Photographs relating to the opening of Torrance square, Tiberias

• Reference:GB 254 MS 38/1/6
• Dates of Creation:1962
• Name of Creator:
  Torrance family
• Physical Description:
  13 photographs

• Scope and Content

  Identified individuals include Dr Buchman, Rev. Dr Archibald Craig and his wife, Dr Herbert W. Torrance and his wife, Gladys. [13]. "Torrance Square" opening ceremony, Tiberias. "The mayor (in the centre) making his speech. Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Rev Dr. Craig and his wife are on the mayor's right hand side", Dr. and Mrs W. H. Torrance on the left hand side, the British consul is near the left of the group. Gift presented. (Gladys and Herbert Torrance). Dr. Herbert Torrance making his speech at the opening ceremony. The Torrance Square celebration. "Dr. Buchman, the doyen of the medical profession at Tiberias is on Mrs Torrance's left". Dr. W. H. Torrance on her right. "The opening of the Torrance Square garden. The mayor pinning a gold badge on Dr. W. H. Torrance giving him the freedom of the city of Tiberias". White marble plaque embedded in black basalt at entrance to garden reads, "Dr. David and Herbert Torrance Square 1962". View of the Torrance Square garden. (Building in the background is the Grossman Hotel). The Hospital, Tiberias. [The Hospital], Tiberias. "Looking up the hill from Tiberias to show new buildings". Tiberias showing on the right the edge of Grossman's Hotel, in the centre the new post office, and on the left new shops. Maimonides Tomb, Tiberias.

• Administrative / Biographical History

  David Watt Torrance, son of Dr Thomas Torrance of Airdrie, was educated at Glasgow University, graduating MB in 1883. Despite being offered a post at Glasgow Infirmary he travelled to Palestine and assisted in the inauguration of the Sea of Galilee Medical Mission. Following further training in Egypt, Damascus and Nazareth he returned in 1885 to Tiberias and opened the first hospital for those of any race or religion in two rooms near the Franciscan monastery. A move to Beit abu Shamnel abu Hannah preceded the opening of a new hospital with 24 beds and 6 cots in 1894.
  DW Torrance was ordained in the Free Church of Scotland in 1895. During World War I (1914-1918), Dr Torrance served as resident officer in charge of Oakbank War Hospital in the west of Scotland. Dr Torrance married three times and had a large family. He died in Tiberias on 26 August, 1923.
  His son, Herbert Watt Torrance, was educated at Glasgow University, graduating MB in 1916. He joined the Royal Army Medical Corps, served in France and Serbia and was awarded the Military Cross. After demobilisation he returned to Glasgow University as demonstrator and lecturer and to study for the FRCS. In 1921 he was awarded the degree of MD and went to Tiberias where in 1923 he became superintendent of the hospital.
  HW Torrance was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. For services rendered during the British Mandate in Palestine he was awarded the OBE. He married twice and had two daughters. Dr H.W. Torrance retired to Dundee in 1953 and died in 1977.
  Following the declaration of the State of Israel, in 1949 the mission hospital became a maternity hospital responsible for midwifery and gynaecology in Northern Galilee under the Israeli Department of Health. In 1959 the hospital closed but a hospice for travellers was established in the buildings and a resident minister and bookshop continue the work of mission in Tiberias.
  Photography was an abiding interest for Herbert Watt Torrance. The collection provides a record of the main period of the British Mandate, the increasing rate of Jewish immigration and the impact of the State of Israel on the landscape. It also contains many photographs of medical conditions which subsequently have been eradicated. Dr Torrance's interest in flowers, animals and archaeology is well represented and many photographs show examples of the "biblical situations" popular with photographers.

• Access Information

  Open for consultation subject to preservation requirements. Access must also conform to the restrictions of the Data Protection Act (2018), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, 2018) and any other relevant legislation or restrictions. Clinical information is closed for 100 years.

• Note

  David Watt Torrance, son of Dr Thomas Torrance of Airdrie, was educated at Glasgow University, graduating MB in 1883. Despite being offered a post at Glasgow Infirmary he travelled to Palestine and assisted in the inauguration of the Sea of Galilee Medical Mission. Following further training in Egypt, Damascus and Nazareth he returned in 1885 to Tiberias and opened the first hospital for those of any race or religion in two rooms near the Franciscan monastery. A move to Beit abu Shamnel abu Hannah preceded the opening of a new hospital with 24 beds and 6 cots in 1894.
  DW Torrance was ordained in the Free Church of Scotland in 1895. During World War I (1914-1918), Dr Torrance served as resident officer in charge of Oakbank War Hospital in the west of Scotland. Dr Torrance married three times and had a large family. He died in Tiberias on 26 August, 1923.
  His son, Herbert Watt Torrance, was educated at Glasgow University, graduating MB in 1916. He joined the Royal Army Medical Corps, served in France and Serbia and was awarded the Military Cross. After demobilisation he returned to Glasgow University as demonstrator and lecturer and to study for the FRCS. In 1921 he was awarded the degree of MD and went to Tiberias where in 1923 he became superintendent of the hospital.
  HW Torrance was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. For services rendered during the British Mandate in Palestine he was awarded the OBE. He married twice and had two daughters. Dr H.W. Torrance retired to Dundee in 1953 and died in 1977.
  Following the declaration of the State of Israel, in 1949 the mission hospital became a maternity hospital responsible for midwifery and gynaecology in Northern Galilee under the Israeli Department of Health. In 1959 the hospital closed but a hospice for travellers was established in the buildings and a resident minister and bookshop continue the work of mission in Tiberias.
  Photography was an abiding interest for Herbert Watt Torrance. The collection provides a record of the main period of the British Mandate, the increasing rate of Jewish immigration and the impact of the State of Israel on the landscape. It also contains many photographs of medical conditions which subsequently have been eradicated. Dr Torrance's interest in flowers, animals and archaeology is well represented and many photographs show examples of the "biblical situations" popular with photographers.

• Conditions Governing Use

  Reproduction is available subject to preservation requirements. Charges may be made for this service, and copyright and other restrictions may apply; please check with the Duty Archivist.

• Accruals

  Not expected

• Additional Information

  Published