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Florence Nightingale's desk lamp to go under the hammer in Derbyshire Florence Nightingale's desk lamp to go under the hammer in Derbyshire
(1 day later)
A 150-year-old lamp belonging to pioneering health reformer Florence Nightingale is to be auctioned.A 150-year-old lamp belonging to pioneering health reformer Florence Nightingale is to be auctioned.
The rare brass lamp would have stood on Nightingale’s writing desk rather than being the famous hand lamp she carried while tending to injured soldiers in the Crimean war.The rare brass lamp would have stood on Nightingale’s writing desk rather than being the famous hand lamp she carried while tending to injured soldiers in the Crimean war.
Auctioneer Charles Hanson said it was a “remarkable” find, originating from the family home in Derbyshire. Auctioneer Charles Hanson said it was a remarkable find, originating from the family home in Derbyshire.
“If only it could talk, it could tell us so much about the passion Florence had for her work and the wellbeing of others,” he said.“If only it could talk, it could tell us so much about the passion Florence had for her work and the wellbeing of others,” he said.
Nightingale’s experiences nursing soldiers in filthy conditions during the Crimean war in the 1850s drove her to campaign for greater sanitation and cleanliness in hospitals.Nightingale’s experiences nursing soldiers in filthy conditions during the Crimean war in the 1850s drove her to campaign for greater sanitation and cleanliness in hospitals.
Her battles to reform health led to her meeting Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1856.Her battles to reform health led to her meeting Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1856.
She recounted in her own memoirs how her work with the troops, as she made night rounds of field hospital wards full of the injured, earned the famous nickname “the lady with the lamp”.She recounted in her own memoirs how her work with the troops, as she made night rounds of field hospital wards full of the injured, earned the famous nickname “the lady with the lamp”.
Back in England, she worked to turn nursing into a profession, founding a school at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.Back in England, she worked to turn nursing into a profession, founding a school at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.
The family home – Lea Hurst in the Derwent Valley near Matlock – was used by the Victorian heroine as a summer residence and it was there she wrote of her experiences in the war.The family home – Lea Hurst in the Derwent Valley near Matlock – was used by the Victorian heroine as a summer residence and it was there she wrote of her experiences in the war.
Hanson said of the candle lamp: “I suspect it was flickering over many hours each night.”Hanson said of the candle lamp: “I suspect it was flickering over many hours each night.”
He added that the unadorned 25cm-tall lamp had “wonderful provenance” and could be traced to two sisters who had been in service to Nightingale at Lea Hurst in the 1850s.He added that the unadorned 25cm-tall lamp had “wonderful provenance” and could be traced to two sisters who had been in service to Nightingale at Lea Hurst in the 1850s.
Hanson said: “They would often meet Florence, who alighted the train at either Cromwell or Whatstandwell station and would take in the pretty scenery on her walk home with the two young ladies. Hanson said: “They would often meet Florence, who alighted the train at either Cromford or Whatstandwell station and would take in the pretty scenery on her walk home with the two young ladies.
“Whilst at Lea Hurst, Florence used her time to write with the use of this brass lamp.”“Whilst at Lea Hurst, Florence used her time to write with the use of this brass lamp.”
When the Nightingale family left Lea Hurst, the sisters were given the lamp and told “to take best care of it”, which is how it came to be with the current owner, who is offering it for auction.When the Nightingale family left Lea Hurst, the sisters were given the lamp and told “to take best care of it”, which is how it came to be with the current owner, who is offering it for auction.
Hanson said he expected the lamp to garner worldwide interest, but hoped it would stay in the UK and perhaps even Derbyshire.Hanson said he expected the lamp to garner worldwide interest, but hoped it would stay in the UK and perhaps even Derbyshire.
Asked what it might fetch at auction, he added: “Such an iconic object and its association with such a leading lady will be guided at £1,000-£2,000.”Asked what it might fetch at auction, he added: “Such an iconic object and its association with such a leading lady will be guided at £1,000-£2,000.”
The lamp is available to view on 25 June, before going under the hammer at the auction house in Etwall, Derbyshire, the following day.The lamp is available to view on 25 June, before going under the hammer at the auction house in Etwall, Derbyshire, the following day.
• This article was amended on 9 April 2015. An earlier version referred to Cromwell, rather than Cromford, station in the Derwent Valley.