Images Dated 10th June 2004

Florence Nightingales carriage at the seat of war

Born in Italy in 1820, she moved to England with her wealthy family and was educated at home by her father. Although it was not deemed suitable for ladies of Florence's social standing to become nurses, she believed that it was God's chosen path for her. She trained in Kaiserswerth, near Dusseldorf and then returned to England to take a post at a Harley Street surgery. Florence Nightingale was sent along with 38 nurses to the Barrack Hospital in Scutari to assist with medical support. As she cared for the troops she gained much respect, writing letters home on the soldiers behalf and fighting to improve the sanitary conditions of the field hospitals. When Florence returned from the Crimea she received a hero's welcome. She published two books about her opinions on hospital reforms and campaigned for better quality nursing training until her death in August 1910

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Prison babies

Weighing a baby on its admission to Holloway prison. Holloway was a women-only prison where babies who were either born there or were under three months when their mothers were jailed, were cared for. Offspring slept in cots within their mother's cell, with nurses overseeing the babies care and welfare. At nine months of age the baby would then leave the prison

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Portrait of Sir Benjamin Stone and his wife Lady Stone

Sir Benjamin and Lady Stone. Benjamin Stone was a Conservative MP for East Birmingham between 1895-1909. He was known for his keen interest in photography and was appointed offical photographer in Westminster Abbey for King George's Coronation. During his years in parliament he became the unoffical House of Commons photographer, producing over his lifetime, 30, 000 photographic plates

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans