Photograph of Edinburgh prison wardresses, c. 1915

Category

Museums & Galleries Item

Item no

52275

Title

Studio postcard photograph of seven prison wardresses, Edinburgh, c. 1915

Description

One of a collection of twenty-four photographs of Prison Wardresses working at various jails in Edinburgh and around Scotland. Shows seven Wardresses, in blouses and skirts. Names written in ink around photograph "Back row: Anderson, Fraser, Thomson. Front row: Miller, Macdonald, Findlay, McLeod."

Accession number

HH5521/5/92

Copyright

The City of Edinburgh Council Museums & Galleries

The Calton Jail employed women to work as wardresses. Their role here was for the welfare of the prisoners, and often with a strong religious element. They helped run the Bible class. An advertisement in the Scotsman in November 1919 states the candidates "must be of good health, character, and education; age 22 to 30; height not less than 5ft 3in, without shoes; commencing salary, 29s a week, rising to 44s a week, with temporary war bonus (present minimum, 10s 10d a week), furnished quarters, boot allowance 1s a week, washing, medical attendance and medicines; 48- hour week; 17 days annual holiday; pension or gratuity if retired on account of ill-health or age; gratuity on marriage after six years service""

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