Women’s history at Gladstone’s Land: Elsie Maud Inglis
Gladstone’s Land is situated right in the heart of Edinburgh’s historic Old Town. We often use the phrase ‘if the walls could talk’ here at the property, a place that has witnessed momentous social and political change for more than 500 years.
With this in mind, some of our team at Gladstone’s Land have decided to highlight five local notable women through a series of blog posts that explore their historical influence as well as their connections to this very special property. Among these trailblazers stands Elsie Maud Inglis, a pioneer in medicine and a champion for women’s rights. Her legacy continues to inspire generations today.
Elsie Maud Inglis was born in 1864 and she dedicated her life to breaking down barriers in the medical field. In 1894, she established a maternity hospital in Edinburgh, staffed entirely by women. This groundbreaking initiative not only provided essential medical care to women but also created opportunities for female medical professionals in a male-dominated industry.
Not content with revolutionising maternity care, Inglis ventured further to challenge the status quo. She opened a doctor’s office next door to Gladstone’s Land in the Royal Mile, challenging traditional gender roles and demonstrating that women were equally capable of excelling in the medical profession.
Dr Inglis took her mission still further during World War I when she founded the Scottish Women’s Hospitals for Foreign Service. Determined to contribute to the war effort, she and her colleagues faced staunch opposition from the War Office. Undeterred, they persevered, eventually serving in Europe, often dangerously close to the front lines.
Inglis became a chief medical officer in 1915, opening three hospitals in Serbia. Her selfless dedication earned her the title ‘mother of the nation’ as she cared for the injured, even as others fled during an invasion. Inglis’s courageous journey took a harrowing turn when she was taken prisoner of war. It seems her spirit remained unbroken though – in 1917, she refused to leave Russia unless all prisoners were granted safe passage to the UK.
Elsie Maud Inglis’s indomitable spirit and unwavering dedication to her principles continued until her final moments. She died the day after her return to the UK. Her funeral was held at St Giles’ Cathedral on the Royal Mile, a 2-minute walk from Gladstone’s Land. It marked the end of a remarkable journey but the beginning of an enduring legacy.
Today, as plans are underway for a statue to commemorate her life and work on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, Inglis’s name will forever be etched into history. She will be the first woman to have a statue on the Royal Mile and only the third in Edinburgh – a fitting tribute to a woman who defied expectations, shattered glass ceilings, and paved the way for future generations of women in medicine and beyond.
Why not pay us a visit at Gladstone’s Land to see what Old Town Edinburgh looked like during Elsie Inglis’s lifetime? You could even take one of our special medical tours. Discover how we moved from at-home remedies to professional care, and how Edinburgh itself has had a long and rich history with medical advancements – even if they haven’t always been legal or morally correct. This tour also explores Edinburgh’s Old Town disrepair, the advancement of surgeons and the Black Death.
Explore Gladstone’s Land
Visit nowFeatured Places
Gladstone’s Land
One of the oldest buildings on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile
Stay in touch
Be the first to hear about our latest news, get inspiration for great days out and learn about the work we do for the love of Scotland.
Read next
Why we love Gladstone’s Land
Join our property team for a glimpse behind the scenes of the newly refurbished Gladstone’s Land.
A Gladstone’s Land plague remedy
Gladstone’s Land sold all the ingredients to ‘cure’ 17th-century Edinburgh residents of the plague.
Morphinomania in the 19th century
We take a look at one of 19th-century Britain’s most ubiquitous but deadly substances.
Keeping house at Gladstone’s Land
It takes research, knowledge, care and teamwork to ensure the hands-on immersive experience at Gladstone’s Land brings history to life.