Bridge Doctors

The earliest record we have ofa doctor in Bridge is that of Amelius Sicard, born in
Blackheath on June 12”‘ 1809, the son ofJohn Jacob Sicard, who was probably a refugee
from revolutionary France (‘Jean-Jacques’) and his wife Mary. John Jacob it appears was
‘Major-Domo’ to Princess Caroline of Brunswick (wife of the Prince Regent) at
Montague House in Blackheath. It was he who brought news to her in 1820 in Florence
that George 111 was dead and that she was now queen. He died in Kensington (‘?Palace)
after this date, but before 1841. Amelius entered into practice in Bridge in 1832, aged 23,
MRCS and Lie. Apoth. Co. London, and clearly able to afford the 18th century property
on the corner of Union Road and the High Street, which remained ‘the doctor’s house’
until ?1970. Sicard was the village doctor for 48 years, dying on November 29”‘ 1880.

Wall plaque in the church: “Sacred / to the memory / of/ Amelius Sicard / M.R.C.S. / who departed
this / life Novr. 29”‘ 1880 / aged 71 years / This tablet and the West window / were placed in this /
Church by a numerous / circle of friends. /”

Tombstone in the churchyard: “In memory of/ Amelius Sicard / only son ofJohn Jacob / and Mary
Sicard. / born at Blackheath / June 12”‘ 1809, died at Bridge / November 29"‘ 1880. / Here he had
resided forty-eight years and / had been to rich and poor / the beloved physician. / “ Headstone,
Bodystone and Footstone: A.B. 1880

Also: “Sacred /to the memory of/ Mary Sicard / widow ofthe late J.J. Sicard Esq. / of Kensington,
who departed this life / on the 30”‘ day ofJuly 1843, / in her 79"‘ year /” Headstone, Bodystone &
Footstone:. M.S. 1843 (buried on August 5”’ 1943)

The family of Sicard appears also to be\ related to the Counts Lautrec — several 13”‘ century members
being called Amelius-Sicard.

1841 census

229 Sicard Mary F 75 Bridge street 53

230 Sicard elius M 30 Surgeon Bridge Street 53
31 Hatton Eliza F 15 F8 Bridge Street 53

 

1851 census

 

. we  - - ,  .. ‘* ,,  . .4 Where\ .~
{Di Surname qllllstlan. Reiation Condition Sex Age  Occupation . Street House Born where.B°m
~ ' . flame  ~ _ .. ,. , ...P3T!5h \<V

\  7,  . ,_ _ 4, county  8.
529 Sicard Amelius Head U M 42 MRCS, Bridge 116 Kent Lee
Lic.Apoth.Co.Lond Village
General Practitioner
530 Drum James Serv U M 21 Bridge 116 Kent Hothfield
Village
531 Noble Catherine Serv U F 38 House Servant Bridge 116 Kent Canterbury
Village
1861 census
Christian  ‘ . .. .4 i r ‘ A: ~ , 
ID Surname Name Relation Condition Sex Age Occupation street House county Parish
504 Sicard Amelius Head U M 52 MemberRCS England LAC Bridge 101 Kent Blackheath
& gen prac. Village
£505 Freeman Emma Servant U F 43 Housekeeper Bridge 101 Kent Canterbury
Village
506 Harrison John Servant U M 23 Groom Bridge 101 Kent Canterbury
Village


1871 census

I {D flsurname Xian Name1lRelation Condition Sex Age“ Occupation  Streetf] 1lHouse|]Born Co|[Born Parishi
i251 lsicard Amelius {Head U M 62 [Surgeon [Bridge Street 59 EKent §Blackheath
§2521Jeffreys Frances [Servant H F 47 lHousekeeper1Bridge Street 59 [Kent §Canterbury
i2531Churchil| William lservant IU 1M 28 iGroom 1Bridge Street 59 1Kent §Canterbury

From 1835 until after 1841 the Union Workhouse had its own doctor, William Nix.

1841 census
[ID Isurname Christian Name||SexlAge]Occu"pati6ii T” “Street House sequencellwtiere horn?
f214|Nix William [M so lsurgeon Bridge Street 47 i_Not Kent
f215lAndrews Rachel [F 15 [F8 §Bridge Street 47 Kent

Sicard was succeeded by Charles Henry Schon, born in Chatham in 1855, the son of
James F(rederick) Schon, chaplain to the Melville Hospital. He was born in the Grand
Duchy of Baden, but a British subject (presumably naturalized). Charles served also as
medical officer to the workhouse. He died in 1899 aged 44, and was buried on January
25"‘ of that year. A brother, Frederick Schon was a sub Editor for the Press
Associationand had spent some time in Canada, where two of his children were born.

1881 census

iD_ Surname‘ Othernames lstatus Age Sex fl Birthplace 1 _ Relation , ‘Occupation  Address sgq ‘i,Pr:::"t
338 Schon Charles U 26 M Chatham Kent Head Surgeon Bridge 83 24
Henry v Street
339 Schon Emily Cooke U 31 F Old Brompton Sister Bridge 83
Kent Street
340 Cornwell Ashenden U 19 F Chatham Kent Servant Servant Bridge 83
Domestic) - Street

1891 census

349 Schon Charles H Head 36 General Practitioner High Street Chatham

350 Schon Kate 31 High Street Bushey

351 Schon Ursula K Daur High Street Bridge

 

Schon was succeeded by Robert Leishman Moorhead, MB CM (Edin) between 1899
and 1906, but who quickly moved on. Moorhead was born in 1872 in London, possibly
the son of Richard B Moorhead of Paddington, born in Newcastle, Co. Down in 1850,
and in 1881 a ‘buyer in Mouster House Ireland’ (.7), but also possibly oflsabella (b. 1839
in London) or more likely of Phoebe (b. 1845), both of whom were widows by 1881. In
that year Robert was living with an aunt, Elizabeth Leishman in Edinburgh, who was
herself almost certainly the daughter of the Minister of Linton Parish in Roxburgh and
Glasgow Doctor of Divinity Thomas Leishman, born in Govan, Lanark in 1801.


Dr. Hunter's House, 24 High Street, Bridge.

Dr. Floger Hunter, my father, came to Bridge with my mother in about 1937 when he
bought the house and the practice from Dr. Wilson. Dr. Wilson had been the
village doctor“ for many years and lived in the house with his brother, known as Mr.
Jack, and their valet. I assume they kept their horses out in the carriage house
which is just round the corner up Union Lane. The old stables with two rooms
above are still in a more or less original state, with the present garage added on.
My mother thinks that the house was still lit by gas when she arrived, but I am not
sure about this.

The surgery was in the house with patients entering the waiting room through the
door in the wall to the left of the house. Private patients were allowed to wait in the
dining room and go in through the front door! In the 40s and 50s I can remember
needles and syringes were sterilized on the kitchen stove in a saucepan and the
drugs were kept in the family ‘fridge. My father worked closely with Mr. Stockwell
who was the chemist in the village. Mr. Stockwell’s shop was down on the corner
of Mill Lane and the High Street where I think there is now a kitchen appliance
shop. He would make up the pills and potions in the back of the shop.

The interior of 24 High Street is still very much as it was structually, with all the
original doors and fireplaces, etc. The hall ceiling is attractively plastered. In the
basement there is an area where wine and spirits could be locked up and there is
another large area with cupboard for storing apples and vegetables. The roof was
repaired recently and over the bathroom the roofers found a large flat water tank
which must have been used for collecting water for the house.

It was a shame that when the roof was renovated back in the 70s (I think) that a
copy of the original pediment wasn ‘t replaced and a mean little strip of wood was
put back. You can see a trace of the original pediment on the corner of Miss
Jones’s house next door. The heavy traffic over the years before the by-pass was
built caused the mathematical tiles on the front of the house to loosen and they all
had to be refixed. I think that is when the pediment was taken down.

Mathematical tiles were renovated on the side of the house early this year and I
saw that the lower ones were fixed in plaster and the upper ones hung on timber.

This is nothing to do with my parents’ house, but I can remember Fagg’s Farm as
we used to ride with Captain Maslin, the local riding instructor, who sometimes

kept his horses there, and we used to keep our ponies in the three fields where the
Western Avenue estate now is.

I hope this is useful information - do get in touch if you would like more help.

Diana Cairns (01227 752836)


Dr Hunter's house

Death of Dr. A. T. Wilson
Well-known Bridge Practitioner

We regret to record the death of Dr. Arthur Thomas Wilson, at his home in Bridge, on Friday.
Dr. Wilson, who was 67 years of age, was born in Dublin, was irish, and came to Bridge to
practice medicine in 1906. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin University, and held
the following degrees, M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O., B.A. Dr. Wilson, who was devoted to his work,
had lived with his brother, Mr. J .B.E. Wilson, for 33 years. His father, Mr. James Wilson, was
a well—known Irish Barrister.

The doctor had been M.O. at Bridge Institution since he first came to the village, and held the
same position at the old isolation hospital, Bishopsbourne. Dr. Wilson was extremely well-
liked and respected in the village and the surrounding district. He leaves two brothers, Mr.
J.B.E. Wilson and Brig.—Gen. Sir Samuel Wilson, late Permanent Under Secretary for State
for the Colonies.

The funeral took place in Ireland on Tuesday, Dr. Wilson's ashes being buried in the family
vault.

A personal appreciation

For years he resided in bridge, near Canterbury. A small man with a big heart, an Irishman's
sense of humour and a characteristic laugh. A doctor, no, more than a doctor, a friend in need.
How many, for miles around, will mourn him in silence. In the large mansion and in the small
cottage, aye, even the tramp on the road will, if he pass through Bridge again, learn of this
death with a tightness in his throat. Nothing was too small for this man to see and understand,
no one was too poor for him to sympathise with and comfort. For years he knew the trials and
troubles of multitudes, yet never have I heard him say one word to the detriment of any.
Unconscious of self, he gave his whole time to his people, and would often spend hours in
sympathising rather than take the rest he sorely needed. Described in my hearing once by a
Bishop as "A Christian" no man could deserve that appellation more than he. Yet his
Christianity was not artificial, it was lived. Rarely have I discussed religion with him, but
what he thought could be known by how he lived. So passes from sight a doctor, a man and
an example, for if only one person can say "that man was a comfort and strength to 1ne," then
surely he has not lived in vain.

(No source, no date: Williamson 463)

Record of Bridge doctors:

...l835—40 Mr Nix (medical officer, Bridge Union, from its establishment)

Nov 29 1880 Amelius Sicard died: ’beloved physician to rich and poor’ b 17.6.1809. 48 yrs in
Bridge

..l 890, 1897 Charles Henry Schon, surgeon, medical officer, Bridge Union

..l904 Robert L Moorhead, MB CM

1906—?l 939: AT Wilson (graduate of TCD) Public Vaccinator. His mother was living in

Bridge Place in 1907. Bought his house from Dr Schon.

l939—?l970: Roger Bennett Hunter, MB (graduated from TCD in 1930)
?l970-?l983: William GS Russell Died December 25'"
?I983— present (1999): D Mark Jones (was Russell's junior); also now Mary Rafla & PH
Sykes.  XX)-J.W  g, _ V, 7, ., 7 1
\~ /X./~"'~»%:'.. ..“;-<:.«,.«e..¢( w v -.

The house in the High Street was therefore the Doctor's for at least 80 years, possibly longer.

Mathematical Tiles: designed to give the appearance of brick, when hung on a timber-
framed structure.


Additional Notes

Dr Wilson

Death of Dr Wilson. Gloom was cast over the village when Dr Wilson passed away on Friday
evening, after a few days illness. He had not been in good health for some time, but was able
to carry on his practice, which covered a large area, including Bekesbourne, Barham,
Bishopsboume, Upper and Lower Hardres. He succeeded about 30 years ago, Dr Moorhead
who left the district. A bachelor, Dr Wilson resided with his brother, Mr J Wilson, on the
death of his mother, the late Mrs Wilson, at Bridge Place, Bridge. He was a member of a
well-known Irish family. His two surviving brothers are Sir Samuel Wilson and Mr Jack
Wilson. Another brother, General Wilson, passed away a few years ago. (Williamson 83 -
undated)

Fire Brigade

At a Fire Brigade meeting on Friday a letter was read from Captain S Gilbert tendering his
resignation. He had been a member of the Brigade for a number of years, but now finds the
duties too much for him. Lieut. F Hogben is elected Captain and Mr F Down Snr., becomes
lieutenant. (Williamson 83 - undated)

Dental Surgery
Opened in 1987 (Williamson 84)