| DR. JAMES CRAN (1843 - 1897) |
Dr Cran was a well known Salford Surgeon and was the Medical Officer for the Salford Union Workhouse*. James Cran was born in Scotland on 9th June 1843. He took his MA degree in 1864 in Aberdeen and MD doctorate in 1868 in Edinburgh. Also in 1868 he became a Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh. He came to Manchester shortly after gaining his qualification to be House Surgeon at the Ardwick and Ancoats Dispensary and then moved to Salford to take up private practice. However, he was appointed Medical Officer of No 3 District of the Salford Union (the Workhouse). James was of a quiet disposition and took no part in public affairs.
It was on Friday 4th June 1897, after suffering from ill health for a number of months, that Dr Cran died at his home, 187 Regent Road, Salford. He was almost 54 years of age. The funeral took place on Whit Monday in the Non-Conformist portion of Weaste Cemetery. It was a quiet occasion, in accordance with his wishes. The cortege left Dr Cran’s residence at 12 noon. The coffin was of polished oak with simple brass mountings and was carried in a Victoria car drawn by a pair of bay horses. The first carriage contained his brothers Dr.R.D.Cran, Rev.A. Cran and Mr James Cran. There were many letters of condolence to Mrs Cran. The Service was read by Rev.J.Neil.
* The Salford Union Workhouse was located on the north side of Eccles New Road and the rear boundary was the Liverpool and Manchester Railway line. It was erected between 1851 and 1853 at a cost of £16,500. The buildings were designed to accommodate 300 people. The grounds around the main buildings were laid out in yards for each class of pauper: the aged and infirm and able-bodied men and women. In the men’s yard work workshops provided for tailors, shoemakers, carpenters, painters, oakum picking, etc. The women were provided with a wash-house, drying room, mending rooms and clean linen stores. In the men’s yard there was also a mortuary and a post mortem examination room. There were large airy grounds for boys and girls with suitable workshops for both sexes. On the east side of the Work-house were the Infirmary, Lunatic Asylum and the Fever Hospital.
In April 1880, new "Casual Wards" were opened. These were for male and female vagrants. In truth, they were more like cells, although heated by hot water pipes, lit by gas light and well ventilated. These inmates had to work for their living too. The Salford Union Workhouse closed shortly after World War 1 and the building demolished to make way for the Langworthy flats.
The Salford Union also built a separate Infirmary for 880 patients between 1880 and 1882 at a cost of £64,000. It was located on the south side of Eccles Old Road and became known as Hope Hospital.