Maria Nicholls

Born 1901, died 1984
Matron at Gressenhall Public Assistance Institution, 1939-1946
Researched by Elizabeth Steele

Maria Nicholls, together with her husband David John Nicholls, commenced their  duties as Matron and Master at the Gressenhall Public Assistance Institution on 28 October 1938. Both remained in their posts at the institution throughout World War Two, until their joint resignation in August 1946. Unlike many earlier Matrons, Maria was a trained nurse.

Maria was born Maria Pearce, on 24 June 1901 in Treordy, in the district of Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales. The 1911 Census records Maria, aged 10, living at the family home at 10 Lower Terrace, Cymparc, Wales. Her father, John Pearce, aged 38, is recorded as a collier (hewer) as are two of his children (Maria’s elder brothers). Also present is an older sister Mary Jane, aged 16, who is a Dressmaker’s Apprentice. Maria also has two younger siblings.

On the 1921 Census,  Maria,  now aged 20 is a Probationer Nurse at the Welsh National Memorial Hospital for Tubercular Case, Fairwater, Cardiff. Maria trained and gained her qualifications as a Nurse from 1922 to 1925, at the Cardiff Union Workhouse. She also qualified as a Midwife, and enrolled on The Midwives Roll 1904-1959 on 29 April 1926.

Maria married, David Nicholls, in the district of Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales in October 1927. As a Nurse, Maria worked in  1935 at the Poor Law Institution, 112 West Street, Havant and in 1937 at the Poor Law Institution, Market Drayton.

Maria commenced her duties as Matron at Gressenhall  in October 1938 with a starting  salary of £80 per annum. This was to be increased to £100 from 1 April 1939. It would appear that she had eight paid nurses in her charge. Their names  are recorded as Miss E Fitt, Miss E Hardiment, Miss R M Hurrell, Miss K Reynolds, Miss B Clemence, Miss Winifred Dyball, Miss Joan Seppings and Mis Nora Harvey, who was a Nursery Attendant. Entries on the 1939 Register taken when Maria was at Gressenhall,  show that she had  given  birth to a  son Cyril, on 21 September 1929 and that he accompanied his parents to Gressenhall in 1938.

In March 1939 additional accommodation was needed to accommodate the  growing number of nursing staff. A Miss Lark was appointed temporarily until 31 August 1939 as Matron’s Assistant. After this the position was  fulfilled by a Miss Lindsay.

During her time as Matron at Gressenhall,  Maria continued to receive  annual increases to her salary.  It is worth noting that by 9 March 1942 the Master and Matron (Maria) were to receive equal pay of £137 10s per annum for their duties. By March 1944 her salary was to rise to £260 per annum .

On  23 January 1942 a fire broke out in the East wing of Gressenhall Public Assistance Institution (the infirmary), with the most damage being to the nurses’ quarters. The minutes of 9 February 1942 record the fire breaking out together with the commendable actions taken by both the Matron, Master and their staff “…for the  work they  performed in such difficult conditions and to the great care given by them  in the removal of the inmates”. Maria, her husband and some nursing staff suffered damage and loss to some personal items as a result of the fire. Maria claimed to replace a suit, Macintosh and shoes.

During the war years, patients and nurses were being evacuated from Essex to Gressenhall resulting in an increased workload for Maria and her husband. Some, 27 patients were transferred to this Institution from Orsett on 11th May 1942 with 6 nurses, and 10 patients from Epping on 25 May with 1 Nurse.

In December 1944, the Master (Maria’s husband) received recognition, in the way of an honorarium for the extra work in connection to the evacuated cases. Maria received nothing. However, she did  receive the appreciation of the committee in the minutes of 1946 for the “excellent way she and her staff catered for the enjoyment of the inmates on Christmas Day”.

Maria and her husband jointly resigned from their posts in  August 1946. This was accepted by the Guardians “with regret and that the Committee’s appreciation of their excellent services whilst at Gressenhall be recorded upon the Minutes”. Following a recruitment process, Mr & Mrs A E White, Master and Matron of West Beckham Institution, were appointed to the vacant posts.

Unfortunately, at present nothing can be found as to where Maria and her husband went to immediately after leaving Gressenhall, or whether Maria continued in  nursing after 1946. Maria died in March 1984, in the district of Gravesend, Kent.