Eardley House Sevenoaks Kent

[Aussie Shep]

Hello I just found a relative in the England 1911 Census
Clara Alice Osborne nee NORRIS born 1878 London Hampstead, Clara is listed as a Patient aged 34yrs Married for 9yrs with 1 child born alive. there is no occupation listed. I am curious as to what sort of patient she is.
At the top of the census is Mary Robbins Head occupation is Nursing House, listed as Employer. can anyone help?

[JAP1]

Hi Aussie Shep,

I looked up Mary ROBBINS in the 1901. She is at the same place.

Some patients are recorded as of "unsound mind". And the three nurses are described as "Mental Nurse Companion".

JAP

[Aussie Shep]

Oh. Clara's father tried to commit suicide by drowning in the River Avon, it was recorded in the paper that he had suffered from depression of spirits for some months maybe she had a depression as well, do you know how I would go about retrieving records for this nursing house?

[JAP1]

In 1881, Mary ROBBINS is in Warwickshire, recorded as Head, a Lady Nurse. She has a lodger and a visitor who are both living on their own means. The lodger is recorded as of "unsound mind".

PS: Sorry, no idea about retrieving records. As it seems to have been a private nursing home, records may well not have been retained anywhere. Perhaps check the relevant county Archives Office?

[Aussie Shep]

I have Clara Alice Norris in 1901 unmarried she married Herbert in 1901 in St.Giles London. she has first child in 1903. So i am wondering when she was admitted and how long for?

[JAP1]

Hi again Aussie Shep,


I have Clara Alice Norris in 1901 unmarried she married Herbert in 1901 in St.Giles London. she has first child in 1903. So i am wondering when she was admitted and how long for?

If I were you, I too would be wondering that (and, probably, speculating).

But how to find out - or whether that will be possible - is another matter!

I notice that it was quite a small establishment in 1901. Mary was the hoh - she was Head of Nursing with a Visitor, a Boarder, three Mental Nurse Companions and three Servants but only three Patients (all in their 30s and all recorded as being of 'unsound mind'). I guess that the patients must have been well-off to have been able to afford care in such a well-staffed Nursing Home.

Just as a matter of idle interest, was it a larger establishment in 1911?

Good luck,

JAP
PS: I was interested so traced Mary further back. Her widowed father, Francis, was a miller employing four men in 1861; in 1871 he was at Kenilworth Castle with Mary and three servants (two female, one male) and was recorded as a farmer of 200 acres and owner (sic) & custodian of Kenilworth Castle.