Frances moyle

Health & Social Care, Everyday Life

Helston Poor Union (Workhouse) Nurse 1887

Suggested by Terrye Teverson

Terrye says, “I was first introduced to Frances Moyle (Fanny) when reading the pages from January 1887 of the Helston Poor Union Minute book. The document reveals that the Board of Guardians of the Poor Union had advertised for a ‘competent nurse’, and Fanny was duly appointed. The Helston Guardians wrote to the Local Government Board to advise of her appointment and secure her payment. The Local Government Board however objected to Fanny’s appointment apparently on the basis that she was a single woman with 4 children. They requested the Helston Guardians “to proceed to a fresh appointment (of a proper person) without delay”.

The document also reads “The Chairman read a letter from the nurse tendering her resignation and reported that she had obtained another situation and was anxious to be relieved from her duties.” I have not been able to find out what happened to Fanny after she left the workhouse, but I did discover that she had lived at Ashfield, Alexandra Road, Illogan prior to her appointment and she had worked for the widow of Thomas Garland, an arsenic manufacturer.

I discovered Fanny in my research into the Helston workhouse which after it shut in 1930 was taken over in 1948 by the NHS. My mother was a nurse there in the late 1950’s early 60’s. My mother was adopted as she was illegitimate, a fact she found shameful all her life, and I guess that’s why Fanny’s story particularly resonates with me.

I think it is important to give Fanny Moyle a voice because like so many women she was denied work on the basis of being a single mother and left to bring up her children in the best way she could.”

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