Memorial Details

Cots 1914-18 Ingham Infirmary

W101.02

WESTOE

NZ 367643

Ingham Infirmary, South Shields. (demolished)

South Shields Museum & Art Gallery Ref: TWCMS 2013.189 2nd Plaque TWCMS 2013.193

1914-1918

In November 1924 the Mayoress of South Shields (Mrs. Druery) handed over a cheque for £12,000 to Sir James Readhead for endowing children’s cots in the infirmary.
In October 1926 24 cots were dedicated at the opening of the hospital extension in

Endowment of 24 children's cots at £500 per cot, in a new wing of the Infirmary. There are plaques giving the details.
1. Brass plaque with white painted lettering using Roman capitals throughout.
2. Brass plaque. There is a single line border. The lettering is in elongated Roman capitals.

One brass and one bronze plaque.

Brass tablet:
South Shields War Memorial
24 cots in this ward
were endowed by
the inhabitants of this borough
in memory of those
who laid down their lives
in the Great War
1914-1918.

Bronze tablet:
This tablet is erected by the
trustees and governors of the Ingham Infirmary
to record their appreciation
of the services rendered to the institution by
Mrs. Glenville Druery
during her year of office as Mayoress, 1923-1924,
by whose initiative and enterprise the sum of £13,980
was raised for the provision of a memorial
to the men and women of the borough who served
their King and Country in the Great War 1914-1918.
£12,000 of this sum was handed over to the trustees
on the 8th November 1924
to endow in perpetuity
24 cots in the children’s ward.

None

War Memorial Committee

Public subscription.

1. South Shields Gazette report of 23/02/1926 reports the extension of the children’s ward to provide accommodation for the cots endowed by the South Shields War Memorial Committee. “When completed, this will provide for an additional 32 cots, making 46 in all, and it is hoped that it will be opened for the admission of patients by June or July next”.

2. The original plan in 1919 had been to provide a new Children’s Hospital extension to the Ingham Infirmary, and plans for such a building were drawn up.

3. Mr. Thomas Forsyth Wilson, of 1 Wellington Terrace, South Shields, who died June 23rd 1918, bequeathed Infirmary. See W101.09

4. The War Memorial Committee received a letter from the Ingham Infirmary Governors saying that “Unless they receive a definite assurance by 30 April that the Children’s Hospital scheme will be proceeded with at once, they will withdraw their grant of their acquiescence in the matter.” The need for beds was becoming so critical that they could not hold up the hospital extension any longer. The War Memorial Committee could only raise about £4,000 instead of the £11,721 needed through lack of response. The project was abandoned.

5. The next proposal was for a Maternity Home, as one with ten or twelve beds could be provided and equipped for £3,000.

6. Although £12,000 had been officially handed over in November 1924, there was still another £780 to come. The schools had raised £1,050 and the “great Arcadia Bazaar” had raised £4,170. A little girl who had been dressing dolls handed over 1 shilling.

7. The conditions attached to the gift were
(a) That each cot have a tablet placed over it, stating the source of the endowment;
(b) That in the vent of an additional wing being built in the grounds, this gift should receive due acknowledgment in connection with such extension;
(c) That a special account be opened to be called “The South Shields War Memorial Endowment Fund”, the income from the fund to be applied towards the maintenance of the children’s cots;
(d) That a sum not exceeding £1.000 be spent by the War Memorial Committee in the provision of a permanent memorial to be placed in the infirmary grounds the design and situation to be approved of by both committees.”

8. In 1925 it was agreed that the ward should be expanded to contain 46 cots instead of the present 14. The costs would be £50,000 plus £4,000 per annum. The interest on the amount from the War Memorial Fund was £600 p.a. which meant that the rest would have to be found.

9. At the 1926 opening of the extension, Mrs. J.H. Readhead was thanked for a gramophone and records, and Miss McKendrick for a monster dol and cot, which was a gift from the Brownies.

10. Granville Druery was born in South Shields, the descendant of a family of several
generations of Shieldsmen. He was educated by John Thomas at the Union British
School which opened in 1834 in Waterloo Vale. He served his time learnig the butchery
trade, opening his own business before he was 20 years old, which became a
considerable shipping and family business. He was a pioneer of the South Shields Master
Butchers' Association - the first trade organisation in the borough.
A prominent religious and civic figure, he served the town as an alderman, a magistrate
for 21 years and a member of the Ancient Vestry of St Hilda's Church. As a Guardian of
the Poor for 20 years, he led the fight for the scheme of the Guardians for the
segregation of children in Harton Institution, which successfully led to the building of the
Cleadon Cottage Homes.
He was elected Councillor for Westoe Ward in 1911. As Mayor and Mayoress in 1923-4,
he and his wife led the revival of the flagging War Memorial Scheme. House to house
appeals and a huge bazaar inspired by his wife raised more than £13,000 of which
£12,000 was presented to the Ingham Infirmary and the remainder paid for the Memorial
Cross which still stands on the corner of the site. He died in 1941. There is a photograph
of him on the back page of the Shields Gazette of 12/04/1941.

South Shields Gazette 27/12/1922 reports lack of progress of any ideas; 21/02/1923 comments on lack of progress; 21/03/1923 hopes that people stay friendly; 19/04/1923 contains official notice of meeting to discuss the rejection of the hospital idea; 20/04/1923 reports Ingham Hospital’s ultimatum; 24/04/1923 reports decision not to create a hospital; 04/05/1923 reports on suggestion of a maternity hospital; 14/01/1924 carries a public notice stating that the funds originally planned for a Children’s Hospital should now be used to endow beds in a Children’s Ward, and that plaques should be placed in the ward bearing the appropriate details; 19/01/1924 carries a very full report of the history of the project and the conclusions; 30/01/1924 reports progress; 26/02/1924 reports proposed fund raising and names those prepared to be on the Committee; 15/03/1924 reports proposed fund raising events; 20/03/1924 reports fund raising and proposals; 24/05/1924 lists all those making contribution; 19/07/1924 reports trade unions agreeing that the workmen pay 1 penny a week for 12 weeks from their wages; 13/09/1924 reports progress; 6/10/1924 reports lists names of donors; 29/09/1924 gives more names of donors; 28/10/1924 reports more donors; 08/11/1924 reports handing over of £12,000 cheque; 15/11/1924 reports finances and donors.
05/11/1925 reports proposed expansion of ward;
01/03/1926 reports unveiling of memorial Cross (W101.01) and endowment of the children’s cots; 23/03/1926 report quoted in Note 1 above; 19/10/1926 reports that £12,000 has been handed over to create 40 beds in the new extension; plus opening of new extension

Shields Daily News 23/02/1924, 27/02/1924; 15/03/1924 and 08/11/1924.

Shields Daily News 23/02/1924, 27/02/1924; 15/03/1924 and 08/11/1924.

Illustrated Chronicle 19/12/1918 reports Mr. Wilson’s bequest in Note 3 above.

Northern Echo 21/04/1923 reports lack of progress with children’s hospital; 24/04/1923 reports abandoning the project for a hospital; 05/05/1923 reports proposal for a maternity hospital.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle 20/03/1919 reports suggestion of a children’s hospital; 10/05/1919 reports agreement to go ahead

Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums War Memorial Committee Papers Ref HO.Ing/41

Northern Echo 1923 04 21 Sat

Northern Echo 1923 04 24 Tue

Northern Echo 1923 05 05 Sat

The late R.W. Gould; Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale; James Pasby; Dorothy Hall; Michael Mulhern; Adam Bell; Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums

If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk

 

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