PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
|
|
DEVONPORT & WESTERN COUNTIES ASSOCIATION In about 1858 the Reverend J Adams, of St Paul’s Church, Morice Square, Devonport, started to raise subscriptions towards the establishment of an institution for the blind within Devonport. Despite his energetic endeavours, and those of several other gentlemen of the Town, they failed to gain sufficient financial support and had to abandon the project. However, they were much encouraged by the success of similar enterprises elsewhere and became more determined to raise enough money to furnish a house in the Town to make a start. They also decided to form themselves into an “association” in order to remove the idea that the institution was a charity as they intended it to be viewed more as an industrial establishment. The pupils were, after all, going to earn money from their endeavours rather than rely on financial support from outside. The Devonport & Western Counties Association for Promoting the General Welfare of the Blind was established in 1860 and occupied a large house in Fore Street. However, in 1863 they noticed that paying out for the rent of the premises was seriously reducing their financial resources and it was decided to raise enough money to purchase the property. Aided by a legacy of £200 from Mrs Adams of Stoke, a further £25 from the trustees of her Will, and a legacy of £100 from a Mr Danger, the committee raised £760 towards the purchase price of £900. By 1868 they had bought the property. All male pupils who chose to live in the house, whether adult or juvenile, paid five shillings a week for their board and lodging. For that they were instructed in making baskets, both plain and ornamental, hampers, door mats and brushes. Females paid three shillings a week and were instructed in chair-caning, knitting and various kinds of domestic work. Both were also instructed in reading, writing, singing and music. The latter was taught to them by Mr W S Yeo, who was himself blind, assisted by his wife and Mrs W R Thomas and Miss L Granville. To encourage them to improve their skills as quickly as
possible, they were paid for their labours although they had to complete two years before
they received anything. During their third
year at the institution they received one third of the money they earned. In the fourth year this increased to a half. After that, if they can continue without the aid
of a teacher and can find a sale for their products, they can remain as journeymen on full
wages or can leave to set up business on their own. If
they remained living on the premises, they had to continue to pay five shillings a week. In June 1868 there were nine males and three females
attending the Institution. Two of them were
journeymen and earned on average ten shillings per week each. The matron, Mrs Pope, looked after the female
pupils and the sale of goods in their own shop, while the blind master, Mr Beer, attended
to the instruction of the male members. During
the twelve months ended in February 1868, the sale of goods had realised £164. Patrons of the Institution in 1868 were Major-General the Honourable Sir A Spencer, KCB., commander in chief of the western district; Lieutenant-General Viscount Templetown, CB; Sir Edward St Aubyn, Bart; Admiral Sir H Stewart, KCB; Admiral Drummond, superintendent of Devonport Dockyard; Major-General J H Gascoigne, RMLI; Lord Eliot, MP; Mr Montague Chambers, MP; and Mr J Jeffery. The Presidency of the Association was held by the current Mayor of Devonport. Mr E St Aubyn was the vice-president; the Reverend Edward Roberts, MA, was the honorary secretary; Mr W Peek, the honorary treasurer; Messrs J May and W C Wilson were the honorary medical officers; Messrs Little, Woollcombe and Venning were the honorary solicitors. Committee members were the Reverends H Everett, J G Jonas, O Manley, J Metcalfe and J Stock; Doctors Rolston and Wilson; and Messrs J Browne, C Croydon, W Davey, J G Dymond, J C Graves, A Moore, J C Radford, S B Rawling, C Row, J W W Ryder, R C Smith, J Trehane, R M Watson and J Weary. There was also a ladies’ committee responsible for organising the domestic arrangements of the establishment. A legacy of £4,000 left by a Miss Berryman enabled the committee to build its own handsome premises at 56-57 St Aubyn Street, on the corner with Market Street, the cost of which was £3,600. As a result, by 1878 there were 20 inmates but ample room for 15 more. The income from subscriptions was about £120 a year and from the property in Fore Street a further rental of about £60 would be received. Unfortunately this £180 was completely absorbed in the expenses of the inmates and staff. Mr J May and Mr W C Wilson were the honorary medical officers; Mr William Peek, the honorary treasurer; and the Reverend R Mildren, the honorary secretary. In 1922 new premises were acquired at Stoke. Manor Lodge was officially opened by Lord St Levan and could hold twenty-four inmates. Over the next year or so, the number admitted was increased to forty but this put a great deal of pressure on the sleeping accommodation. A new wing was therefore erected, which meant that 30 men and 30 women could now be looked after. The new wing was designed by local architect, Mr Charles Cheverton, and was officially opened by Lord St Levan in the presence of the Mayor of Plymouth, Mr Solomon Stephens, on Thursday April 10th 1924. The contractor of the new wing was Mr G H Smith and it had cost £3,200. Mr E E Nicholls was the Association's honorary secretary and treasurer at this time. Manor Lodge was known as Manor House in the 1860s and is now the Astor Hall in Devonport Road, Stoke. At some point (before 1935) the Association moved to Torr
House at Hartley, the old residence of the Bayly family, and
it is now (2007) run as the Torr Home for the Blind. SOUTH DEVON & CORNWALL BLIND INSTITUTION,
PLYMOUTH Mr James Gale, who was himself blind, suggested the formation of the Institution to Mr Henry Luscombe towards the close of 1859. Mr Luscombe instantly agreed to co-operate and assist in this endeavour and obtained the use of two rooms in the old Workhouse in Catherine Street. A day school was opened on January 2nd 1860 and by the end of that year there were 15 blind people receiving instruction. In reading, arithmetic, mental arithmetic and Bible history. The adults were additionally instructed in mat and basket making by Mr Thomas Creber, their blind teacher. During May 1861 the classes were moved to larger premises
in Cobourg Street, where there were soon 28 people on the books. More than half of them were boarders. The large number of applications for admission
from all over Devon and Cornwall meant that even larger premises were soon required but
not before six of the male inmates were boarded out of the house at a cost of more than
£20 for the year. At the same time the
workshops were so crowded that there was barely enough room for the adults and no room
left for the instruction of the children. In 1862 the owner of the premises put them up for sale and
there was a prospect that they might have to get out.
However, a Mr Edward Henley came to their rescue and bought the house on their
behalf. He then granted them a 21-year lease
with the liberty for them to terminate it at any time by purchasing it themselves for the
original price of £800. Mr Henley died in
1864 and left the Trustees the sum of £800, which they used to secure the purchase of
their premises. A tablet was placed in the
building to perpetuate the memory of their benefactor. The Trustees were The Earl of Mount Edgcumbe; Sir Massey Lopes, Bart., MP; Colonel Bastard of Kitley House; and Messrs G W Soltau; W Harris; J W Grigg; W Luscombe; C Norrington; Caleb Trotter; C T Bewes; W Derry; J Hawker; J W Matthews and H Whiteford. His Royal Highness, the Prince Albert, consented to become Patron until his death, when that position was taken by The Prince of Wales. The vice-patron was the Right Honourable Lord Vivian, the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, while the president in 1868 was Mr J Carpenter-Garnier of Tavistock. In 1864 the sale of goods made by the inmates fetched £562; in 1865 it was £592; in 1866, £591; and in 1867 it amounted to £609. During the summer of 1867 the committee held a bazaar to raise funds for the purchase of an organ built by Mr Hunter of London. The managing committee in 1868 consisted of Captain Puckford, RN; the Reverends C Wilson, J E Risk, F Courtney, and T Bennett; Major McKellar; and Messrs O C Arthur, C T Bewes, E R Brown, O de B Brock, C Fox, J Gale junior, R Hicks, H Luscombe, J W Matthews, J Parkyn, A Rooker, M Thompson, and J Windeatt. The secretary was Mr J M Lyne and the treasurer was Mr J Trego. A new building at North Hill, Tavistock Road, was designed by Mr H J Snell and erected in 1876 by Messrs Palk and Partridge. In 1877/78 HRH The Prince of Wales was patron and the officers were: Dr James C Bulteel, honorary physician; Messrs J H & G H Eccles, honorary surgeons; Mr John Trego, honorary treasurer; Mr J W Matthews, honorary secretary; Mr W H Hockaday, superintendent & Mrs W H Hockaday, matron. Although the building still stands at the top of North Hill, it has since around 1976 been used as an annex to Plymouth High School for Girls.
|
