Florence Nightingale and the Bracebridges of Warwickshire
Charles and Selina Bracebridge were family friends of the Nightingales and knew Florence from her childhood.
Florence’s Parents were rich and influential and wanted their daughter to live a normal Victorian life for a lady of her position. They did not support her nursing ambitions and were horrified at her career choice.
The Bracebridges were trusted by her parents to take Florence on several extended trips abroad to rid her of her notions in nursing. Instead, the Bracebridges encouraged her and escorted her for her limited training trips and eventually went to Crimea with her and stayed there with her for nearly 12 months. She regarded them as her surrogate mother and father and stated that without them supporting her, she would never have carried out her nursing career.
This talk from local historian Yvonne Stone talk covers many aspects of their time together throughout their lives until the Bracebridges’ deaths in 1870 and 1872, including Selina and Florence’s encounter with Mary Seacole during the war and the lasting legacy of Florence which continues to this day.
Location: St John's House, Warwick CV34 4NF
£8.50 includes refreshments. Book at warwickshire.gov.uk/heritageboxoffice
