Dr Edith Caroline Hudgell

Harley Street, London England - 1927

In researching the Bragg Family history, I've unearthed (so to speak) many interesting characters and among them I found Aunt Edith.  A pioneer in medicine and an influential Harley Street physician, she was noted for her probing and insightful papers on the pathology of the criminal mind.  Here's her story:

Dr. Edith Caroline Hudgell became a notable Doctor of Psychiatry and was at one time working at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson (first English women to practice as a doctor) Hospital for Women in London.

She was born in River Philip, Nova Scotia Canada in 1891.  Her mother was Mary Jane Carter, daughter of Amy Ann Bragg and Theodore Harding Carter.  Her maternal grandparents were John and Jane Bragg, the originators of the Bragg Family of Nova Scotia.  Edith's father was a minister and the family travelled extensively with his missionary work.

On 29 August 1903 at the age of 11  Edith Hudgell travelled with her father Robert William Hudgell on the ship Philadelphia to Boston departing from Southampton England. The journey took 7 days.

At the age of 18 years and 8 months she applied to be a student of the London (Royal Free Hospital) School of Medicine for Women (University of London) in Brunswick Square London in the winter session 1910-11, at the time she was living at Leamington Park Acton London, with her parents. Her education was given as American schools: Kelland College, Leicester, Wandsworth Technical Institute, secondary School, Paddington County secondary school.

   Her qualifications gained were London Matriculation (School Leaving) and Oxford Senior Local (Third Class Honours) July 1909 and she was applying to the Royal Free to study for her London M.B.,B.S.

Appointments:

• 1917 House Physician, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Exeter
• 1918 Medical Officer, No.5 Section, V.A.D. Hospital, Exeter
• 1919 Medical Officer, Home Office, Holloway Prison

Holloway Prison

Holloway Prison

 • 1920                 Acting Medical Officer, HM Prison, Holloway
 • 1921                 Medical Officer, HM Prison, Holloway
 • 1923-1933          Assistant Medical Officer Venereal Disease Dept, Royal Northern Hospital                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
 • 1936-1941          Harley Street London and Royal Northern Hospital
 • 1945-1959          Psychiatric Dept., St Georges Hospital, London SW1
 • 1959-1965          Duncanson House, Bromley Kent
 •  1965                        Retired from practice Harley Street London

John Bragg, of Collingwood  fondly remembers the regular visits Edith made to Nova Scotia to connect with her Canadian Family.  She passed away in 1974 in Swindon, Wiltshire, England - another fascinating leaf on the Bragg Family Tree.