real time web analytics
Report - - West Heath Hospital/Sanatorium, Birmingham - 12/01/08 | Asylums and Hospitals | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - West Heath Hospital/Sanatorium, Birmingham - 12/01/08

Hide this ad by donating or subscribing !

virusman26

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Hey guys,

Finally got the weather and the chance to get some shots at this place. Great history behind it, when you can find any. The NHS kept it hush-hush for years. Here's the only history I can find...............

The History of West Heath Hospital


It is difficult to find details of the early years of West Heath Hospital, which was provided for the isolation of people with infectious diseases. No one wanted to know of their existence and visitors were as far as possible kept away. A local resident described how as a young child she went out into the country for picnics in the summer. The hospital was passed with much dread, she said ” we always held our breath and put handkerchiefs to our mouths to avoid infection.” So it is not really surprising that few early records of life in the hospital can be found. However, here is a brief summary of the hospitals history:
1888- Foundation stone laid.
1889- Kings Norton Infectious Diseases Hospital opened.
1906- Last case of smallpox treated, (Subsequent cases were sent to a hospital in Hollywood).
1910- First Medical Superintendent appointed. Commenced taking in cases of pulmonary tuberculosis.
1911- Taken over by the city of Birmingham.
1919- Ward 7 opened, and the hospital was now known as West Heath Sanatorium.
1920- Last cases of infectious diseases, other than tuberculosis, were discharged.
1946- Ward 4 opened.
1948- New Nurses home opened.
1954 - The Hospital name changed from West Heath Sanatorium to West Heath Hospital. It was still used mainly for tuberculosis but other chest diseases were accepted.
1958- New Kitchen block opened
1965- Ward 9, Sheldon unit, opened, part of the hospital at this time became Geriatric.
1972- New geriatric block opened.
1980 - Hospital became entirely a hospital for Older People

Nice eh? Well, here's the pics............

Main building(1888)
DSCF0337.gif


View attachment 91003

View attachment 91004

View attachment 91005

View attachment 91006

View attachment 91007

View attachment 91008

View attachment 91009

View attachment 91010

View attachment 91011

Out buildings, Maintenance, Catering and Classroom block............

View attachment 91012

View attachment 91013

View attachment 91014

View attachment 91015

View attachment 91016

View attachment 91017

View attachment 91018

Sorry about the number of pics, but there is so much to see in the site!! Shame that the old mortuary was demolished long before the new contractors got their hands on the place.

Some more of the same............. http://www.flickr.com/photos/8776781@N02/?saved=1
 
Last edited:
Top