The Florence Nightingale Connection

After the English Civil War the Bullock Family who had taken over the Manor of Norton found themselves in financial straits. The Bullocks had supported the Royalist cause and had expended a lot of money in that cause. The Bullocks sold up to a substantial part of the estates to Cornellius Clarke in 1666.  He bequeathed his estate to his nephew Robert Offley. Robert’s Son Stephen died in 1751 leaving a son and 2 daughters. The son died young leaving the estate to his sisters and it was through marrying Urith Offley that Samuel Shore 2nd came in possession of the Manor of  Norton.

This is where it gets complicated and confused by many. Samuel 2^nd s father also Samuel who was born in 1707 bought Meersbrook Estate but died soon  after in 1785 and Samuel 2^nd took it over with his new 2^nd Wife Lydia Flower. Hence there are 2 Samuel Shore called Samuel Shore of Meersbrook.

So where does the Nightingale connection come in. Florence’s father was originally William Edward Shore but changed his surname when he inherited his uncle Peter Nightingale’s estate. He was the son of William Shore. William Shore was the son of Samuel 1st and brother to Samuel 2nd.  Samuel 1st was Florence’s great grandfather.

Florence’s great  grandfather went to Attercliffe College and was taught by Samuel Blythe. The Shores together with the Blythes and the Roebucks helped found the Upper Chapel. Their religion and their politics were radical leading from the English Civil War and the problems of religious intolerance and a push for more say in how the country is governed. Florence’s mother was a strong campaigner for the abolition of slavery.

Legend says that Florence came to Meersbrook House to nurse a sick aunt and decided she wanted to be a nurse. Whether this is a true story it is certainly true that Florence was a regular visitor to Meersbrook House in her childhood and there was a mutual admiration between Florence and her aunts.

Florence’s cousin Offley of Norton Hall named a daughter Florence Nightingale Shore who became a nurse in the Boer War. She was murdered in 1920 but am afraid I don’t know rest of story.

The Shores of Norton were certainly a strong influence in Florence’s life taking Anglican Florence to the more Unitarian upper chapel when she visited Norton. Indeed it was her Unitarian roots that caused criticism by some of her in the Crimean as Unitarians were known as pacifists.

The Shores had a strong feeling of helping the less fortunate and their banking endeavours were more about helping the community than making themselves wealthy. They were strong supporters of the anti corn tax league. Lydia Shore, Florence’s great aunt  gave cooked meals to those too poor to have ovens and cooking facilities.

So Florence would learn that it was important to care for all people whatever rank. One wonders if Florence’s family were horrified when Florence announced her desire to nurse or whether they applauded her ambitions.