Early life

Born in 1867 Annie was the youngest daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Cornall and the family initially lived at addresses in Portland Square.  

Education and career

Annie attended the ‘Clergy Daughter’s School,’, Great George Street in the St Augustine parish of Bristol, and went on to train at the Royal Free Hospital for Women in London. Aged 24, in 1891, Annie took part in the triple examination qualification in connection with the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons of Edinburgh, and the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. Out of 49 candidates only 26 passed. Annie – the only women – took second place. She received qualifications from both institutes in 1894, as a L.R.C.P. In 1906 she received a F.R.C.S..in Ireland.

Work in India

In approximately 1895 Dr Annie Cornall left Bristol for India, where she worked at the Lady Kinnaird Memorial Hospital, Lucknow, as a medical missionary with the Zenana Society.  In 1899 funds were collected in Clifton, via Rev Richard Cornall, to send to Dr Annie Cornall in India – the request for funds or help to be sent out was not uncommon. At some point, she arrived back in Bristol and returned to Lucknow again in 1901. Again, Dr Annie Cornall returned from India in 1904. In total, Dr Annie Cornall spent 5 years in Lucknow, and 2 and a half in Patna, both in India.

When she permanently returned to live in Bristol, Dr Annie Cornall would talk about her missionary experiences. She explained how some of her work in India occured during an outbreak of plague. She also spoke about how it was difficult to work with the local people due to the the difference in religion.

Local community Doctor

Dr Annie Cornall worked in private practice, in Bristol, for an additional 25 years and became busy in the community. Amongst other activities, she would organize contributions for the sick and deserving via her father’s church.

She had many community roles:

• school medical inspector at the University College in 1908,
• opened The Men’s Club at her father’s church of Emmanuel in St Phillip’s,
• presided over the Bristol Asylum for Poor Orphan Girls,
• was on the sub-committee for the Bristol Female Penitentiary and Refuge,
• became the first doctor of the ‘Broad Plain School’ – a pioneering school for mothers,
• medical officer for the Victoria Gibbs Memorial Home for Homeless Babies.

Dr Annie Cornall was also instrumental in the inception of the Bristol Infant Welfare Association and Council of School for Mothers. In 1918 Dr Annie Cornall met her HRH Princess Beatrice at the Model Nursery School Creche and School for Mothers.

Dr Annie Cornall gave lectures on numerous subjects: infantile feeding, care of children, the disease carrying fly, venereal diseases, germs, first aid, home nursing, and (in 1937, aged 69) on the importance of the elderly to have independence.

Dr Annie Cornall also ran the Emmanuel Church Bible Class, and attended prayer meetings.

Death

Annie died in 1946, whilst living at 99B Carnavon Lodge, Redland Road, aged 79, from heart trouble. Dr Annie Cornall never married, and – upon returning from India to Bristol – lived with her father, the Rev Richard Cornall until his death.

The Rev Richard Cornall died after 4+ years of being bed bound. The Dean of Bristol offered the use of Bristol Cathedral for the first part of his funeral, a very prestigious offer. The family declined, instead having it at his old church – Emmanuel.

She is the grave with:

Reverend Richard Cornall - father (1832-1913), died age 80

Elizabeth Cornall – mother (1831- 11^th Apr 1904), died aged 73

Charles Bateson – brother (26^th Dec 1857- 17^th Oct 1870), died aged 12