Market Harborough District Hospital
A very small and empty ´local´ hospital, nothing epic or super exciting, but when I searched for it online there´s absolutely nothing and thought I´d throw a few words and pictures together with some history and perhaps someone will take an interest in it. Time and time again I´ve seen new members respond to old threads expressing that they´ve worked there or visited there when it was open and enjoyed seeing pictures of the place, so I guess this report serves that purpose. Thanks to Spidermonkey for the lead and visited with him for a quick look round. Mainly composed of an Xray Ward, pediatrics, outpatients and examination rooms with small hints to its past as a hospital since 1909.
History
In 1885, the Market Harborough Dispensary is said to have been built here and remained in use until 1909 where it was then replaced by the current hospital. Originally known as the Market Harborough Cottage Hospital and District Nursing Association, Market Harborough District Hospital was built and opened in 1910. It was staffed by a matron, two district nurses, and a probationer and contained 2 wards with 4 beds each, 2 private wards, an operating theatre, three bathrooms and the matrons living quarters.
A public meeting held in Market Harborough on 12th December 1918 proposed that the town should have two war memorials. The first was a column or cross in the town square to commemorate those who died in the Great War, but the second was to be a free library and reading room in the centre of town in recognition of all those who served. The memorial in the square (listed at Grade II) was dedicated on 21st Sept 1921, but the plans for the library never materialised, and instead were transformed into a memorial extension to the Cottage Hospital, opened in 1923. In 2017, the hospital closed due to the opening of the newly built St. Lukes hospital in the same town, the building was sold in the latter half of 2018 and demolition is expected this year with the buildings being replaced by a new 70–bed care home. The war memorial is in the entrance of the building and is listed and proposed to be kept as part of the new plans.
Photos
As it stands today sheeted up
Starting at the back of the hospital in therapy
Older tiling and radiators
Moving to the front of the hospital
Nice original plasterwork on the ceiling, one of the very few original features
Pair of interesting fireplaces, dated perhaps 1920s/30s
Older ward
Xray
Light and signage – Various types of wallpaper used over the years
As I say, pretty much empty, but it is what it is, win some and you lose some. I hope it at least stands for something to the locals as a record before it is demolished. Cheers for looking
A very small and empty ´local´ hospital, nothing epic or super exciting, but when I searched for it online there´s absolutely nothing and thought I´d throw a few words and pictures together with some history and perhaps someone will take an interest in it. Time and time again I´ve seen new members respond to old threads expressing that they´ve worked there or visited there when it was open and enjoyed seeing pictures of the place, so I guess this report serves that purpose. Thanks to Spidermonkey for the lead and visited with him for a quick look round. Mainly composed of an Xray Ward, pediatrics, outpatients and examination rooms with small hints to its past as a hospital since 1909.
History
In 1885, the Market Harborough Dispensary is said to have been built here and remained in use until 1909 where it was then replaced by the current hospital. Originally known as the Market Harborough Cottage Hospital and District Nursing Association, Market Harborough District Hospital was built and opened in 1910. It was staffed by a matron, two district nurses, and a probationer and contained 2 wards with 4 beds each, 2 private wards, an operating theatre, three bathrooms and the matrons living quarters.
A public meeting held in Market Harborough on 12th December 1918 proposed that the town should have two war memorials. The first was a column or cross in the town square to commemorate those who died in the Great War, but the second was to be a free library and reading room in the centre of town in recognition of all those who served. The memorial in the square (listed at Grade II) was dedicated on 21st Sept 1921, but the plans for the library never materialised, and instead were transformed into a memorial extension to the Cottage Hospital, opened in 1923. In 2017, the hospital closed due to the opening of the newly built St. Lukes hospital in the same town, the building was sold in the latter half of 2018 and demolition is expected this year with the buildings being replaced by a new 70–bed care home. The war memorial is in the entrance of the building and is listed and proposed to be kept as part of the new plans.
Photos
As it stands today sheeted up
Starting at the back of the hospital in therapy
Older tiling and radiators
Moving to the front of the hospital
Nice original plasterwork on the ceiling, one of the very few original features
Pair of interesting fireplaces, dated perhaps 1920s/30s
Older ward
Xray
Light and signage – Various types of wallpaper used over the years
As I say, pretty much empty, but it is what it is, win some and you lose some. I hope it at least stands for something to the locals as a record before it is demolished. Cheers for looking
