Fair Mile Hospital

Asylum staff

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Photograph of senior staff
This photograph shows senior staff at the asylum, probably in the 1920s or 1930s. The staff members shown may include Dr Walter Woolfe Read, who was Medical Superintendent from 1920 to 1938, EAH Nicholls, the steward from 1922 to 1938, Dr Sidney Ernest Holder, 1st medical assistant 1909 – 1938, Dr John Charles Rohan, 2nd assistant medical officer 1925 – 1938, and PE Raynor, chaplain 1912-1948.
Document reference: [courtesy of Judy & Stuart Dewey of Pie Powder Press]

Scale of emoluments, c.1917
This is a scale of staff emoluments, meaning allowances of goods and services in addition to wages. Along with staff wage books it shows that there was a vast difference between the wages of senior staff, such as the Medical Superintendent, and the salaries of ordinary nursing and auxiliary staff. In 1917 the Medical Superintendent was paid around £1000 a year along with a furnished house including all rates and bills, and washing, produce from the garden and farm, a stable and coach house and the keep of a horse, worth an additional £250 a year, whilst the female attendants and servants were paid around £80 – £100 depending on experience and received board, lodging, washing and uniform worth £30 a year. 
Document reference: [D/H10/A4/9 (part)]

Returns of salaries, 1885
The staff wage books show some members of staff signing their names ‘x’ because they were illiterate.
Document reference: [D/H10/C2/7/3 (part)]
 
 

Staff medical examinations, 1926
This page from a staff medical examination book for 1926 shows Francis Herbert Southall, a 25-year-old ex-soldier from Cheltenham, who had applied to become a probationer nurse. He was judged to be fit for work although he had varicose veins, had had 2 toes amputated for hammer toe, and had suffered from malaria 3 times. 
Document reference: [D/H10/C1/1/1 (part)]

Photograph of nurses in the 1920s
This photograph shows a group of female nursing staff in the 1920s.
Document reference: [courtesy of Judy & Stuart Dewey of Pie Powder Press]