Extracted from the "Erith Observer" dated 24.6.1971

HOSPITAL CENTENARY PLANS

Erith and District Hospital's centenary celebrations will start with a garden party organized by the Association of Friends, on July 3. To give the event a Victorian flavour to signify the hospital's 100th anniversary, the staff will appear in 1871 period dress. Next part of the celebration will be the open day on August 31. Original documents will be produced including a record of the admission on August 18th 1871, of the hospitals first patient, 13-year-old Harriett Appleton, of Sandringham Cottage, Erith.

In the evening, the hospital is to lay on a celebration dinner for pensioners. The Woolwich Group Hospitals Management Committee are to provide a centenary party for the staff on October 1, and the Association of Friends are arranging a staff dance on October 23.

Information from the hospital admission book

Harriet was admitted with Gastric Fever, on August 18th 1871, and discharged, cured on August 28th, the hospital made the charge of 2/6d. per week ( equivelent to 12.5p today ).Harriet's stay in the hospital was for 10 days.

The image above shows the first entry in the admissions book of Erith Cottage Hospital 18th August 1871.

It reads - No.1. Name. Appleton Harriet. Age. 13. Desease. Gastric Fever. Address. Sandringham Cott.

Erith Cottage Hospital

A ward in Erith cottage hospital.

Erith cottage hospital can be seen behind the trees on the right, the road is Erith High Street.

Harriet Appleton was treated at Erith Cottage Hospital, as the very first patient,for gastric fever in August 1871 at the age of 13 years and was cured and discharged. But sadly Harriet's future had a sad event in store. Harriet married Frederick Bishop in St. Nicholas Church, Plumstead, in 1881 and had their first child in the same year. The first child was a girl who they named Elizabeth Louisa Bishop. In 1893 at the age of 11 years, when the family lived at 35 Brook Street, Northumberland Heath, Erith, Elizabeth stood too close to the grate and sadly caught her dress alight, she was badly burnt and was rushed to Erith Cottage Hospital where she later died from shock caused by her injuries - in the very same ward that her mother had been the very first patient 22 years earlier. Over 60 years later I (JWA), was born in the very same house that Elizabeth met her fate.

Elizabeth's death certificate can be seen under Documents at this link: Elizabeth's death certificate

BISHOP Elizabeth Louisa 

Appleton Harriet

Family: BISHOP/APPLETON (F310)

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