Florence Nightingale exhibition at Cromford Mills

The exhibition will run from 10am until 4pm on Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19, and will commemorate the life and work of Florence Nightingale – heroine of the Crimean War, founder of the nursing profession, pioneer of public health care and reformer of army medical services.

An evening seminar on May 18 between 6pm and 8:30pm will examine Florence Nightingale’s life and work and will be delivered by experts Lynn McDonald, who has edited the Collected Works of Florence Nightingale, and Natasha McEnroe, Director of the Florence Nightingale Museum in London.

Florence Nightingale was brought up in Derbyshire and maintained close connections with the county throughout her life. Her family and ancestors lived in the area of Lea and Holloway, near Cromford, for several generations and her family home was initially Lea Hall and then Lea Hurst, to which she was particularly attached. She also designed the Nightingale ward at the Derbyshire General Infirmary and advised on the design of the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary.

Tickets for the seminar are £5 each and include cheese and wine. Places are limited and advance booking is recommended. For further details and ticket bookings contact the Visitor Services Department at Cromford Mills on 01629 825995 or visit www.arkwrightsociety.org.uk.