edith mary hanks, nurse
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Edith Mary Hanks was born on 8 April 1875, her name at birth being registered as Mary Edith. She was the second child of William, a carpenter, and Celia. She had an older brother, Frederick, and two younger sisters, Agnes and Bertha.
The 1881 census reverses Edith’s names and gives her birthplace as Bishop’s Cleeve. At this time the family lived in Droitwich Road. In the 1891 census, Edith is listed as Mary E., and her birthplace as Gotherington. Aged fifteen, she was now a milliner’s apprentice. The family was now living in Waterworks Road.
Edith began working at the Asylum in 1894, her first appearance in the Wages Book being on 9 April. In the 1901 census, she is listed as an ‘Attendant on Insane’. She was promoted to Deputy Chief Attendant in 1907, at a salary of £37 per annum, rising to £42 after two years (Report of the House Committee of the Asylum Visiting Committee, 18 September 1907). In both the 1901 and 1911 Censuses, she is shown as living at the Asylum, and her birthplace is given as Cheltenham.
In 1921 Edith was again living with her parents, and had been promoted to Assistant to Head Nurse.
Along with her sister Agnes, who also worked at the Powick Asylum, Edith qualified as a nurse in 1924. In the Nursing Register for 1925, Edith notes her experience as lasting from 1894 to 1897, although the Wages Book includes payments to her until 1919. She gives her address as the Asylum.
From 1928 to 1931, the sisters lived together at Cornmeadow Lane in Claines. In the 1939 Register, Edith was shown as living alone at this address, and was described as ‘Retired Assistant Matron, Mental Hospital’. She lived at this address until her death on 6 February 1956. Her younger sister, Bertha, is also recorded at this address in the 1945-46 electoral rolls, and Edith left her estate to Bertha.
Research by Cathy Broad, 2025.
Related links:-
Click here to find out about Edith’s sister, Agnes.
Go back to find out about people who were patients and other staff at the asylum.