Northumberland Archives

This guest blog was written by Alison Johnson

Thousands of people walk past the Northern Goldsmiths building in the centre of Newcastle on Tyne every day and never look up at the north facing windows, where, in the late 19th Century, the light was just right for an artist. It was in these rooms in 1892 that Richard Emerson Ruddock, artist photographer, opened his Grand Studio. 

Richard had already been working as a photographer at 20 Front Street, Tynemouth, in partnership with Matthew Anty, after learning his trade with W & D Downey in London. The brothers Downey had started out as photographers in the Market Place, South Shields but moved to Newcastle and then to London, at the invitation of a local MP Mr Ingram, and become Court Photographer to Queen Victoria.  

The Grand Studio had the most fashionable furniture and décor to impress Richard’s clients, provided by Gullachsen’s, located next door to the Goldsmiths Hall, and the most modern photographic equipment from London and from Hurman Ltd, who owned a photographic warehouse at St Nicholas Building, Newcastle.

The Shields Daily News of 8 September 1892 described the grace and elegance of the rooms in the Grand Studio in extensive detail. The photography took place on the upper floor, with a well-lighted camera room furnished with Axminster rugs and upholstered chairs, and two work rooms. The main floor below held two dressing rooms, with the one facing Pilgrim Street, designed for the use of lady visitors, furnished in Italian walnut with a large wardrobe, a dressing table and a cheval glass so that the sitter could see a full view of her clothing. The main reception room, 40 feet by 25 feet, was also on this floor, with a white ceiling, pale lemon walls and white woodwork. Here there were more luxurious rugs, comfortable seating and a piano. An article in the Newcastle Daily Chronicle of 28 March 1894, describes a meeting in this room with Blondin, the Hero of Niagara and the tight-rope, who had come to the Grand Studio to have his portrait taken. There was also a room for the secretarial part of the business on this floor. 

Geraldine, the fashion and household columnist of the Newcastle Weekly Chronicle, visited the Grand Studio in October 1892 and wrote “What I like about this profession is that gentlemen and their wives can work together. Mrs Lydell Sawyer, Mrs Robert Barrass, and Mrs Ruddock each holds a place in their respective reception rooms. This is, perhaps, a trifle awkward sometimes, since visitors seem to think the ladies cannot do for them what they require. Ladies and gentlemen call and desire to see the photographer himself: and when their business has  been ascertained, it is discovered that the lady in attendance could have done quite as well as the photographer could.” 

It appears that Richard was aiming to photograph the famous, the great and the good of Newcastle and the surrounding area. One of his first portraits at his new studio was of Mr W Sutton, the Mayor of Newcastle, who formally opened the new studio.  He also took photographs, which were converted into illustrations by engraving, for both local and national newspapers, such as for an article about a billiards championship. 

These also included photographs of ordinary people such as Mrs Allison, the young wife of a miner living in Windy Nook, Gateshead. An article in the Jarrow Express, 1 September 1899, described her illness and her remarkable recovery which she attributed to Dr William’s pink pills. 

Few of Richard’s photographs survive from the many that he must have taken, going by reports in local newspapers. There are three in the National Portrait Gallery, London. He took photographs of some of the Presidents of the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers; these hang in the Lecture Theatre at Neville Hall in Newcastle, now the home of The Common Room. Durham University has copies of the book Ushaw College: A Centenary Memorial, with many illustrations from a series of photographs taken by Richard. The Ushaw Library holds the original photographs. Northumberland Archives also holds a copy of the booklet Grand Photographic Views of Cramlington and District (NRO 00482/10, views taken by Richard. 

Richard’s brother, John Candlish Ruddock (1866-1933), had a photographic business in Alnwick. Some of his photographs are also held by the Northumberland Archives. 

It seems that Richard suffered from the modern problem of unauthorised use of his photographs, because he took the trouble to have several of them patented; the surviving patents, with copies of the photographs, are held in the National Archives in London. 

Why did Richard decide to set up his Grand Studio rather than staying in Tynemouth? It’s clear from the description of the studio that he was ambitious, but Richard was already well connected to the Newcastle area when he opened the Grand Studio. His father was the Richard Ruddock who was the managing editor of the Newcastle Chronicle newspaper from 1878 to 1908. One of his younger sisters, Bertha, married the grandson of William Wailes, the famous stained-glass manufacturer, who built Saltwell Towers in Gateshead. 

For some years it appears that his photography business was successful, but in 1906 a notice appeared in the Newcastle Daily Chronicle of 19 November 1906 that told of the end of the Grand Studio. The notice gave details of the photographic equipment and the furnishings that were to be auctioned, including the very fine Walnut bedroom suite described at the opening of the Grand Studio. 

It seems that the writing was on the wall about the failure of the business and his financial difficulties long before the notice of sale appeared. The Newcastle Weekly Chronicle of 24 September 1892 mentioned five well established and three new professional photographers that had set up business in Newcastle and said of the Grand Studio “It is in truth a gorgeous affair, the new studio in the new building sat at the corner of Blackett Street. To sustain the weight of the costly and elaborate outfit Mr Ruddock will need to do an enormous business.” And in May 1906 his eldest son, Richard Fenwick Ruddock, emigrated to Canada on board the Virginian, operated by the Allan Line. He took advantage of a cheap assisted passage from Liverpool to Montreal by going as a labourer; this might be an indication of financial problems in the Ruddock family. 

At some point between 1906 and 1911, Richard, his wife, his two other sons and his daughter, moved to Bristol. In the 1911 census, he gave his occupation as a photographer on his own account. It appears that his business did not prosper in Bristol because in April 1914 he emigrated to Canada and from there to Seattle in the USA, leaving his family behind.  

The First World War brought yet more difficulties for Richard and his wife. Two sons were killed fighting in WW1 and Eugene, his youngest son was wounded in the hip.  

Richard Fenwick Ruddock, their eldest son, enlisted in the Canadian Engineers and then transferred to the Infantry Brigade of the Northumberland Fusiliers as an intelligence officer with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He was sniped during the morning of 18 June 1916 and was buried in the Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, Belgium.  

Richard Emerson Ruddock’s wife Alice, and their daughter Emmeline, age 15, emigrated to Canada and then, on 13 July 1916, entered the USA from British Columbia to join him in Seattle. 

Eugene Ruddock emigrated to Seattle in November 1917 via Canada, paid for by himself. His American draft card of 1917 gave his military experience as two years a Private in the infantry, shot in the hip.  

Reginald Barnett Ruddock, their second son, was killed on 6 April 1918. He had joined the Northumberland Fusiliers but was attached to the Bedfordshire Regiment as 2nd Lt/Acting Captain when he died at Mesnil. He is commemorated on the Pozieres memorial in France. 

In the 1920 Census what remained of the Ruddock family was living at Y, King and Seattle City, Washington State. Richard was working as a photographer.  

Richard Emerson Ruddock died in Seattle in 1931. 

(To view details of photographs by Richard Emmerson Ruddock and his brother John Candish Ruddock held by Northumberland Archives, enter Ruddock photo* on our online catalogue  https://calmview.northumberland.gov.uk/)

This guest blog has been written by Philippa Day.

I recently completed my MSc in Genealogical, Paleographic and Heraldic Studies at the University of Strathclyde. My dissertation focused on children who were admitted to Northumberland County Mental Hospital between 1900-1918. As my research had a genealogical focus, I was interested in investigating what these records could tell us about the children’s family backgrounds, reasons for their admittance and what happened to them. I was particularly interested in whether any evidence of family mental illness was documented in records and whether different diagnoses led to different consequences for the children. I also wanted to explore the usefulness of these records as a genealogical source.

Life in the Asylum

Case books are a valuable resource for gaining an understanding of asylum life for the children. All case notes contain entries concerning their health and wellbeing, initially with daily, then weekly comments. Depending on the length of stay these notes become less frequent, unless they have a period of ill health.

None of the children are ever referred to by their name in the notes. Instead, they are described in terms like ‘this little patient,’ ‘a quiet decent lad,’ or ‘well behaved little girl’ and in a few instances they are described in less favourable terms. Robert, who was admitted aged 10 on 17 July 1902 diagnosed with idiocy, is the only exception. Robert’s case notes indicate he had a nickname: ‘Palmy.’ From his case notes it is evident Robert is a character. Extracts from his records indicate he is constantly in mischief:

‘He is idle and mischievous. Does no work.’

‘A great nuisance on account of his teasing other patients.’

‘He runs about….and teases the feeble patients.’

‘Still persists in playing pranks on the other patients, knocking about, pulling faces.’

‘Mischievous and impudent. Idle. Popularly known as Palmy.’

‘This little idiot boy remains as mischievous and incorrigible as ever.’

Robert spent the rest of his life in the asylum, dying on 13 December 1919 from chronic nephritis. He was 27.

Case notes also indicate that some of the older children worked in the asylum. Some of the boys worked in the grounds and in the gardens, whilst others worked as painters, shoemakers, or on the farm. The girls worked in dormitories, cleaning or making beds, carrying dishes to the dining hall, whilst others worked in the laundry. Some also helped the younger patients in the dormitory.

There was a lot of evidence indicating that recreation played a large part in the children’s lives; many of the children are recorded as spending time in the ‘airing courts.’ William, admitted from Tynemouth Workhouse aged 10 on 7 March 1901, diagnosed with idiocy, was reported to have enjoyed dancing on a Tuesday night, watching billiards and attending cricket practice every night, where he enjoyed running after the ball. Other children showed interest in the weekly football match. Some of the girls enjoyed playing with dolls.

Often a child’s personality is evident in case notes, many described as mischievous, particularly as they teased other patients. Alexander, admitted on 13 July 1900 from Tynemouth Workhouse, aged 5 and diagnosed with idiocy, was described as being in constant mischief, once filling one of the keyholes with a piece of wood. The popularity of certain children is also evident; a few boys described as having established themselves as favourites with the inmates.

Outcomes

Sixty-four children died in the asylum: forty were boys and twenty-four were girls. Thirty-six were still children when they died and forty-seven had died by the age of 20. For those whose cause of death was known, thirty-five had phthisis/tuberculosis. Sixteen children died from epilepsy, as there were only limited medicines available at that time, including potassium bromide and chloral hydrate. A small number of children died from lung, heart or kidney issues, marasmus, or meningitis.

Forty-six children were discharged and eleven were re-admitted, then discharged or transferred. Four children who were re-admitted remained there until they died. Three children still accessed treatment in the asylum in the 1960s, now St. George’s Hospital, their records stating they were ‘regraded to informal.’

Some children spent most of their lives in other institutions. Rona, discussed in an earlier blog by Northumberland Archives in August 2022, was admitted on 14 March 1904, when she was only four years old. Diagnosed with idiocy with epilepsy, caused by ‘brain bruising’ at birth, Rona’s records stated that her grandfather had also been treated in the asylum. Rona was transferred to Sedgefield Asylum on 23 February 1905 and in 1921 was a patient in East Riding Mental Hospital.¹² By 1939 she was a patient in Gateshead Mental Hospital. ¹³ Rona died there on 3 March 1946 age 47 from epilepsy.¹⁴

Norman was admitted aged 15 on 6 September 1910 diagnosed with dementia and was re-admitted again in 1912. After he was discharged in 1912, he enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery army as a driver, qualifying on 22 July 1915.¹⁵ Norman emigrated to Australia on 21 January 1922.¹⁶

Three children were identified as having children of their own once they were discharged, including Marion who was admitted aged 11 on 4 September 1912, diagnosed with melancholia. Marion married and had five children, dying in 1968.

Michael, who was admitted in 1911 aged fifteen, diagnosed with acute mania and re-admitted in 1914 diagnosed with primary dementia, stated that he wanted money to ‘give to all the poor on earth.’ Michael was discharged recovered on 20 October 1914 and was one of three children admitted who were killed in action. He died on 21 April 1917 in France and Flanders.¹⁷

Concluding thoughts

The asylum records do not make easy reading, at times the information provided within them is harrowing and heart wrenching. However, they are an incredibly valuable set of records providing a unique insight into the lives of the children and their families, which cannot be obtained elsewhere. They enhance and give context to the limited information in some traditional genealogical sources and can often help break down brick walls.

It is evident that for some children incarceration may have been a result of neglect or abandonment. However, it is important to acknowledge that for many families the asylum was a source of hope, for treatment and cure, or for long term care for their child. Amongst the outdated language and political incorrectness evident in the case books, there is evidence of kindness, compassion and genuine care for the children who lived there.

An important aspect of my dissertation was to give the children a voice, therefore it was imperative that each child was referred to by their name and their photograph included if it existed, to help humanise case notes. A family tree has been created on Ancestry for each of the 102 children using asylum records and traditional genealogical sources. This is a work in progress. A small number of children remain very difficult to trace due to limited genealogical information about them in the asylum records. However, research will continue to try to locate them.

The asylum records are an incredibly interesting and absorbing collection of documents rich in information, which would be of significant interest to researchers, including social and medical historians. However, they have proved to be an extremely valuable genealogical resource which, alongside traditional sources, have helped to identify children lost in history, giving them a voice so they are not forgotten. 

[12] Census records. England. Beverley, East Yorkshire. 19 June 1921. GRANT, Rona. RD 520. RS 02. PN 23578. ED 20. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 1 June 2023.

[13] 1939 Register. England. Stannington, Northumberland. GRANT, Rona. 29 September 1939. Schedule 44. RG 101/3013D/015/11. National Archives (Great Britain), Kew, England. Collection: 1939 Register. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 2 June 2023. 

[14] Deaths (CR) England & Wales. RD Castle Ward, Northumberland. 3 March 1946. GRANT, Rona. Entry no. 33. General Register Office, Southport, England.

[15] Army Medal Office (Great Britain) WWI Medal Index Card. MAIN, Norman. Regimental number: 37043. War Office: Service Medal and Award Rolls Index, First World War. WO 372/13/86310. National Archives (Great Britain) Kew, England.  https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D3899979 :accessed 7 June 2023.

[16] Passenger List for the Orvieto departing London. MAIN, Norman. 21 January 1922. Collection: UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960. http://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 2 June 2023.

[17] Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Casualty Details. KANE, Michael. Death: 21 April 1917. Service number: 32339. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1575020/michael-kane/ : accessed 2 June 2023.