can be received.)
Undated 1902 (The Reporter Newspaper gave an account of the Annual General Meeting held in the Committee Room of the Town Hall.)
12 May 1902 Resolved that a set of rules should be printed for the guidance of nurses and that these are to be sent to all doctors as well. Each nurse is entitled to one month’s holiday per annum, taken in two parts, and she shall give a fortnight’s notice of a holiday. Nurses shall undertake no other work.
25 Jul 1902 The caretaker is to be allowed one week’s holiday during wakes week, providing the nurse is willing to look after herself and the home during this period.
23 Sep 1902 Nurse Hurley’s salary to be advanced by £5 per annum. A second nurse is to be engaged at £45 per annum, £5 for uniform if possible.
16 Oct 1902 Nurse Hughes is to be written to for further particulars.
27 Oct 1902 Nurse Hurley has tendered her resignation. Nurse Hughes has been interviewed. Nurse Hughes is to be engaged at £38 per annum plus £5 for a uniform.
24 Nov 1902 Nurse Hughes has tendered her resignation.
8 Dec 1902 (A short list of four nurses has been drawn up from 14 applicants.)
12 Dec 1902 Nurse Kate G Milliken is appointed at a salary of £52 per annum plus £5 for a uniform. Mrs Carradice requests a salary and it is resolved that she shall be paid 2s 6d per week while Nurse Hughes was residing at the home, that is, a total of 15s 0d.
9 Feb 1903 A draft of the declaration of furniture is to be forwarded to Messrs Lawson Coppack and Hart for endowment on the trust deed. The trustees are to meet annually to examine the exterior, interior, furniture and fittings of the home.
9 Feb 1903 The Annual General Meeting is held in the Committee Room of the Town Hall. Nurses have made 3,914 visits to 155 patients showing an increase of 153 visits.
9 Feb 1903 £200 to be invested in DUDC at 3½%. Nurse Kate G Milliken’s salary to be advanced by £5 per annum from the next payday.
21 May 1903 Nurse Kate G Milliken is to be allowed to take a month’s holiday all at once. Mrs Carradice has again requested a salary and this is declined.
Summer 1903 The Reporter Newspaper gives an account of a garden party held at Hale, Cheshire.
(This is where Mr and Mrs Lees have moved to from Denton.) Thomas Woolfenden JP has died.
17 Aug 1903 A letter of condolence is to be sent to Mrs Woolfenden and family, which is to be engrossed on vellum. Nurse Kate G Milliken has tendered her resignation. Nurse Kane is appointed as District Nurse at a salary of £52 per annum plus £5 for a uniform, board and washing not provided. She is to be allowed 8s 6d for travelling expenses.
6 Oct 1903 The resignation of the caretaker, Mrs Carradice, is accepted.
15 Oct 1903 Resolved that four applications from Denton residents for the post of caretaker are to be interviewed by the Committee on Monday next.
19 Oct 1903 Mr & Mrs George Bruckshaw of Acre St are appointed as caretakers.
4 Dec 1903 Nurse Kane has tendered her resignation.
18 Dec 1903 The Committee consider three applications for the position of nurse and invite Nurse Hamer, Nurse Harrison of Connahs Quay and Nurse Laycock of West Didsbury to attend for interview.
22 Dec 1903 Nurse Harrison is appointed.
8 Feb 1904 (The Reporter Newspaper gave an account of the Annual General Meeting held in the Committee Room of the Town Hall:
The nurses made 4,260 visits to 136 patients, an increase in visits of 246 over the previous 12 months. It was said that the nurse sometimes had too much work to do but the Chairman did not think it necessary to get extra assistance. It seems that the two emergency beds in the home had not been used. It was not the intention to keep patients in the home for nursing purposes.)