Early Life
"Florence’s father William Edward Shore changed his surname to Nightingale in 1815 upon inheriting property at Lea in Derbyshire. William and his wife Fanny had two daughters Parthe (1819) and Florence, named after her place of birth in Italy, on 12 May 1820. She was always known as Flo." (Hantsweb).
"By the time Florence was five the pattern of the Nightingales’ life was set. The summers were passed at Lea Hurst in Derbyshire, the remainder of the year at Embley Park, and twice a year during the spring and autumn seasons visits were made to London.
Three or four times the Nightingale, Nicholson, and Bonham-Carter families holidayed together at Seaview on the Isle of Wight, where the children bathed and sailed. Christmas was generally spent with the Nicholsons at Waverley Abbey near Farnham, where the children held a ball of their own and put on a play." (Hantsweb).
"Florence was not always a happy child. She did not like strangers, especially children. She was convinced at an early age that she was different to everyone else, and it is said that Florence heard the voice of God calling her to do his work. As a child Florence wrote many letters to her grandmother, aunts, parents and sister. Her unhappiness at being confined to Embley is clear from early letters and notes.
Florence and her sister Parthe did not always get on well together as they were very different in temperament and ability." (Hantsweb).
“Flo led and Parthe followed, but Parthe followed resentfully. She was possessive towards Flo, she adored Flo, wanted Flo’s entire devotion, could not bear Flo to have another friend, but she was bitterly envious of Flo”. (Hantsweb).
"By the time Florence was five the pattern of the Nightingales’ life was set. The summers were passed at Lea Hurst in Derbyshire, the remainder of the year at Embley Park, and twice a year during the spring and autumn seasons visits were made to London.
Three or four times the Nightingale, Nicholson, and Bonham-Carter families holidayed together at Seaview on the Isle of Wight, where the children bathed and sailed. Christmas was generally spent with the Nicholsons at Waverley Abbey near Farnham, where the children held a ball of their own and put on a play." (Hantsweb).
"Florence was not always a happy child. She did not like strangers, especially children. She was convinced at an early age that she was different to everyone else, and it is said that Florence heard the voice of God calling her to do his work. As a child Florence wrote many letters to her grandmother, aunts, parents and sister. Her unhappiness at being confined to Embley is clear from early letters and notes.
Florence and her sister Parthe did not always get on well together as they were very different in temperament and ability." (Hantsweb).
“Flo led and Parthe followed, but Parthe followed resentfully. She was possessive towards Flo, she adored Flo, wanted Flo’s entire devotion, could not bear Flo to have another friend, but she was bitterly envious of Flo”. (Hantsweb).