Ida and Robert Arthington Hospital Collection

Copy of The Ida and Robert Arthington Hospital Newsletter for July 1989, copy of the souvenir programme celebrating the Centenary Victorian Gala of The Ida and Robert Arthington Hospital on 11 July 1987, photocopies of engravings of Cookridge Semi Convalescent Home, photocopies of newspaper articles about the life of Robert Arthington, folder of photographs of nursing staff (1961-1978), photograph album of social activities (1983-1988), folder of photographs that were put on display in the hospital, with captions, of social events and equipment used to help with daily activities (1987-1988), two video casettes about the history of the hospital.

The Ida and Robert Arthington Hospital, commonly known as 'The Ida' was founded in 1886, a hospital in Cookridge, Leeds, for semi-convalescents who were patients of the Leeds General Infirmary. The hospital was originally built by Leeds General Infirmary as an annex to their existing hospital in the city. As Leeds was rife with poor sanitation and illnesses - particular tuberculosis - patients needed a place to recover which had fresh air, so a hospital was chosen in the Cookridge countryside. The hospital was funded by Mr and Mrs North, who offered money to build the hospital as a memorial to their young daughter Ida, who had died in Italy. In 1906, a similar hospital was built adjoining the Ida, funded by a bequest from an elderly local man and named the Robert Arthington Hospital. The two hospitals were joined and operated together, leading to a name change of 'The Ida and Robert Arthington Hospital' which led to a mistaken belief that Ida and Robert Arthington were related.

The hospital had a regular nursing staff and other Leeds General Infirmary nurses were seconded there for short periods. A new rehabilitation service was introduced at The Ida in 1974 to help people who had suffered a stroke or trauma that had affected their ability to lead a normal life. From 1974 The Ida became a centre for excellence in rehabilitation, and the consultant in rehabilitation appointed by The Ida, Doctor Anne Chamberlain, became a Professor in Rehabilitation in 1988 for her work at The Ida, at which she had introduced individual programmes for each patient including physiotherapy and occupational therapy. A 'Friends of the Ida' group was established in the 1950s to fund amenities for the patients including equipment, furnishings and furniture, while patients were encouraged to help with gardening work through the purchase of a greenhouse. The Ida became recognised as a National Demonstration Centre for Rehabilitation in the early 1980s but also suffered from financial pressures during the decade, and in 1994 the decision was made to move the Rehabilitation Unit to Chapel Allerton Hospital, thus closing The Ida.

The collection consists mainly of photographs taken around the time The Ida celebrated its centenary year, including photographs of nursing staff and patients undertaking social activities.

Open

Donated to Thackray Museum of Medicine by Doris Lythe (former member of staff at The Ida and Robert Arthington Hospital), July 1994.

Compiled by Robert Curphey, Project Archivist, Thackray Museum of Medicine, June 2023. The following source was used to compile an administrative history of the collection:

The Ida Story: The Ida & Robert Arthington Hospital, Cookridge by Beryl Biggins

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