Florence Nightingale honoured at new housing site

A blue plaque for Florence Nightingale has been unveiled at the site of the former Derbyshire Royal Hospital that she helped to design.

The building, that was derelict for a decade, has now been converted into housing, a restaurant and a gym.

A blue plaque was also unveiled marking the life of William Ogle, who was originally in charge of the hospital there that was built between 1868 and 1872.

Derby Civic Association Chairman, Ashley Waterhouse, who was one of the local dignitaries at a ceremony there, said it was important that these two people were remembered.

"Their pioneering work towards the end of the 19th Century saw our city recognised in the advancement of healthcare delivery," he added.

"We wanted to pay homage to them on the site of the former Derbyshire Royal Infirmary because it is such a prolific building that everyone in Derby, or the Derby borough would have used."

Beth Rawson, who is the Royal Derby Hospitals Medical Museum Curator, said that Florence Nightingale set up for the first nurse training school at St Thomas' Hospital in London in 1860.

William Ogle contacted Florence Nightingale who helped him improve the standard of patient care in Derby and cut the number of typhoid deaths in the 1860s.

When he was planning the Derbyshire Royal Hospital she gave him advice on the design and cleanliness.

"There is nothing about William Ogle in the town, there is no plaque on his house on Kedleston Road, so it is really important that he is honoured as well as Florence Nightingale because no one has ever heard of him," she added.

Wavensmere Homes have built 125 houses and 800 apartments there and work is expected to finish in November.

The company's managing director James Dickens said: "We are proud that our redevelopment of this iconic former hospital has been the catalyst for Derby's city living resurgence. Nightingale Quarter has created a new community of all ages, leaving a £175m legacy in the process.

"Unveiling two blue plaques in the year that will see the conclusion of five years of construction to deliver this unique regeneration project is wonderful."

One of the residents is Karen Hill who trained and worked at the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary.

"It is absolutely wonderful. It is almost like coming back home," she said.

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