The Partington Convalescent and Nurses' Home.

I must acknowledge the help of Mike Brown for allowing me to use photos from his collection to supplement my own.

In 1905, Edward Partington was unfortunate enough to suffer an illness which meant he had to take two months off work and away from his duties as a councillor. Having recovered he returned to the council chamber with a surprise for his fellow members and for the borough as a whole.

At the meeting of the Glossop Town Council on Wednesday 13 December, Councillor Partington announced that whilst he was incapacitated he had had the opportunity of considering various matters appertaining to the welfare of the borough, and he had though about what a difficult position sick and poor people were placed in. It was his intention, as a Christmas gift to present £30,000 to the borough of Glossop for the purpose of building a nurses' and convalescents' home for the sick poor of Glossop.

His intention was that the home should be well staffed with enough qualified nurses both for the home itself and with district nurses to visit the sick poor at their own homes. Mr. Partington's success in business had made it possible for him to have the advantage of the best medical skill, and the thought struck him that those in less fortunate circumstances should also be able to receive such care and attention - not only his fellow-townspeople but their descendents as well.

The council invited leading architects to submit plans and, of 96 designs received, that submitted by Messrs. Bulman & Vinycomb, of London, was selected in the autumn of 1906.

Architect's drawings of the proposed Partington Convalescent Home.

The laying of the Foundation Stone, by Edward Partington, took place on June 29th 1907. Councillor Partington being presented with an inscribed Silver Trowel and Ivory Mallet as mementos. The Home was completed and formally opened on 27th June 1908.

Partington Convalescent Home when opened.

Exterior front.

Entrance hall and staircase.

Exterior back.

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The meeting of the Partington Convalescent and Nurses' Home Committee, on the 16th July, 1908 adopted the following rules for the Home and for the District Nursing Section.

Partington Convalescent and Nurses' Home.
Rules for inmates.
1. Inmates shall he admitted to the Home for three weeks on each recommendation which may be renewed if approved by the Committee.
2. Inmates shall be subject to instant dismissal for misconduct when in the Home or when away from the Home on leave. Misconduct includes insobriety, insubordination, dishonesty, breach of regulations, or immoral or unbecoming conduct (as stated in the Trust Deed).
3. Smoking shall be allowed out of doors only, except by special permission of the Superintendent.
4. Inmates shall pay for their own conveyance to and from the Home, and for laundry and cost of medicines, and medical attendance.
5. Each inmate shall come provided with a brush and comb, change of linen, outdoor apparel, a pair of strong boots, and slippers.
6. Inmates may introduce into the Home such books, papers, and publications only as have been previously approved by the Superintendent.
7. It is understood that inmates do not enter any public-house, beerhouse, or refreshment house during their residence, but if any inmate needs alcoholic stimulant, the same may be procured at his or her cost upon a medical order.
8. Inmates are expected (at the discretion of the Superintendent) to assist in domestic duties.
9. Inmates shall not leave the grounds of the Home or the Park without special leave from the Superintendent.
10. Inmates shall keep to their own apartments, and shall not go into the bedrooms during the day without the permission of the Superintendent.
11. The Home shall be open to friends of inmates on Saturday afternoons between 2 and 4 o'clock, and at any other reasonable time at the discretion of the Superintendent.
Rules for Superintendent
12. Inmates to rise at 7-0 a.m. in the summer and 7-30 a.m. in the winter. Inmates to retire at 9 p.m. and all lights to be out by 9-30 in the winter ; and to retire at 9-30 p.m. and all lights to be out by 10-0 p.m. in the summer.
13. Meals. Breakfast, 7-45 a.m. in the summer, 8-15 a.m. in the winter. Dinner, 1-0 p.m. Tea, 5-0 p.m. Supper, 8-0 p.m. in the winter, 8-30 p.m. in the summer.
14. The diet shall be arranged by the Superintendent subject to the approval of the Committee.
15. No food or drink of any kind shall be brought into the Home by the inmates or visitors except fresh eggs, fruit, &c, subject to the Superintendent's approval.
16. Inmates shall not offer any present or gratuity to any person employed at the Home, but thank-offerings may be given to the institution,

District Nursing Section.
Rules.
1. The services of the nurse shall be for the poor inhabitants of the Borough of Glossop in their own homes in case of sickness.
2. The nursing of patients shall be carried out under the directions of the Medical Practitioners.
3. The nurses may attend cases after childbirth where skilled nursing is considered necessary by the medical man in attendance and provided that proper arrangements and precautions can be taken with regard to other cases.
4. Application for the services of the nurse should be made in writing to the Superintendent through a Medical Practitioner.
Bye-laws for Nurses.
1. The nurse is strictly forbidden to interfere in any way with the religious opinions of patients or of members of their families.
2. The nurse shall not accept presents from patients or their friends.
3. The nurse is not to be on duty more than eight hours daily except under special circumstances. On Sundays she shall only attend cases requiring special or immediate attention. Night duty shall only be undertaken under exceptional circumstances, when due provisions can be made for the other cases under her care.
4. The nurse shall be punctual in going to and returning from her district at the times appointed by the Committee.
5. The nurse when on duty shall wear the uniform dress and no ornaments. She shall be entitled to a month's holiday in the year, and shall have, when possible, at least half a day off duty every fortnight, or from Saturday noon till 9-0 a.m. on Monday morning every four weeks.
6. The nurse shall be responsible for all appliances, clothing, etc. lent to her patients, and shall see, as far as possible, that they are returned in good condition. Damage to appliances lent to patients by the nurses will be charged for.
7. The nurse shall be responsible for the personal cleanliness of her patients. She shall endeavour to improve their general surroundings, and when the relations of the patients can be taught to keep the room in nursing order they should be encouraged to do so.
8. The nurse may not attend infectious cases.
9. The nurse shall not, except in cases of urgent necessity give nourishment or other relief. She shall at once report any such case to the Superintendent or other proper authority. When private gifts are received to assist a special case, the patient should be informed that this comes from a private source and not from the Institution. All such gifts should be acknowledged in the Annual Report.
10. Each nurse shall as a rule work only in her own district, but in emergencies or serious cases the nurses shall consult with and assist each other as may be required.
Rules for Superintendent
1. It shall be the duty of the Superintendent to keep the register of cases and give a general report of the work to the Committee. Each nurse shall keep her own time and case books, and report specially on her own work if required.
2. The Superintendent shall be responsible for the housekeeping, the nursing stores, and all clothing and nursing appliances belonging to the Institution.
3. The Superintendent shall keep a record of all clothing and appliances lent or given by the nurses, but each nurse shall be responsible for the return in good condition of all articles lent in her district.
4. The Superintendent shall arrange that each nurse has full use of all available appliance, stores and gifts, which may be necessary for the patients in her district.

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A short illustrated booklet, published in December 1914, provides us with the following description of the Home.

Partington Convalescent and Nurses' Home, Glossop.

Of the many munificent gifts with which the Borough of Glossop has been so richly dowered, one of the foremost is the Partington Convalescent and Nurses' Home—an Institution of the greatest public benefit and utility—which was built, endowed, and handed over to the townspeople by Sir Edward Partington, Kt., to whom the well-being of the community amongst whom he resides has always been of the closest personal interest.

In the work of building, the interior arrangements, and general equipment, no expense was spared to make the Institution one of the best and most up-to-date of its kind, and it is only necessary to state that the actual cost of the erection of the building was £7,293, with an endowment of £30,000, to prove that every effort was made to meet the high ideal of the donor, and ensure the acme of comfort and convenience of those for whom the Institution was intended.

Men's ward.

District room.

Invitations were sent out to the leading Architects of the country to submit plans, &c, for the new building, and no fewer than 96 sets of designs were received, and the work of adjudicating was of a very onerous character ; eventually, the design of Messrs. Bulman & Vinycomb, of London, was selected.

The site is one of the most appropriate in the Borough. It is situated on an eminence overlooking the whole of the town of Glossop, adjoining the Park and Baths, to which there is access from the grounds. It commands a splendid view of Peakland scenery, stretching from towards Mottram on the south-west, to the rugged expanse of moorland in the direction of Kinder Scout.

Superintendent's sitting room.

Nurse's bedroom.

The building is of local stone and stone slated, which has the advantage of keeping the interior cool in summer and warm in winter. The ground floor plan is a well-thought-out arrangement—the two wings, for women and men respectively, are one-storied buildings, and contain Wards for four patients each. On the ground level are also Day Rooms for men and women; Lady Superintendent's and Nurses' Sitting and Dining Rooms; District Room, together with Domestic Offices and Laundry, which are apart from the patients' and Nurses' quarters.

Upstairs are seven Nurses' Bedrooms, Matron's Bedroom, and three Maids' Bedrooms, whilst there are Bathrooms throughout for patients, nurses, and servants.

Men's day room.

Group of wounded Belgian soldiers.

The system of cross-ventilation is perfect, and the Institution is heated by hot-water apparatus throughout, in addition to open fireplaces for use in cold weather; the rooms are furnished in a bright and cheerful manner, and every detail has been carefully carried out to secure the comfort and pleasure of the patients and staff. The cost of furnishing, decorating, &c, to date, is £617.

The patients admitted into the Home are about 75 or 80 per year.

During the present War a number of wounded Belgian soldiers have been most heartily welcomed and nursed back to health at the Convalescent Home.

The laying of the Foundation Stone took place with becoming public ceremony on June 29th, 1907, Sir Edward Partington being the recipient of beautiful souvenirs of the auspicious event, and the Institution was completed and formally opened for its beneficent work on 27th June, 1908.

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Wounded soldiers later in the war

In 1920 the building became a Maternity Home. That closed in the mid 1970's and the building later becoming a Care Home. That, in turn, closed in 2011 and the building has since been converted into private apartments.

A ward at Partington Maternity Home.

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Last updated: 17 July 2022