Now Open! A new exhibition at the Spike

FROM WORKHOUSE TO HOSPITAL

John Redpath welcoming the Mayor of Godalming, Diana Lockyer Nibbs, with Mrs Joan Robinson, Dr Edith Faulkner and Mrs Patricia Morgan — John Redpath welcoming the Mayor of Guildford, Diana Lockyer-Nibbs, with Mrs Joan Robinson, Dr Edith Faulkner and Mrs Patricia Morgan

Researchers and guests enjoying a preview of the new exhibition — Researchers and guests enjoying the preview of the new exhibition

(with thanks to David Rose and Guildford Dragon for the fantastic coverage of the exhibition’s gala opening on 17th March 2014)

The launch night of our new exhibition was a tremendous success with 90 invited guests ranging in age from 12 to 93!

Dr Richard Nottley, our keynote speaker — Dr Richard Notley, our keynote speaker, with other guests

We were delighted to welcome ex-staff who trained and worked at St Luke’s in the 1950’s and 60’s, some travelling from as far away as Norfolk. Diana Lockyer-Nibbs, Mayor of Guildford and a long-term supporter of the Spike Heritage Centre, officially opened the exhibition and retired consultant, Richard Notley gave a fascinating keynote speech.

Guildford Dragon News covered the evening for us and the Surrey Advertiser featured the exhibition in their popular ‘from the archives’ article the same week.
We are also very pleased to be featured in this month’s (April 2014) edition of Family Tree Magazine, available at WHSmith.

P1020616-001 — The Catteshall Band came along to entertain the troops!

Since the launch, we have been busy showing visitors round the new exhibition which, at no extra cost, is part of the Spike tour, making it better value than ever! The tours, no booking required, are available every Tuesday and Saturday. The opening hours are 10 am to 4 pm. To get the most out of your visit, allow at least an hour and a half for the tour and exhibition.

P1020614-001 — Our nurse fully dressed and well behaved for the exhibition. Take a look at our behind the scene photos here.

Thanks must go to the design team of Barry Mazur and Giles Pattison. It was a really difficult task for researchers to go through two years of work and find the pictures and text which would best illustrate the life of the hospital. Barry and Giles worked sensitively with the material and have created a unique and engaging exhibition which has delighted the research team and visitors alike.

Information from the Surrey History Centre, the National Archives and personal photographs and papers create an informative display

The research team would also like to express their great appreciation for the friendly help and professional guidance of Julian Pooley and staff at the Surrey History Centre.

Our keynote speaker, Dr Richard Notley, demonstrating an old surgical device

We are now looking forward to more events over the summer. Also watch the website for more information on ‘Christmas on the Ward’ December 2014.

We hope you will visit us soon!!

A new exhibition for the Spike Heritage Centre

St Luke’s Hospital started as an infirmary ward in the Guildford Union Workhouse. It was a modern NHS General Hospital by the 1960’s.This exhibition traces its history, illustrating a bigger story; how our healthcare services evolved from workhouse infirmaries up and down the country.

(For more information about the exhibition and a press pack please contact jane@charlotteville.co.uk)

The Spike, now an award winning Heritage Centre, is the 1906 Guildford Union Vagrants and Casual Ward. Its long, cold corridor with stone-breaking cells was erected to separate the ‘undesirable’ vagrants and their disruptive influence from the structured routine of the Workhouse. It is entirely run by volunteers and has just completed a major research project into the history of modern hospitals from their Victorian roots, as a workhouse sick bay, to a modern NHS Trust.

To contact The Spike:
The Spike Heritage Centre, Warren Road, Guildford Surrey GU1 3JH
Telephone:01483 569944
Email: heritage@charlotteville.co.uk

Join us for an evening talk

We are very grateful to Marian Powell who will be giving a talk at The Spike on her life as a nurse. Marian started as a cadet nurse before commencing her training at the new Group Preliminary Training School (PTS) at St. Luke’s Hospital in October 1956, after a memorable interview with Matron Coyle!

This promises to be a very enjoyable evening and will include hat folding demonstrations! Entry is free and there will be light refreshments and a collection for the Royal Surrey’s Stereotactic Radiotherapy Campaign.

Do come and join us!

Remembering those from WW1

As we remember those who perished fighting the war, SLHHP would like to specifically remember those who were brought from the front line to the Guildford War Hospital, Warren Road.

In 1916, Warren Road Hospital was taken over by the military to treat wounded soldiers from the front.

Wounded soldiers at Guildford War Hospital

Dining Room — Wounded soldiers in the dinning room at the Guildford War Hospital – possibly at Christmas.

Australian soldiers were also treated here….some never came returned home. One such soldier was Private Francis Arthur Boyle of Queensland Australia. Boyle signed up to the 17th Battalion on the 18th January 1916 and fought in Belgium and France in the same year. By November, he was severely wounded – gut shot wound – and brought to the War Hospital here in Guildford. Sadly, he died of his injuries on Sunday 31st December 1916 and was buried at Stoughton Cemetery four days later. The sister in charge of the ward where Boyle lay was Linda Bell, and he’s what she said of his last days:

” He was unconscious for days before his death and died quite peacefully, his sister-in-law present. He was buried with full military honors in the Stoughton Cemetery, his sister-in-law attended. As I hope to leave for Australia and come from the same town as the late Pte Boyle, I intend to call and see his people…”

Her letter shows the compassion shown by the nursing staff at the hospital. Bell, herself was an Australian national, had seen her own share of tragedy when, on her way to Cameroon in 1915, the ship she was sailing on sunk at sea, drowning her colleague. Bell was saved but she lost everything. Despite this, she courageously sailed again soon after. An article which appeared in the British Journal of Nursing (April 1915) detailing her tragic voyage, stated “She evidently possesses the qualities necessary for war nursing,” and we’d have to agree.

Research Group Trip!

On 6th November our research group visited St. Bartholomew’s Museum and the Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret at St Thomas’s Hospital. Despite the constant rain and standing up all the way home on the train, the researchers maintain that it was a good day out! The visits provided plenty of food for thought and inspiration for the SLHHP exhibition in Spring 2014 and ideas will be discussed at the next research group meeting on 19th November. Pictured are Phil, Diana, Liz and Fred outside the Old Operating Theatre in Southwark -looking very cheery…. (note: the picture was taken before tackling the spiral stairs up to the garret and contemplating on surgery without anesthesia!)