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Uncover 18th Century Child Hospital Stories
24 Apr
Summary
- Project seeks descendants of children treated between 1744-1801.
- Research challenges assumptions about early child hospital care.
- Hospital archive holds records of 4,000 children treated.
The University of Northampton is spearheading an initiative to connect contemporary families with the historical experiences of children treated at Northampton Infirmary between 1744 and 1801. This project delves into the archives of Northampton General Hospital, which contain records of around 4,000 children aged 13 and under treated during that era.
The research, a collaboration with the University of Toronto Mississauga, aims to counter the long-held belief that children received little hospital treatment before the establishment of specialized institutions. Early findings suggest children were frequently admitted to voluntary hospitals.
Professor Williams, leading the UoN team, highlighted the importance of uncovering these former child patients' life stories after their discharge. The project was partly inspired by the case of Sarah Harris, a 12-year-old who underwent a hip amputation in 1779, believed to be the first such procedure in England.
Families interested in learning more about this historical connection can attend a heritage fair. This initiative emphasizes the value of archival collaboration with historians and genealogists to illuminate past lives.
