Susanna Ward Doughty

Born 1852, died unknown (after 1921)
Superintendent Nurse at Mitford and Launditch Union Workhouse, 1898-99
Researched by Caroline Woods

Susanna Ward Doughty was born in November 1852 in Guist, Norfolk, to Mary and Robert Doughty. Her father Robert was a shepherd and both parents signed the marriage register with a cross, suggesting that neither could read or write.  The 1871 census shows an 18-year-old Susanna still living with her parents, now in Wood Norton. She is employed doing field work.

By the 1881 census Susanna’s circumstances had greatly changed for she was now a Nurse at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. A certificate submitted to the Guardians for her employment at Mitford and Launditch Union Workhouse, Gressenhall, shows she did her training at the hospital.

Susanna’s next place of work was The West Sussex Infirmary, Chichester where she was employed as a Sick Trainer Nurse, as shown on the 1891 census. From West Sussex, she moved to Southend Hospital. This was reported in the Nursing Record publication in January 1892 – “Miss S. W. Doughty has been appointed Matron to the Southend Local Board Hospital.  Miss Doughty was trained at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, and has acted as Sister of a Male Ward at the Chichester Infirmary”.

Susanna stayed at Southend until 1895, then had a brief spell working at Strand Union Workhouse, Edmonton before commencing work as Charge Nurse at St Pancras Workhouse in January 1896.

Susanna’s next role in February 1898, aged 46, was one of promotion to Superintendent Nurse at the Mitford and Launditch Poor Law Union Workhouse, Gressenhall.   A letter of reference from St Pancras states that “Her general character and conduct was good, and she carried out her duties satisfactorily”.  Susanna’s appointment at Gressenhall was deemed significant enough to feature in the Nursing Record and Hospital World publication in March 1898.

During Susanna’s time at Gressenhall, records describe epidemics of typhoid and diphtheria in the local area.  In March 1898 Arthur Rackham, Medical Officer of North Elmham, writes to the Local Government Board referring to a typhoid epidemic in Worthing.  He states that the epidemic has now subsided but the work has “…entailed on him during the last 13 weeks, great expense and anxiety”.  On a similar note Edward MacDonnell, Medical Officer of Litcham, writes to the Board in June 1898 claiming extra expenses for treating pauper patients with diphtheria in Rougham.  It is likely that Susanna was treating patients with the same conditions in the workhouse infirmary. The Guardians’ minutes of 11th July 1898 record that “Nurse Elgar from Fakenham Nursing Home engaged to nurse Gertrude Catton suffering from Typhoid Fever”.  Another interesting entry in the guardians’ minutes of 25th July 1898 records that “W Hudson to go to Stoke Ferry to consult specialist about his eyes, 5/- travelling expenses”.  We can only wonder at what condition he had, but as Head Nurse it is likely that Susanna would have been aware of this and maybe involved with any treatment given at the workhouse.

One of the most significant medical ‘events’ that occurred during Susanna’s time at Gressenhall was the ongoing problem with the insanitary conditions of the workhouse infirmary which would undoubtedly have had a huge impact on her.  The issue is raised in the Guardians’ minutes of 31st May 1898 which state “Medical Officer Mr Rackham reported sanitary condition of Infirmary was not satisfactory and that active steps ought to be taken to rectify the present condition.  Medical Officer of Health and Sanitary Inspector to inspect”.  This is emphasized further in national workhouse records of June 1898 which refer to the report by Mr Rackham, on the insanitary conditions of the water closers and bathroom at the workhouse infirmary.  Rackham thought that “…the inmates were suffering from the insanitary conditions.  Due to these conditions a night nurse had resigned and the head nurse [Susanna] was ill”.

Susanna’s time at Gressenhall came to an end in the summer of 1899 but unfortunately, she appears to have left under a cloud.  The Guardians’ minutes of 24th July 1899 record that she was asked to resign “…in consequence of friction with the Master”.  National workhouse records of August 1899, which notify the Local Government Board of her resignation, include a note from Philip H Bagenal, Local Government Inspector, stating that Susanna should not be employed as a superintendent nurse again as there were many complaints against her from the Guardians, and he feels she was not suited to the job.  He adds that she “…came into continual collision with the Master and Matron, and was in many other ways objectionable”.  Another note states “…note in black book, (not fitted for suptd nurse.  If proposed for any other office Mr Bagenal shd see the papers)”.  A surviving example of a ‘black book’ is held at the National Archives and includes entries on staff over whom there was a question of their suitability for employment in a workhouse setting.

Susanna left Gressenhall in July 1899 and there are no records to indicate where she was until her next appointment at Watford Union Workhouse in September 1900. The staff register of the Watford shows she began work there as a Nurse (a lower rank than previous positions) and remained in post until April 1903.  The 1901 census for the workhouse records her as a Sick Nurse.

Again, we have no records to show where Susanna was after leaving Watford in 1903 but by the 1911 census she had returned to Norfolk and was living in Norwich.  Her occupation is shown as Sick Nurse, employment status ‘Own Acct’ indicating she was self-employed presumably as a private nurse in a household.

After 1921, the trail for Susanna goes cold and no record of her death can be found.  She doesn’t appear on the 1939 Register and there is no record of her moving area or marrying.