Overview
Based on primary resources and interviews with current residents and recent trustees, this well researched history traces the growth and progress of Doughty’s Hospital, an almshouse in Norwich, England, while examining the various philanthropic initiatives and social policies in Britain as a whole. From the hospital’s foundation at the bequest of the departed William Doughty in 1687 to its present condition, this record considers key aspects of the hospital’s development, including its residents, staff, financial management, and rules and regulations. With chapters on the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, this account makes a valuable contribution to the history of social welfare.Reviews
"In this elegantly written and thoroughly researched study, Nigel Goose combines a humane portrait of one of Norwich’s oldest charitable institutions with a sharply focused account of the changing context of local welfare provision." —Dr. Ian W. Archer, Fellow and Tutor in Modern History, University of Oxford
"It is an excellent example of how a detailed local study can illustrate national developments." —David Hey, Emeritus Professor of Local and Family History, University of Sheffield
"This is a most novel and highly effective institutional history. . . . an entirely original approach to the history of a remarkably durable and constantly adaptable institution." —Richard Smith, Professor in Historical Geography and Demography, University of CambridgeAuthor Biography
Nigel Goose is a professor of social and economic history and the director of the Center for Regional and Local History at the University of Hertfordshire. He is a member of the International Advisory Board for the journal Urban History and the author of A County of Small Towns, When Death Do Us Part, and Women’s Work in Industrial England. Leanne Moden is a historical researcher and a writer.