Wingfield Convalescent Home opened in Headington, 1872
Extract from Jackson’s Oxford Journal, 25 May 1872:
THE WINGFIELD CONVALESCENT HOME
This institution was formally opened on Monday last, Whit-Monday, by Archdeacon Clerke, who also laid the first stone of the building on that day, 1871. The site of the building is adjacent to the road leading from the Warneford Asylum to Shotover, and about a mile from Oxford. Nine acres of land were secured for the purpose by the promoters of the undertaking. The building is erected to accommodate eight person — four men and four women – and is so arranged as to be capable of enlargement at any future time if necessary. The designs were kindly furnished gratuitously by Mr. Wilkinson, architect, of Beaumont Street, Oxford, who added, what was of the greatest value, his personal superintendence of the work. The house comprises, on the ground floor, a day-room each for the men and women, rooms for the Committee and Steward, separate apartments for each individual, laundry, kitchen,a and the necessary offices, besides rooms for the Matron, spare room &c. On the first storey are separate bed-rooms for each. The walls are built with red bricks, and covered with Brosely tiles. In front of the building is a veranda for the accommodation of patients. The contractor was Mr. Thomas Jones, of George-street, Oxford, and the cost of the building was 1075l.The opening ceremony commenced with a surpliced choir from Headington, with the aid of some voices from Magdalen College, conducted by the Rev. L. S. Tuckwell, chaplain and precentor of Magdalen College, and Curate of Headington, singing the 232nd Hymn from "Hymns Ancient and Modern". The Rev. J. Rigaud then read some appropriate prayers, after which the Choir chanted Psalms xci and cxxi; and Archdeacon Clerke then said, "We open this Home for the restoration of the sick to health, in the hope of God’s blessing upon it, and in memory of Hannah Wingfield, its chief benefactor, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." The Archdeacon added other suitable prayers, and the Choir having sung another hymn, composed for the occasion, Archdeacon Clerke pronounced the Benediction, and the proceedings terminated.– The weather was very fine, and there was a large number of people present.
The company then partook of lunch. Among those present were the Rev. Danon Mozley, Rev.Dr. Warburton, the Revs. J. Dodd, Ja. H. Ashhurst, O. Ogle, G. T. Cooke, H. R. Bramley (Vicar of Horspath), G. Branson and H. C. Ogle (Fellows of Magdalen), and Dr Tuckwell, Mrs. Clerke, Mrs. Bulley, Mrs. Glanville, Mrs. O. Ogle, Mrs. Parsons, Miss Rigaud, Mr. and Mrs. Combe, Mrs. F. Symonds and the Misses Symonds, Mr. Taunton, Mr. Wingfield, &c.
The Rev. OCTAVIUS OGLE said he should ask those present to assent to a resolution which he had to propose. He wished, however, in the first place to remind them that this was a Home and not a Hospital, and among the list of names of the promoters of it there was one he wished to do honour to. It was that of a lady whose name had been given in memory of her munificence to that Home, and whom so long as that building stood, there would be a monument to her kindness in doing what she had done. He was sure that they all regretted that she was not present to join in the ceremony, but he was certain that the work that had been begun was completely in accordance with what was known to be her truest wishes. (Applause.) He also wished to do honour to the name of another person who had passed away since that work began, and who assisted them in completing it more than any other one man had done – he meant the late Mr. Parsons. (Applause.) That gentleman had happily left one behind to finish the work. There were few things more burdensome to a man than to mention his praises in his presence, and he should therefore forbear to say anything more than to ask them to join with him in thanking Archdeacon Clerke for his tasks through that day, and for the kind interest he had throughout shown in the promotion of the Wingfield Convalescent Home, and also for his kindness in laying the foundation-stone of that building on Whit-Monday last.
The motion was carried with acclamation.
Archdeacon CLERKE said he was exceedingly gratified at the way in which the mention of his name was received. What Mr. Ogle had said was perfectly true. He had felt a deep interest in that work; it was undertaking a considerably novelty, but it was carrying out the true wishes of one whom he knew well. Mrs. Wingfield was one of the two ladies who rendered him great assistance in carrying out a good work while he was Vicar of St. Mary Magdalen. The other lady was Mrs. Morrell. Both of these ladies had left behind them an example which he hoped would be long remembered, and have great influence. There was one thing that had occurred to him with regard to this building, and that was that he hoped he never should see any of those who attended the opening of it that day inside it a patients; he trusted that they would all enjoy good health. He could not conceive any truer act of charity than the establishment of that Home for the reception and restoration to perfect health of those who had suffered from any disease and had been partially cured. The want of such a Home had been very much felt. It would be a great aid to the Radcliffe Infirmary, as the governors of that Institution would be able to remove their patients to that Home before they could otherwise discharge them. Therefore, by doing this they would be assisting the Infirmary in the good work of receiving the sick and afflicted. He returned them his sincere thanks for the compliment they had paid him, and reminded them that annual subscriptions were necessary for the support of that Institution, and which they trusted would be forthcoming. The patients who were admitted into it must be well fed, and the mode in which they would be treated would incur considerable expense. He hoped that subscriptions would soon be sufficient to enable them to add an airing ground to the premises. They had, however, sufficient space to begin that, but the great point was to secure a larger space for that purpose. He could not conclude without thanking Mr. Rigaud for the way in which he had laboured in carrying out this great work, and he supposed that in a very few days that the Home would be occupied by convalescents. He came up to see it a few days ago, and he was so struck with the salubrity of the air that he told the Matron that he could almost wish to be the first patient himself. (Laughter.) The building also was admirably arranged. He concluded by thanking them for the compliment they had paid him.
The Rev. J. DODD then proposed, "That in opening the convalescent Home in the name of one so beloved, this meeting is desirous of according its sense of obligation to the long and constant efforts made by the Rev. J. Rigaud in carrying out the wishes of the late Mrs. Wingfield in founding and building this institution." He was sure that they would cordially accept that resolution, and he would suggest that it be entered in the minute book of that day’s proceedings. Many months had elapsed since they met there to lay the foundation stone of that building, and a vast deal of trouble had been incurred in carrying out the work, but these duties had been most sensibly and carefully performed by the Rev. J. Rigaud. (Applause.) He then alluded to the advice and assistance rendered by ladies who, he said, surpassed almost everyone in self-devotion and Christian philanthropy: and also to a gentleman, at a distance in India, Colonel Rigaud, who had been a warm promoter of that work. (Much applause.)
Rev. J. RIGAUD, after thanking the assemblage for the compliments they had paid him, said they must do honour to one whom they all desired to see there that day. He had hoped that either Mr. Wilkinson, the architect, or Mrs. Wilkinson, would have been present. With reference to the Wingfield Convalescent Home, he might say that that day had been a long time in hand – several years – he should wish everyone to know this circumstance – that when it was his privilege to confer with Mrs. Wingfield on the plan, she had placed at his disposal so munificent a sum that he at first hesitated about having it entrusted to him. To this she added in life and by her will; and he referred to it because she said that it was not really a gift of her money; for the fact was that Mrs. Wingfield was aware that her husband, before his death, very many years ago, was desirous of seeing such a Home as this established for the benefit of the sick, and that he had intended to leave means for this purpose by his will, but the will was never executed. Mrs Wingfield then, being desirous of aiding such an object, had been putting up money, year after year, for this purpose. It showed not only her simplicity, if proof were wanting, and generosity, but how a thoughtful medical man looked forward in advance of his age more than twenty years ago to such an institution being established, as supplementary to the work of the Infirmary. The managers of the Institution wished to make Mr Wilkinson some acknowledgement of their obligation for what he had done. That gentleman gave them the plans of the building, and, whenever difficulties arose, he also gave them the specifications. He changed carefully, and amended his plans as he thought best for their purpose, with a special view to economy and a future enlargement of the building when necessary. Mr. Wilkinson also came there and superintended the carrying out of the work; thus they had had not architect to remunerate, no clerk of works to pay, and they had Mr. Wilkinson’s kind unpaid assistance throughout. He then proposed that a present of a handsome ornamental claret jug be made to Mr. Wilkinson as, however inadequate, an expression of their obligation to him. He wished that the gentleman were present himself, but not being so, their gift would be conveyed to him. (Applause.)
The proceedings then terminated.
- The Wingfield Convalescent Home was in the SE corner of the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre; and its nine-acre grounds are now occupied by that hospital.
- Charles Wingfield, the doctor who originally had the idea of the convalescent home, was appointed Surgeon at the Radcliffe Infirmary in 1817; he died from cholera in 1846.
- William Wilkinson (1819–l1901) who designed the convalescent home also designed the bridge over Headington Hill; but he is best known as the architect of the Randolph Hotel and much of North Oxford.
- Lewis Stacey Tuckwell was Curate of Headington from 1866 to 1876, when he left to become Rector of Standlake