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Batterbury Family Photos All photos courtesy John Wilson October 2025 These are some of the only-known photographs of a leading family in Box in the 1920s. This photo is of Helen Batterbury, Box's District Nurse, known to most residents and children for her care work throughout the area. District Nursing
District Nursing came to many Wiltshire towns and villages following the formation of the Queen Victoria Jubilee Institute for Nurses in 1887. The institute professionalised nursing in England by providing training in the provision of care of patients in their own home. The Queen herself donated £70,000 to set up the Institute to improve medical care in London, Edinburgh and Dublin and the concept was taken up by subscription initiatives throughout the country. The role of the District Nurse was much wider than hospital care, including social reforms such as domestic housing needs, sexual and health education, and particularly training in the care of babies, feeding and infection against infectious diseases. The role involved going into local day schools, child education in church Sunday schools, as well as addressing the needs of house-bound invalids and palliative care with dressings for injuries, washing provisions for the bedridden, and advice for the chronically ill. |
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Box's Nurses
In the days before the National Health Service, the provision of nursing had to be financed by local donations and annual subscription. For smaller parishes unable to fund a full-tume nurse, a County Nurse made only occasional visits. Box appears to have started with a County Nurse before the First World War when the 1901 census records 26-year-old Mary Annie Schofield as County and District Nurse, boarding with the Bateman family at Belmont, Bath Road. She was born in 1875, the daughter of an Army Service Corps serviceman. By 1911 Mrs Margaret Young of Ashley Lodge was recorded in the position.
Part of the reason for the lack of a dedicated village nurse was that local Friendly Societies were able to offer unemployment as well as sickness cover for subscribers. It is probable that younger residents were more concerned about lack of work than they were about nursing provision. But this rationale altered after the injuries of returning soldiers often required full-time care over many years, sometimes lifelong. In 1916 the local organiser was Mrs Hedges of Middlehill who was acting locally on behalf of the Corsham and Atworth Nursing Association.[0]
It is probable that Box had its first dedicated District Nurse in 1919, when the parish magazine gave a whole page to the arrangements of the Box District Nursing Association.[1] The committee responsible for running the local organisation were Box doctor JP Martin and the vicars of Box and Ditteridge, together with respresentatives of worthy middle-class local ladies. Residents' subscription rates were graduated to allow poorer residents to have access to care. Labourers paid 2 shillings per annum, school teachers and artisans 3 shillings, small farmers and tradespeople 5 shillings, larger such people 7 shillings and six pence, and gentry ten shillings. In addition there were fees for actual attendance by the nurse. The nurse's duties encompassed dressing wounds, burns and occasional visits, midwifery duties for up to 6 weeks, and occasional attendance for mental cases (double fees being paid for these). It is probable that Doris Pepita Chappell from Hatt House was instrumental in the early days of the Box District Nursing Association in her role as chairman of the Wiltshire Nursing Association in the 1920s. Fundraising to cover the costs of a local nurse were an on-going necessity, such as the sum of £21.19s.9d raised by an annual jumble sale in February 1923.[1b]
Applicants wishing to apply for the job were advised to apply to Nurse Gregory of Stanley Steps, Box. It is likely that she was Nellie Gregory who had previously worked at Bailbrook Lunatic Asylum, Bath. It is possible that she was holding the position in Box as a temporary employmnet. The first full-time nurse appointee was Lilian Harriett Monk of 21 Mill Lane, who was described as District Nurse (Certified) employed by the Box District Nursing Association. She was the daughter of a solicitor’s clerk from Bristol. Her role was various, including fundraising by judging the Corsham baby show.[2]
In the days before the National Health Service, the provision of nursing had to be financed by local donations and annual subscription. For smaller parishes unable to fund a full-tume nurse, a County Nurse made only occasional visits. Box appears to have started with a County Nurse before the First World War when the 1901 census records 26-year-old Mary Annie Schofield as County and District Nurse, boarding with the Bateman family at Belmont, Bath Road. She was born in 1875, the daughter of an Army Service Corps serviceman. By 1911 Mrs Margaret Young of Ashley Lodge was recorded in the position.
Part of the reason for the lack of a dedicated village nurse was that local Friendly Societies were able to offer unemployment as well as sickness cover for subscribers. It is probable that younger residents were more concerned about lack of work than they were about nursing provision. But this rationale altered after the injuries of returning soldiers often required full-time care over many years, sometimes lifelong. In 1916 the local organiser was Mrs Hedges of Middlehill who was acting locally on behalf of the Corsham and Atworth Nursing Association.[0]
It is probable that Box had its first dedicated District Nurse in 1919, when the parish magazine gave a whole page to the arrangements of the Box District Nursing Association.[1] The committee responsible for running the local organisation were Box doctor JP Martin and the vicars of Box and Ditteridge, together with respresentatives of worthy middle-class local ladies. Residents' subscription rates were graduated to allow poorer residents to have access to care. Labourers paid 2 shillings per annum, school teachers and artisans 3 shillings, small farmers and tradespeople 5 shillings, larger such people 7 shillings and six pence, and gentry ten shillings. In addition there were fees for actual attendance by the nurse. The nurse's duties encompassed dressing wounds, burns and occasional visits, midwifery duties for up to 6 weeks, and occasional attendance for mental cases (double fees being paid for these). It is probable that Doris Pepita Chappell from Hatt House was instrumental in the early days of the Box District Nursing Association in her role as chairman of the Wiltshire Nursing Association in the 1920s. Fundraising to cover the costs of a local nurse were an on-going necessity, such as the sum of £21.19s.9d raised by an annual jumble sale in February 1923.[1b]
Applicants wishing to apply for the job were advised to apply to Nurse Gregory of Stanley Steps, Box. It is likely that she was Nellie Gregory who had previously worked at Bailbrook Lunatic Asylum, Bath. It is possible that she was holding the position in Box as a temporary employmnet. The first full-time nurse appointee was Lilian Harriett Monk of 21 Mill Lane, who was described as District Nurse (Certified) employed by the Box District Nursing Association. She was the daughter of a solicitor’s clerk from Bristol. Her role was various, including fundraising by judging the Corsham baby show.[2]
Nurse Helen Batterbury
The story of nurse Helen Batterbury and her family was given in detail at Batterbury Family. She had previously been an assistant matron in London but returned to Box to look after her widowed father William, head gardener at The Wilderness. She worked as matron at the private boys' school at Ashley Manor in 1911 before taking over as Box District Nurse probably in the late 1920s. She was best-known for her work with children, teaching at Box Church Sunday School, and as assistant librarian at the Bingham Hall, Box.
Local resident Kathleen Harris recalled visits by nurse Batterbury at that time: My parents subscribed to a Nursing Association and by doing so, I believe, we were entitled to free care from the Box District Nurse. This dedicated lady ministered to the sick, elderly and the injured in the parish, and to reach these in outlying areas she used a bicycle. After I had a particularly bad tumble the nurse came daily to our home at The Old Jockey to attend to my injured knee.[2b]
The story of nurse Helen Batterbury and her family was given in detail at Batterbury Family. She had previously been an assistant matron in London but returned to Box to look after her widowed father William, head gardener at The Wilderness. She worked as matron at the private boys' school at Ashley Manor in 1911 before taking over as Box District Nurse probably in the late 1920s. She was best-known for her work with children, teaching at Box Church Sunday School, and as assistant librarian at the Bingham Hall, Box.
Local resident Kathleen Harris recalled visits by nurse Batterbury at that time: My parents subscribed to a Nursing Association and by doing so, I believe, we were entitled to free care from the Box District Nurse. This dedicated lady ministered to the sick, elderly and the injured in the parish, and to reach these in outlying areas she used a bicycle. After I had a particularly bad tumble the nurse came daily to our home at The Old Jockey to attend to my injured knee.[2b]
William Batterbury, senior
Helen's family were long-established residents in Box. The family lived at Rosebank, Devizes Road, and William senior worked as head gardener at The Wilderness. More of the story of the family is told at Batterbury Family and Rosebank,
Helen's family were long-established residents in Box. The family lived at Rosebank, Devizes Road, and William senior worked as head gardener at The Wilderness. More of the story of the family is told at Batterbury Family and Rosebank,
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Above left: William Batterbury senior at work and Above Right: the whole family at Rosebank (both courtesy John Wilson)
Helen's brothers, William Batterbury junior and Ernest Batterbury, moved out of Box and established their lives independently of the area, William at Portland and Ernest in running prisons including Dartmoor.
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References
[0] Parish Magazine, December 1916
[1] Parish Magazine, March 1919
[1b] Parish Magazine, February 1923
[2] The Wiltshire Times, 18 September 1920
[2b] See Kathleen Harris, Up the Hill and Down the Hill
[0] Parish Magazine, December 1916
[1] Parish Magazine, March 1919
[1b] Parish Magazine, February 1923
[2] The Wiltshire Times, 18 September 1920
[2b] See Kathleen Harris, Up the Hill and Down the Hill