Ruth Richardson’s talk celebrates the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. During the great campaigning effort to save the 18th century workhouse on Cleveland Street, a huge amount of research was undertaken into the building’s history. Being so very old, the workhouse had passed through a series of name changes and iterations of use, from poor house to modern hospital. This talk focuses on some key findings which emerged at that time, concerning the era after Miss Nightingale’s return from the Crimea, during which she worked tirelessly to reform nursing, especially to improve workhouse nursing for the benefit of the British poor. Her specific efforts to assist the poor souls in Cleveland Street were deliberately thwarted by the Poor Law Guardians. To such men, the heroine of the Crimea was a dangerous and interfering busybody. But she made an impact, all the same.

Medical historian Ruth Richardson is the author/editor of several books including Death, Dissection and the Destitute (1987), The Making of Mr Gray’s Anatomy (2008) and Dickens and the Workhouse (2012), each among subjects of her previous talks to the Society. Her work to preserve the Cleveland Street Workhouse helped obtain the listing of its 18th century main building, and she is a Past President of the Dickens Society.

Admission: Free to members. Non-members welcome (£2 at the door)