History
The Rest has an eventful history: it was conceived as the project of Victorian doctor James Lewis and his wife
Charlotte, who were determined to provide a convalescent home for working men, women and children from the
local area.
Florence Nightingale lent her support to the scheme in 1869, after which Dr Lewis acquired the site. In
1877 The Rest admitted its first patients: the 7 survivors of the Ty Newydd Colliery disaster, who had been trapped underground for 10 days. The Rest was also used as an Auxiliary War Hospital from 1915, providing a safe haven and care for more than 2,500 wounded British, Australian, New Zealand and Canadian soldiers during World War I and again during World War II, before being returned to civilian use in 1946.
A local one for me and a real shame that many of the original features of this building have long disappeared. Now there are plans to turn the building into 59 luxury sea view apartments which will save the building from certain demolition.
Pics
Thanks