The Meadow Room has not always been a village hall, in its history it has been a welfare hall, an auxiliary hospital and a clinic for the local community doctors (amongst other things). The Meadow Room was built in 1898 and owned by the Stevens Sisters until it and surrounding land was donated to Cobham Village on the 4th June 1953 through the will of Miss Emma Jane Stevens. In her will she states that the Meadow Room should be donated to the committee and run by nominated Trustees. Consequently, in 1954 a plaque was unveiled to the memory of Miss Emma Jane Stevens and her sisters. The plaque is situated and can still be seen in the main hall of the Meadow Room.
The Stevens Family
The Stevens Family lived and ran Jeskyns Court Farm, this covered 730 acres of the local area, with a household comprising of cook, 2 house servants and two live in farm servants. They were a large employer in the local area, employing 48 men, 10 woman and 9 boys. Records indicate that the family lived at the
Parsonage in Cobham for most of their lives.
The Stevens family comprised of the father Thomas Stevens (1813-1893) and the mother Frances (nee Pye) Stevens (1821-1906); they had four daughters Susanna Elizabeth Stevens (1854-1919), Frances Catherine Stevens (1857-1878), Emma Jane Stevens (1859-1953) and Catherine Mary Wells Stevens (1863-1931). All four daughters were spinsters; they never married and sadly died without leaving any direct ancestors.
The Stevens Sisters
Susanna Elizabeth Stevens – Was born 15th March 1854 and christened on the 13th April 1854 at St. Mary Magdelene Church, Cobham. The census records from 1861 to 1881 show that Susanna lived in Jeskyns Court Farm, census records in 1881 indicate that they moved to Parsonage Farm. Susanna was a resident at the farm until her death on 9th July 1919, aged 65; she was recorded as a spinster and left effects worth £46,852, 16 shillings and 5 pence (equivalent to £9.32
million at today’s value – 2012) to her sister Emma Jane and her cousins William and Henry Pye.
The Meadow Room during World War I
The Meadow Room was turned into an auxiliary hospital, run by KENT 16 Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD). The Kent 16, based in Gravesend was first organised in 1910 and owed its existence to Mrs. Bruce-Culver, its first Quartermaster. In conjunction with another VAD (KENT 92) they prepared and worked across three auxiliary hospitals used for convalescent care of allied troops wounded in battle.
One of these hospitals was the Meadow Room which was lent to the cause by the Misses Stevens. The hospital was prepared by the Misses Stevens and a number of ladies from the surrounding villages, the Sister-in-charge was a Miss Ethel Swinton.
The Meadow Room had accommodation for 19 patients at any one time, and within a few months had already admitted approximately 80 patients. Although the War Office paid a daily allowance of up to 4 shillings per day per patient, a large part of the equipment and running costs of the hospital was met through local fundraising and support.
The Voluntary Aid Detachment worked alongside military nurses during the two World Wars. The VAD were formed in August 1909 and the role of the Voluntary Aid Detachment nurses and assistants were to provide nursing and medical assistance during a time of war. These roles saw the VADs work in a variety of roles which included nursing assistants, ambulance drivers, chefs, and administrative roles. The majority of VADs worked with in Britain, some were posted overseas such as those with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France during the Great War and in other countries such as Belgium, France, Gallipoli and Mesopotamia.
The Stevens Family
The Stevens Family lived and ran Jeskyns Court Farm, this covered 730 acres of the local area, with a household comprising of cook, 2 house servants and two live in farm servants. They were a large employer in the local area, employing 48 men, 10 woman and 9 boys. Records indicate that the family lived at the
Parsonage in Cobham for most of their lives.
The Stevens family comprised of the father Thomas Stevens (1813-1893) and the mother Frances (nee Pye) Stevens (1821-1906); they had four daughters Susanna Elizabeth Stevens (1854-1919), Frances Catherine Stevens (1857-1878), Emma Jane Stevens (1859-1953) and Catherine Mary Wells Stevens (1863-1931). All four daughters were spinsters; they never married and sadly died without leaving any direct ancestors.
The Stevens Sisters
Susanna Elizabeth Stevens – Was born 15th March 1854 and christened on the 13th April 1854 at St. Mary Magdelene Church, Cobham. The census records from 1861 to 1881 show that Susanna lived in Jeskyns Court Farm, census records in 1881 indicate that they moved to Parsonage Farm. Susanna was a resident at the farm until her death on 9th July 1919, aged 65; she was recorded as a spinster and left effects worth £46,852, 16 shillings and 5 pence (equivalent to £9.32
million at today’s value – 2012) to her sister Emma Jane and her cousins William and Henry Pye.
The Meadow Room during World War I
The Meadow Room was turned into an auxiliary hospital, run by KENT 16 Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD). The Kent 16, based in Gravesend was first organised in 1910 and owed its existence to Mrs. Bruce-Culver, its first Quartermaster. In conjunction with another VAD (KENT 92) they prepared and worked across three auxiliary hospitals used for convalescent care of allied troops wounded in battle.
One of these hospitals was the Meadow Room which was lent to the cause by the Misses Stevens. The hospital was prepared by the Misses Stevens and a number of ladies from the surrounding villages, the Sister-in-charge was a Miss Ethel Swinton.
The Meadow Room had accommodation for 19 patients at any one time, and within a few months had already admitted approximately 80 patients. Although the War Office paid a daily allowance of up to 4 shillings per day per patient, a large part of the equipment and running costs of the hospital was met through local fundraising and support.
The Voluntary Aid Detachment worked alongside military nurses during the two World Wars. The VAD were formed in August 1909 and the role of the Voluntary Aid Detachment nurses and assistants were to provide nursing and medical assistance during a time of war. These roles saw the VADs work in a variety of roles which included nursing assistants, ambulance drivers, chefs, and administrative roles. The majority of VADs worked with in Britain, some were posted overseas such as those with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France during the Great War and in other countries such as Belgium, France, Gallipoli and Mesopotamia.