Friends of

Firbeck Hall

NEWSLETTER ISSUE 18, Spring 2014

Chairman’s Report

he lack of any visible progress at Firbeck revised proposals are available on our T Hall and continued dilapidation remains website. our primary concern. Since the consultation meeting that took place in the Black Lion last West Lodge currently remains in a very summer, in response to the feedback that was poor state. We have been assured that generated, we are aware that the owner has now works to refurbish and improve the commissioned the architects to draw up plans Lodge are now imminent and expect to that represent a substantial change of direction see activity on site in the coming weeks. from the relatively intense scheme that was presented. I am very sorry to report that Valerie Oxley was suddenly taken critically ill in The new plans move away from the originally February with a rare nerve condition proposed development of 36 townhouses close called Guillain Barré Syndrome. Val to the rear of the hall and the 8 apartments in the has now been in hospital for several stable block. The new scheme is now weeks, however I am pleased to say that significantly reduced to create a total of 8 much she is currently making slow but steady larger detached dwellings. progress in her recovery and we are looking forward to a time when she can come home. I am sure all our members and readers will join me in sending our very best wishes to Val during her recovery.

In the meantime Mike Oxley has kindly

stepped in to cover the administrative duties associated with Val’s role as treasurer, however the forthcoming The stable block would be converted into a th single dwelling with an additional substantial “Life at Firbeck Hall in the late 18 new house being built in the walled garden. Century” and events associated with the history of Firbeck Hall have been A further new option for the Hall is being cancelled. considered which could potentially see it converted into just 2 dwellings, however the original scheme for 21 apartments may yet be Simon Drohan taken forward. Further details of these March 2014

We are most grateful to Valerie Oxley for discovering this most Visitors and old club members who had seen it under interesting article written by a Royal Infirmary Sister when she moved to Firbeck Hall in the Spring of 1940, giving her very different circumstances, gasped when they saw impression of the Hall and explaining which rooms had been the new green beds, with green counterpanes to match converted into wards. Below is a separate photograph of three and every bed occupied by cheerful and very grateful nurses at Firbeck during this time. patients.

Sheffield Royal Infirmary (Royal Infirmary, Sheffield), The majority of our first batch were poor old men Auxiliary Hospital at Firbeck 1939 – 1945 who had seen little of the delightful country and appreciated it immensely, particularly one old man who remarked to his colleague in the next bed: “Bill, I feel like Lord Nuffield.”

A Games Room, Mrs Smith’s Suite, the Green Room and a Music Room were each converted into small female wards (38 beds).

At first we missed the electric lifts and began to appreciate lots of things, which, at the Infirmary many of us had taken for granted.

It seemed very strange and different walking up rose pink carpeted stairs, with beautiful mirrors hanging on Photo from the Picture Sheffield Archive the walls the whole way up. Ivy Rotherham is on the left The bathrooms, particularly on the female wards were luxurious, the patients remarked they were even too Impressions of Firbeck by I. Rotherham beautiful for film stars.

The League of Trained Nurses Magazine, Spring 1940 The ladies locker room is now a very busy operating theatre – between 30 – 40 operations being performed hen our country went to war last September, weekly. Our first operation day was quite a thrill. We W Firbeck Hall was kindly lent to us by Mr Cyril missed the Infirmary porters considerably. It was Nicholson, to be used as an Auxiliary Hospital. It is a th th most amusing to see the boiler man and the electrician beautiful 18 century mansion (16 century) and is appear at the theatre door in navy blue overalls and a situated in (), 20 miles pipe in their mouths, ready to take the patients back to from Sheffield. their wards. It must have been a great change for them, and it was amazing how, in a few weeks’ time , During the last 10 years (4 years) it has been used as a they improved and helped us to overcome the Country Club. The members must have had a difficulties. delightful time, especially during the summer months. A super bathing pool, with its illuminated fountain The bedrooms and bed-sitting rooms which are must have been a great attraction. occupied by the sisters and trained nurses are very beautiful and have a delightful view overlooking the I was one of three Infirmary sisters who went before lake and golf course. the patients, and therefore saw it change into a hospital. It was quite thrilling helping to unpack The Golf Club Room is now a very busy Dispensery, furniture and arranging beds in our own wards. and the Smoke room a very pretty Staff Dining Room.

Naturally alterations had to be made. The ballroom Transport in the winter months was a great problem, with its maple floor and the restaurant were converted particularly to people who were used to town life. into a male eye ward, made to contain 25 beds. A The yellow brake was a great asset. It came to the very beautiful ornamental mirror overhung the oak Infirmary daily and we were allowed to travel in it on fireplace. our weekly half day.

Transport is also arranged for patients’ visitors twice The Architect and the Gentleman weekly. During the winter months this has been rather a trial and the poorer people have found it very William Hurst and Henry Gally Knight expensive, but realising we are at war, they have been very patient and understanding and are looking By Valerie Oxley with help from Peter Coote, Doncaster Civic Trust forward to warmer weather when they will find it a pleasure to walk a considerable part of the journey.

We have had very good results, particularly from the Ophthalmic patients (Consulting Ophthalmic Surgeon, Mr A. B. Nutt), which goes to prove that fresh air and pleasant surroundings go a long way to ultimate recovery.

Spring is here, the lawns, flower beds and trees are all at their best at Firbeck. We are indeed very grateful for the loan of such a beautiful place and we feel sure that when we hand it over again to Mr Nicholson we shall have lots of happy memories and a deep sense of gratitude.

An auction outside the Salutation Inn

enry Gally Knight senior, son of the Rev. Henry Gally H and Elizabeth Knight of , bought Firbeck Hall in 1800. Henry Gally Knight senior was married to Selina Fitzherbert. It is assumed that his wife lived at Firbeck Hall after he died in 1808 until her death in 1823. Their son Henry Gally Knight junior is reputed to have employed Sir Jeffry Wyattville in 1817 to design a new house for him overlooking Langold Lake. The foundations were laid, but for various reasons he turned his attention to Firbeck Hall, which he decided to modernise and improve instead. For this task he employed the Doncaster architect William Hurst and the improvements were started around 1820.

Henry Gally Knight was single at the time, maybe he was Photo: Picture Sheffield Archives. Ivy is on the right thinking about a new house for his bride to be, Henrietta Eyre whom he married in 1825. Whilst researching the Firbeck Annexe of Sheffield’s Royal Infirmary we came across the following advert in the 18th September 1943 edition of the British Medical Journal which we thought our readers would be But what do we know of the architect, William Hurst, interested to read. (c1787 -1844), the architect accredited with the re-building of St Peter’s Church Firbeck (now St Martin’s) and the building of St Mary’s Church Woodsetts (now St Georges).

We know that William Hurst was the son of the keeper of the Salutation Inn, Doncaster, another William Hurst who had been a racing stud groom for Colonel St Leger, of Park Hill, Firbeck. William Hurst senior was landlord of the Salutation for twenty five years. The Inn soon developed a reputation as a racing Inn and had stables and a paddock where horses were stabled for the racing season, many St Leger winners were stabled there.

William Hurst junior was articled to William Lindley (1739 The Giant Redwood – 1818) who was a close neighbour of the Salutation Inn A tree at Firbeck Hall with an amazing history and had been an assistant of John Carr of York before setting up his own business in Doncaster.

From 1810 Lindley had been in partnership with John Woodhead, but Lindley died in 1818 and a new partnership was established, Woodhead and Hurst. In 1811 and 1815 William Hurst exhibited two drawings at the Royal Academy. Woodhead and Hurst designed many buildings in Doncaster including improvements to the racecourse. William Hurst took a great interest in civic affairs and became Mayor of Doncaster in 1828 – 1829, and after his father’s death in about 1828 he became the owner of the In the autumn of 1853 William Lobb, a seasoned plant Salutation Inn! hunter for the Veitch Nurseries, carried the seeds of a

giant tree back to . The Hurst and Woodhead Practice is known for the inspiring Christ Church, Doncaster built between 1827 - It was during his third American expedition in 1852 that 1829, now a grade II* listed building and one of the few Lobb first heard of a grove of mammoth conifers, tucked in survivors of Hurst’s work in Doncaster. the foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada range. Lobb

knew this tree would trigger an enormous craze in British In about 1820 they remodelled Firbeck Hall for Henry horticultural circles, and hurried to the Sierra foothills to Gally Knight and they rebuilt Firbeck church in a mixture see the remarkable tree in its native habitat. of late Norman and early English styles.

He collected seed, shoots, and seedlings; in fewer than two In 1836 William Hurst was elected a Fellow of the Institute years’ time these would give rise to thousands of saplings, of British Architects and became one of the first Yorkshire snatched up by wealthy Victorians to adorn great British man to achieve this distinction. estates.

On the death of Woodhead in 1838 William Hurst took on a The new species was named the 'Washingtonia' in honour new partner William Lambie Moffatt (1808 – 1882) a pupil of America’s revered first President. of William Burn and the partnership took on a number of

Ecclesiastical Commissions. They were also responsible However, John Lindley of the Horticultural Society, who for the Clipstone archway at Welbeck Abbey for the Duke was assigned the task of naming the new introduction to of Portland. England, opted for the decidedly un-American

'Wellingtonia gigantea' to commemorate the lately William Hurst died in 1844 aged only 57. William Moffat deceased Duke of Wellington. This was greeted with returned to Edinburgh. indignation across the pond, sparking a debate that would

rage for years.

Ultimately tensions were calmed by the objective intrusion of science, and the name 'Sequoiadendron giganteum' was chosen.

We think Mrs Frances Harriott Miles may have been the person to plant this tree in the grounds of Firbeck Hall during her ownership of the estate, 1853 – 1878, it is still there today over 150 years later!

Committee Contacts

Chairman Simon Drohan 01909 732191 Gen. Secretary/Press & Publicity Sid Ellis 01709 813330 Treasurer /Membership Secretary Valerie Oxley 01709 813451 St Martin’s Church, Firbeck Meetings Secretary & Newsletter Julia Colver 01709 812982 Assistant Secretary Una Ellis 01709 813330 Environment Website: www.firbeckhall.net. The observations and opinions expressed in the Derek & Enid Bailey 01709 815075 various articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Editor or of the FoFH Committee and their accuracy cannot be Email: [email protected] verified.