WWI / Post-WWI Morden Hall Hospital Autograph & Friendship Album 1917–1923 – Signed Gilliat E. Hatfeild – London Hospital

WWI / Post-WWI Morden Hall Hospital Autograph & Friendship Album 1917–1923 – Signed Gilliat E. Hatfeild – London Hospital


A fascinating and historically important original autograph and friendship album with a strong connection to Morden Hall Hospital, containing numerous handwritten inscriptions, poems, quotations, signatures and dates from people associated with Morden Hall during and following the First World War.


Of particular importance, the album contains an original handwritten entry signed “Gilliat E. Hatfeild” and dated 31 March 1923.


Gilliat Edward Hatfeild (1864–1941) was the owner of Morden Hall and its estate. During the First World War, Morden Hall was made available for use as a convalescent hospital connected with The London Hospital, initially caring for wounded and recovering servicemen. The Hall continued its hospital/convalescent role after the war.


The album has particularly strong provenance because numerous contributors actually write “Morden Hall” alongside their names and dates.


One particularly clear entry is signed:


E. S. Buxton

Morden Hall Hospital

4 September 1923


Other entries specifically associated with Morden Hall include:


Valda Jacobsen – Morden Hall – 22 March 1922


W. Stratford – “Written at Morden Hall” – 23 March 1922, who also gives a home address of 469 High Road, Leyton, E10.


Gertrude E. H. Oliver – Morden Hall – 8 May 1922


E. Power – Morden Hall – May 1922


There are further Morden Hall inscriptions and a particularly interesting group of entries concentrated around 1922–23.


Research into Valda Jacobsen has produced an especially interesting possible identification. A nurse of this unusual name is recorded as having completed a three-year nursing certificate at The London Hospital in 1921, before subsequently becoming registered as a nurse in New Zealand in 1924. This fits remarkably closely with the Valda Jacobsen who signed this album at Morden Hall in March 1922, although further research would be required to prove conclusively that they are the same woman.


Other contributors identified within the album include Rosalie Thorne, Annie Jeffreys, Evelyn Ward, Minnie Fellowes, Lena Grant, A. MacTavish, M. Cheesman, Helen A. Butts, “Auntie Bertha” and numerous others.


There are also entries consisting of initials, personal addresses, humorous verses, religious passages, poetry and affectionate messages, providing a wonderful snapshot of the friendships and personalities surrounding Morden Hall during this period.


The album also contains important earlier material associated with G. W. Crocombe and a Miss Taylor. The wording of the presentation inscription suggests that Crocombe had collected or participated in the entries before presenting the book to Miss Taylor, inviting her to look through its pages and remember those who had contributed to it.


The album therefore offers considerable scope for further historical and genealogical research, particularly into the identities of its contributors and their connections with Morden Hall, The London Hospital, nursing and the First World War.


The combination of the Gilliat E. Hatfeild signature, repeated contemporary references to Morden Hall and Morden Hall Hospital, named contributors, precise dates and addresses makes this considerably more interesting than a typical period autograph book.


A wonderful piece of original WWI/post-WWI social, medical and local history, documenting people associated with one of Morden’s historically important properties.


Condition:

Original antique album over 100 years old. There is age-related wear, handling, occasional marks and other signs of age throughout, as would be expected. Please study the photographs carefully as they form an important part of the description.


The album is offered exactly as found. The signatures and inscriptions are original handwritten entries within the album; they have not been submitted to a third-party autograph authentication service.


A rare opportunity to acquire an original Morden Hall Hospital-associated album containing the signature of Morden Hall’s owner and benefactor, Gilliat Edward Hatfeild, together with an extensive collection of contemporary inscriptions from the Morden Hall community.