High Hall staff and associates from 1930 onwards. See Aysgarth Union Workhouse for details of staff from when it opened to 1930.
There are gaps in our information – can you help with dates, photos, confirmation etc? Please use the ‘Comments’ function at the bottom of the page.
1930
- Mr Frank Hiscock Master
- Mrs Elizabeth Hiscock Matron.
- Mr and Mrs T. Fawcett Assistant Master and Matron.
Mr T. Fawcett Assistant Master
The Fawcetts did not take over the master and matron’s positions from the Hiscocks, they left the workhouse and moved to a farm at Swinithwaite.
‘Was there another Hiscock that became Master or Matron?”
1930
Dr. Dean Dunbar from the Aysgarth surgery is still the medical Officer for health at the workhouse. He was also one of the Board of Guardians of the workhouse at Bainbridge.
He died in 1934
1931
Allen Hiscock (son of Frank Hiscock) and his first wife are now the Master and Matron at the workhouse
1935
Dr Will Pickles
Dr William Pickles (1885 – 1969), was the first president of the Royal College of General Practitioners. He practised at Aysgarth for 53 years and wrote Epidemiology in a country practice.
Doctor Pickles from the Aysgarth surgery became the Medical Officer for Health at Bainbridge workhouse.
Dr. Pickles remained in this position until the National Health Service Act came into being in 1948.
The Annual salary paid for this position in 1947 was £40 per annum.
Dr Ord joins the practice
1935/36
Mr and Mrs Wyatt are master and matron. They had two daughters Nancy and Dorothy.
1937
Kellys Directory lists a Mr.William John Ion as Master and Mrs Olive Mary Ion as Matron of the Bainbridge Workhouse.
1940s
Mr. and Mrs. Hough were master and matron in the very early forties.(Confirm with Josie)
Mrs Hough was a member of Bainbridge WI.
They left Bainbridge for Mr Hough to become Superintendent at the Leyburn workhouse.
1945
Mr and Mrs Pashby are Master and Matron Of the Workhouse. Mr Pashby was a local circuit preacher.
1947
Dr. Coltman joins Dr. Pickles at Aysgarth Surgery.
1948
- National Health Service Act
Now pauperism had been abolished and medical treatment was free a Medical Officer for Health was no longer needed for the workhouse.
Dr. Pickles and Drs. Coltman continued to look after patients in the Public Assistance Institution that became a Welfare Home after 1948.
Some more names of Masters and Matrons
1949
- Mr and Mrs Evans are master and matron. Mrs Evans was from Ireland and Mr Evans came from Wales.
They had a daughter called Deirdre.
They were still at High Hall in 1952.
1953
- Mr and Mrs Arthur Dickinson Master and Matron
Arthur Dickinson
Matron Barbara Dickinson
1956 – 1966
- George and Pauline Marsden Master and Matron
Left to right
Mrs. Pollitt assistant Matron. Mr Marsden Master.
Mrs Marsden Matron
George and Pauline Marsden interviewed Mrs Sumner for the post of kitchen maid. They said they couldn’t offer her permanent employment as High Hall was probably going to close down within the next two years.
Were any of these names connected with High Hall?
- Mason?
- Doubty?
1965
Ernest Metcalfe
Ernest Metcalfe from Sedbusk near Hawes joins the care staff.
Mr Metcalfe said, At this time there were 48 residents, a resident Master and Matron
a handful of attendants and domestic staff working very long hours.
I have bathed up to twenty men in one day”
1966
Joan Buck Matron
This was the first time that a Matron only was employed, the husband was to follow his own occupation.
Joan retired in 1973 and Mrs McKye became Matron.
1966
Christmas Dinner at high Hall. This photograph shows Rev Malcolm Stonestreet and Dr Coltman joining in the festivities at High Hall.
1970
Mrs Davey (centre) was appointed as assistant Matron. Her husband Angus (left) was a miner from Peterhead. The lady to the right is June Burton the cook.
Mr. Ernest Metcalfe. This gentlemans occupation was handyman, care assistant and accordion player.
Councillor John Blackie Attending a Christmas concert in his younger days.
1973
Mrs McKye Matron
1974/5
Jack Foster Officer in Charge
Peter Geelan
. Same time as Rev Malcolm Stonestreet was Vicar of Askrigg.
1980
David Law Officer in Charge
Mary Sumner was Assistant Officer in charge to David Law.
Drs. Derek and Margaret Hoyle come to the practice at Aysgarth.
Derek visited High Hall for Christmas lunch every year that he was practising at Aysgarth until his retirement in 1995.
1982
Mary Sumner Officer in Charge
- Mary Sumner started work as a kitchen maid in 1965 and then became a care assistant.
She then became senior care assistant, Deputy Officer in Charge
and finally Officer in Charge in 1982.
Mary retired in January 1989.
This photo is of Marys’ retirement presentation.
The man on her left is Mr Ernest Metcalfe.
Ernest Metcalfe
Second Officer in Charge
1985 -1989
Dianne Whyte Deputy Officer in Charge.
Dianne was Warden at Sycamore Close Bainbridge
when it first opened in 1980 until 1985.
She then came to work at High Hall Bainbridge.
1992
Ernest Metcalfe second-Officer-in-charge retires after 26 years.
1989-1999
Dianne Whyte Officer in Charge
1997 – 1999
Alyson Hill becomes acting Officer in Charge.
1999 – 2004
Alyson Hill Officer in Charge
Alyson Hill’s Leaving Party Alyson (left) and Michelle Berzins (right)
2004/2005
Diane Stephenson
Our current Operations Manager
Team Managers:
Pauline Hurley,
Debbie Thompson, Margaret Metcalfe
Activity Organisers
Liz Allen
Angela Kershaw
High Hall closed its doors for the last time on January 31st 2007
All residents moved across the road into Sycamore Hall Bainbridge extra care housing accomodation.
- Inmates and Casuals from the workhouse
- The Reform Of The Poor Law
- Home