Transcript

Of

Charles Aldridge, M.D. [Obituary]

Trans. Devon. Assoc. vol. 1, (1917), pp. 39-40.

by

Maxwell Adams (General Secretary)

Prepared by Michael Steer

The Obituary was read at the Association’s July 1919 Tiverton meeting. Plympton House is a Grade I listed country house, in the William and Mary tradition, near St Maurice's Church in Plympton. It was commenced by Sir George Treby (1643–1700) and completed c.1715 – 1720 by his son George Treby (c.1684 – 1742), In the early part of the 19th century it was used as a private “lunatic asylum”. Eventually Dr Aldridge was appointed as the resident physician and proprietor and Joseph Aldridge the resident superintendent and general manager. The prospectus declared that Plympton House was a hospital rather than a place of detention. Dr Aldridge and his family lived in the house and it was the intention that they should mix freely with the patients and dine with them, and various forms of recreation were provided for the patients. It continued as an asylum until 1933. During this period, Mr. James Hine and Dr. Aldridge together contributed drawings and photographs to J, Brooking Rowe’s History of the Borough of Plympton Erle, since produced as a Reprint in the Forgotten Books Series, 2018. The obituary, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Dr. Aldridge who died at Belle Vue House, Plympton, on the 19th April, 1919, at the age of 71, was a native of Leeds and after practising in the West Riding of Yorkshire he took up residence with his father, the late Mr. Joseph Aldridge, at Plympton House, about 1874, and was joint proprietor and resident physician there. His father died in 1889, and in 1899. Dr. Aldridge was joined in partnership by Dr. Turner, tho present physician, but he retired about seven years later. At one time he was also physician to Plymouth Public Dispensary.
Dr. Aldridge did much useful work in other directions - For a long period he was rector's warden at Plympton St. Maurice Parish Church, an office in which he succeeded his father. He was also for a long term a member of the Plympton Board of Guardians and the then Sanitary Authority, and afterwards the Rural Council. He also acted as hon. secretary and treasurer of St. Elizabeth House of Rest at Plympton.
He became a life member of the Devonshire Association in 1886 and when the Association visited Plympton in 1887 did much to make the meeting a success.
Dr. Aldridge, who had artistic tastes, was a member of the Devonport Camera Club, and had the distinction of having one of his pictures hung at the Photographic Salon, London. He leaves a widow.