TEIGNMOUTH & SHALDON

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Jessie Eliza Newkey Burden was born in Teignmouth c. 1859.

Jessie was the daughter of  George Philip Newkey Burden (1831–1915) and Eliza Anne Wilson (1829–1905).

In 1861 Jessie, her parents, sister Eva and brother William were living at The Strand, Teignmouth, they had two servants and a lodger living with them and her father was an Ironmonger.

In 1871, Jessie was living at 11 Northumberland Place, Teignmouth, with her father (he was a 'Master Ironmonger Employing 4 Men & 3 Boys' at that point), her mother, two sisters, Minnie and Eva, and three brothers, William, Alfred and Charles. They had one 'General Servant' living with them. 

12 Northumberland Place Teignmouth. Home of the Burden family for many years. © Copyright Jaggery (CC BY-SA 2.0) (Modified, cropped and changed to black and white)

By 1891 the family had moved next door to Number 12. George was a 'Master Ironmonger, Plumber & Co', employing 16 men. Jessie, her parents, her siblings (Eva, William, Minnie, Alfred and Charles) and a servant were present.

In 1901, there were just Jessie and her parents and a live-in general servant living at 42 Bitton Street, Teignmouth. Jessie's father is listed on the census as a 'Retired Mechanical Engineer'.

In 1911, Jessie's father was a widower aged 79 and Jessie,  Eva (now a widow with the surname Barnett) and Minnie were living at Oakfield, 42 Bitton Street, Teignmouth. Jessie was 52 at this point and they had one servant living with them.

Jessie was engaged with the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) as a Nurse from January 1915 to 31st March, 1919, During that time she worked part-time at the VA Hospitals in Teignmouth and Newton Abbot for 2010 hours.

The 1939 register shows Jessie as still living at Oakfield with her sister Eva, they had one servant living with them.

Jessie Eliza Newkey Burden of Oakfield, Teignmouth died in the second quarter of 1946 aged 87.

Teignmouth Hospitals in WW1

At the start of the Great War the Teignmouth Hospital was located at what had been Alberta Mansions on Myrtle Hill, Dawlish Road.

The Hospital was run on a charitable basis, with the upkeep made possible by donations.

The building that was Teignmouth Hospital during WW1. (Previously called Sion House, Later known as Alberta Mansions) Photo source unknown

There was also an 'Isolation' Hospital in the grounds of Bitton House on Bitton Park Road.

In 1914 There was a mass meeting in the town hall to make arrangements for sick and wounded.

Teignmouth hospital was placed at the disposal of the Red Cross (15 beds) as well as Bitton House.

The local Suffrage Society suspended their political agenda in order to help with the war effort. Appeals were made for nurses with hospital experience, voluntary or paid; cooks, ward maids and any ladies who have a first aid certificate.

In August 1915 the Teignmouth Post mentioned that Teignmouth Hospital had a full complement of wounded soldiers who had come from the European theatre of war.

Wounded soldiers at Teignmouth Hospital. April 1915. Source unknown

The services of a masseur/masseuse were requested to treat some of the severely injured soldiers.

 House to house collections were carried out by many volunteers and people were asked to send food or any useful objects to the hospital.

Inverteign house, home of Dr & Mrs Whiteway-Wilkinsons. They opened their home to wounded officers. From the Teign Heritage collection

 Several Teignmouth residents offered up their homes as convalescent hospitals.

These included Dr & Mrs Whiteway-Wilkinson who opened up Inverteign House and set aside 8 beds to be used as a home for injured officers.

Lord and Lady Cable gave up the whole of the ground floor of Shute Hill House in Teignmouth for use as a sick bay.

Lord and Lady Cable also purchased the Treverven Estate (on Exeter Road, Teignmouth, (now part of Teignmouth Community School) and opened it as the Everest Hospital for convalescing officers (whilst the Everest Hospital was being built a hut for wounded soldiers was erected in the grounds of the original Teignmouth Hospital). Lady Cable contributed most liberally to its upkeep, their daughter, then Lady Weston Alexander, was matron of the institution.

  Everest Officer's Hospital,  part of the Treverven Estate (now part of Teignmouth Community School). From the Teign Heritage Collection

Bitton House, Teignmouth. Used by the Army in WW1. Also held a hospital. Now Teignmouth Town Council offices. (CC BY-SA 2.0) © Copyright Stephen Richards. (Modified, changed to black and white)

During WW1 the Army were in possession of Bitton House and soldiers were billeted in the town and market place.

In October 1915 the Teignmouth Urban District Council granted permission for parts of Bitton House to be used as a hospital, canteen and recreation rooms and for the Den to be used for Drill.

The Ordnance Survey, 1913 - 1914 map shows 'Isolation Hospital (Teignmouth U.D.C.)' as a long rectangular building with glass covered verandas on north of east side and south of west side of Bitton House (the Isolation Hospital was later demolished).

Newton Hall VA Hospital, Newton Abbot

Newton Hall VA Hospital was opened in 1914 and run by the St John's Ambulance Brigade. It began as a 40 bed hospital but was subsequently enlarged to about 100 beds.

Two Hours' Notice

"The St John Hospital at Newton Abbot received a sudden message that forty cases were coming direct from overseas and would be with them in two hours time. The hospital was not open to patients but the staff turned to, and within two hours forty beds were ready for the men."

The Story of British V.A.D. work in the Great War by Thekla Bowser

Photo taken at the Newton Abbot VA hospital (TBC) From the Teign Heritage Collection

The rail connection between Teignmouth and Newton Abbot in Devon existed during WW1.

As it is only  a 10 minute between the two towns so several of the Teignmouth and Shaldon VAD nurses and support workers worked at the Newton Abbot VAD hospital.

“2,560 patients have passed through the hospital, (1914-1919) but although many were very critical cases, only six deaths have occurred during the whole time, which is a remarkable tribute to the zealous care shown by the doctors and trained staff.

 

It was a first line hospital and received patients direct from overseas.”

Mid Devon Advertiser

The Newton Hall VAD Hospital was located on College Road, Newton Abbot, it closed in 1919 and was later demolished.

Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) Cards

Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) Card. ©2018 British Red Cross (CC BY-NC 2.0 UK)

Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) Card. ©2018 British Red Cross (CC BY-NC 2.0 UK)