Stroud History

Wed, Dec 2nd 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Barry Harrison-Stroud History Society

Barry Harrison, secretary of Stroud History Society, gave the club a fascinating insight into the life and activities of an extraordinary Stroud Doctor – Apothecary and Surgeon – Thomas Hughes 1742-1813. Thomas had come to Stroud in 1772 and been a popular and public spirited doctor – known to the more famous Dr Jenner. Thomas also had the remarkable distinction of offering to return £5 of his £30 salary to the hospital trustees because he felt he was paid too much!!

He was not only an interesting doctor and man midwife and known as the ‘medical dictionary’ but also a very accomplished meteorologist who kept detailed and invaluable weather records – of great interest to this day.

Barry told us we know so much about Stroud and its characters of this time because of a wonderful literary record - Paul Hawkins Fisher’s ‘Notes and Recollections of Stroud 1871’.

We were given an intriguing insight into the life of man of many parts and yet another famous doctor to go alongside Jenner in the annals of Gloucestershire medics.

Thank you Barry.
Charles Buckley

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