This was one of the best explores I've done to date; a mix of good company and getting somewhere that was so "fresh". If possible I shall do this again but I doubt it will be long until the place is swarming with other people.
Thanks to WhoDaresWins, Tumbles, End-Proc and Seffy for the company.
History
The hospital, situated in the grounds of a Georgian mansion, Frenchay Park in north of Bristol, and was opened in 1921 as a children's TB hospital. In the late 1920s it became clear that the house was too small for all its patients and so, in 1931, five purpose designed buildings were built, two ward pavilions, a treatment block, an admissions and observation block and a school. The estate so remained until 1940, but did also include a farm which grew food for the children.
In the late 1930s the Government feared that there would not be enough hospital beds to house the estimated casualties should the expected war break out. In consequence one of a national series of emergency hospital was planned for the estate, with construction starting in mid 1940 or so. Eventually a ramp of 15 wards and supporting facilities were built, only to remain empty because the number of casualties was fewer than had been feared. In the meantime the children remained in their buildings. The USA entered the war in December 1941 and personnel started to arrive in Britain in the spring of 1942. As a form of reverse "Lease Lend" the emergency buildings were handed over to the US military and the first US troops arrived at the hospital in May 1942.
Although the Frenchay Tuberculosis hospital operated as a separate unit throughout the war, the patients were transferred elsewhere in 1947. After World War II, the Americans handed the hospital back to the Corporation. The National Health Service acquired the hospital in 1948 some old US signs are also still just visible around the place.
Over the last 60 years or so, the hospital facilities have been slowly modernised, with many wartime buildings still noticeable. The hospital started to close in 2014 with different parts moving to Southmead hospital.
Thanks for looking.
Thanks to WhoDaresWins, Tumbles, End-Proc and Seffy for the company.
History
The hospital, situated in the grounds of a Georgian mansion, Frenchay Park in north of Bristol, and was opened in 1921 as a children's TB hospital. In the late 1920s it became clear that the house was too small for all its patients and so, in 1931, five purpose designed buildings were built, two ward pavilions, a treatment block, an admissions and observation block and a school. The estate so remained until 1940, but did also include a farm which grew food for the children.
In the late 1930s the Government feared that there would not be enough hospital beds to house the estimated casualties should the expected war break out. In consequence one of a national series of emergency hospital was planned for the estate, with construction starting in mid 1940 or so. Eventually a ramp of 15 wards and supporting facilities were built, only to remain empty because the number of casualties was fewer than had been feared. In the meantime the children remained in their buildings. The USA entered the war in December 1941 and personnel started to arrive in Britain in the spring of 1942. As a form of reverse "Lease Lend" the emergency buildings were handed over to the US military and the first US troops arrived at the hospital in May 1942.
Although the Frenchay Tuberculosis hospital operated as a separate unit throughout the war, the patients were transferred elsewhere in 1947. After World War II, the Americans handed the hospital back to the Corporation. The National Health Service acquired the hospital in 1948 some old US signs are also still just visible around the place.
Over the last 60 years or so, the hospital facilities have been slowly modernised, with many wartime buildings still noticeable. The hospital started to close in 2014 with different parts moving to Southmead hospital.
Thanks for looking.
