Local Life - Wigan - August 2021

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20th August 1885, marked by an opening
ceremony and a garden party in the grounds
of the hospital.
Lord Crawford presented Amelia with a silver
key inscribed with the date of the opening,
telling her that this day, “would be long
remembered, not only in the history of the
Royal Infirmary but in the history of Wigan.
The new building would be a most useful
addition and would add very much to the
comfort of the patients and the nurses.”
Newspaper reports of the day mention that
Amelia accepted the address and gracefully
bowed her head before replying, “It is with
great pleasure that I give the Gidlow Wing
as an addition to the main institution, and I
hope that all sufferers who are brought here
will always find relief, comfort and kindness within these
walls.”
A large marquee was erected on one of the lawns and
guests enjoyed music from The Lancashire Hussars and
The Old Borough Band. Tours were given of the new wing
and other wards within the Infirmary, later that evening
the public were given tickets to be able to go in and view
it for themselves.
In the years to come Amelia, again at her own cost, would
renovate and refurbish the Gidlow Wing, with the local
press reporting that she, “beautified, the whole of the
Wigan Infirmary donation board
fabric, externally and internally giving great evidence
of a generous and sympathetic interest in the great
institution.”
On 29th July 1893 Amelia died at her home, Ince House
in Milverton, near Leamington at the age of 70. As her last
act of compassion, she left in her will, £3,000 to Ince Parish
Church and all her shares in the Manchester, Sheffield
and Lincolnshire railway companies to the Infirmary,
amounting to £32,135.
Amelia was laid to rest in the same vault as her sister
Margaret.