Dowker's Hospital
On the east side of Highgate where Dowkers Lane meets it between 177 Highgate and 181 Highgate (Beijing Palace)
from "Kirkbie Kendall", John F. Curwen, 1900
Dowker's Hospital It is not certain whether the museum or the modern gateway which leads to Abbot Hall was the site where George Wilson had his warehouse. Alderman Joseph Dawson, who was elected mayor in 1702, I find devised in the year 1722 to the mayor, &c., a field in Natland called Round Dale, containing one acre three roods and six perches, and also his dwelling house and warehouse adjoining Mr. George Wilson’s, upon trust to dispose of the rents thereof towards the advancement of the charity and maintenance of the Blue Coat boys in Kendal, and in case that charity should at any time be discontinued, amongst twelve aged housekeepers.Dorothy Dowker, daughter of James Dowker the deputy recorder, who died May 15th, 1831, bequeathed to the mayor, &c., that they should “ nominate six females of good and chaste character, born in Kendal, having attained the age of fifty years, without having been married and whose situation in life should require some assistance and that they should hire or provide a home or building in the said town for their reception.” In the year 1832, the trustees agreed with the treasurer of the Blue Coat School for the hire of Dawson’s house, upon which was laid out a sum of £450 from the funds of the Blue Coat Charity, and the rent payable was fixed at £35 per annum. Both charities had the same trustees and so this easy arrangement was come to as being beneficial to both. Miss Maria Wilson augmented the fund by £1000 in 1839 and by another £1097 at her death in 1863. On a freestone tablet are the Dowker arms, being Argent a fess wavy between three ducks Sable, or as it is commonly put “ Six ducks but never a drake»” and the date 1833.
In a large upper room in the yard behind, a school master bearing the not uncommon name of Wilson formed an educational establishment, the boys of which, it is said, found their chief delight and recreation in periodical fights with Sampson’s boys from the Church Yard School. “ Lord Harrowby ” was generally the cause of these conflicts, Wilson’s boys defending and Sampson’s boys persecuting his lordship. Who Harrowby was and for why he was persecuted I shall have cause to enter into when speaking about his house in Kirkland.
From here also “John Lough respectfully informs his friends, the public generally, and the mechanics especially of Kendal and Kirkland that he has taken and intends, on the 4th day of February, 1833, to enter upon and open the schoolroom recently occupied by Thomas Skaife, where he intends to resume the arduous avocations of a schoolmaster. The terms of tuition will be, per week : — reading, 3d. ; reading and writing, 6d. ; reading, writing, and arithmetic, 8d. ; —
‘Who would not weep
To see, for want of skill, the youthful eye
Vacant and dead, flounder from word to word.
From page to page, nor cull one single thought
In all its route ? ’ ”
John Lough seems also to have added to his labour by undertaking the gentle art of writing epistles and love messages for his clients at a moderate charge. He takes care, therefore, to add as a footnote to his prospectus that “ persons may place the utmost confidence in his not revealing the contents either of those letters that he may write, or of those that he may peruse for the purpose of being answered.” The Schoolhouse is now the residence of two out of the six inmates of Miss Dowker’s Charity.
RULES, ORDERS, AND Regulations FOR SPINSTERS.
1. Every Spinster who shall be admitted into this Charitable Institution, shall regularly reside in the House allotted to her, and shall not be absent without obtaining leave from two or more of the Trustees.
2. The Spinsters shall regularly attend Divine Service at the Parish Church, on Sundays ; also on Christmas Day, Good Friday, Ascension Day, Ash Wednesday, New Year’s Day, the Epiphany, and such other occasions as the Trustees may direct.
3. The .Spinsters shall live quietly and peaceably together, and be assistant to each other both in health and sickness.
4. The Spinsters shall weekly cleanse the fronts of their allotted Houses, and carry the sweepings or rubbish to the place appointed.
J. No Spinster shall have any Lodger in her house, unless in case of sickness, infirmity, or some other cause, to be approved of by the Trustees ; nor shall any Spinster have more than one lodger, and that a female, in any case whatsoever.
6. The Iron Gate leading to the Front Door of the House adjoining the Street, as also the Iron Gate leading through the Passage to the other Houses in the said Premises, and the Door leading to the River Side, shall not be opened before Six o’clock in the Morning, nor stand open after Nine o’clock in the Evening, from Lady-day to Michaelmas, yearly ; nor shall they be opened before Day-break, nor stand open after Day-close, for the remaining part of the Year.
(Signed)
JOSEPH SWAINSON, Mayor.
THOS. HOLME MAUDE, Shnior Alderman.
JOHN HARRISON, Senior Alderman.
J. HUDSON, Vicar.
January ist, 1835.
HUDSON and NICHOLSON, PRINTERS, KENDAL.
REDUCED COPY OF THE RULES, ETC.
