Page of dispensory account book
showing Mr Cockayne's appointment as Surgeon. |
The Bamburgh Charities of Dr. Sharp
Medical: An infirmary and dispensary were set up where poor applicants, on production of a certificate of recommendation, could receive medical treatment. With the help of his brother William, who was surgeon to King George III, John purchased state of the art medical equipment and supplies from London to furnish it. This included several pewter syringes, bellows to give artificial respiration, a sedan chair and a mysterious 'electrical machine', costing £4.5s.
The School: A school was established within the castle itself in 1772. Parents of limited means could apply for their children to receive free schooling. A female School of Industry, which provided a sound elementary education and training in domestic skills to prepare the girls for employment in service, was still operating when the castle was sold in 1890.
Petitions: The charity considered petitions for financial assistance from all over the country - including appeals to pay apprenticeship fees, for help towards the expenses of enclosure, or to defray the cost of education for a poor child. |
