Greaves Hall Hospital
Encyclopedia
Greaves Hall was a country house on the outskirts of Banks
in Lancashire
, England, built in a Tudorbethan style for Thomas Talbot Leyland Scarisbrick
in 1900.
, USA in 1895. The mansion was surrounded by sculptured lawns, gardens with ornamental trees and flowering shrubs. The hall had approximately 55 rooms, open areas situated on the ground, first, second and attic floors and a vast basement. A porter's lodge by the main entrance, a gardener's lodge, engineer's workshop, laundry and general workshop in mock Tudor style were built in close proximity.
The Scarisbricks remained at Greaves Hall until after the First World War when they moved to Scarisbrick Hall
and sold the estate to a consortium of farmers from Banks. The mansion stood empty while the land was cultivated by the consortium.
On 3 May 1932 the house was leased to Dorothy Glaister Greaves and became Sherbrook Private Girls' School. The ballroom was used as the school hall, with dormitories in the attic rooms, the library was re-stocked. The gardens were used for sports and leisure with tennis courts and hockey pitches. The house and grounds were used by the school until 1938 when it closed.
.
In 1948, it was used for patients from Liverpool with mental health problems. The mental health unit had wards and ancillary buildings in the leisure grounds of the old house. The hospital closed in the early 1990s when services were moved to Southport.
in 2009 and demolished shortly afterwards, having become structurally unsafe. Demolition took two months due to the grand scale of the building.
The nurses' houses are privately owned. The recreational ground and golf driving range are used for football and archery. In 2009 a development of houses was built next to the old nurses' homes. A small business park has been developed in ancilliary buildings south of the water tower
, which is known as 'Greaves Hall Industrial Estate'.The hospital water tower
is derelict and its future is uncertain. The remains of the maintenance buildings were demolished in late 2010.
The playing field is designated as green space along with the wood and cannot be developed.
Banks, Lancashire
Banks is a large coastal village in Lancashire, England. It lies just south of the Ribble estuary and four miles north-east of the town of Southport. The village is administered by West Lancashire Borough Council, and by North Meols parish council for parochial matters. It falls in the South...
in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England, built in a Tudorbethan style for Thomas Talbot Leyland Scarisbrick
Sir Thomas Scarisbrick, 1st Baronet
Sir Thomas Talbot Leyland Scarisbrick, 1st Baronet was a British Liberal Party politician.He was Liberal Member of Parliament for South Dorset from 1906 to 1910.Mayor of Southport 1902-1903; JP Lancashire...
in 1900.
History
Thomas Scarisbrick born in 1874, built Greaves Hall in 1900 on a 124-acre (0.50 km2) site given by his father as a wedding present when he married Josephine Chamberlain of Cleveland, OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, USA in 1895. The mansion was surrounded by sculptured lawns, gardens with ornamental trees and flowering shrubs. The hall had approximately 55 rooms, open areas situated on the ground, first, second and attic floors and a vast basement. A porter's lodge by the main entrance, a gardener's lodge, engineer's workshop, laundry and general workshop in mock Tudor style were built in close proximity.
The Scarisbricks remained at Greaves Hall until after the First World War when they moved to Scarisbrick Hall
Scarisbrick Hall
Scarisbrick Hall is a country house situated just to the south-east of the village of Scarisbrick in Lancashire, England.-History:Scarisbrick Hall was the ancestral home of the Scarisbrick family and dates back to the time of King Stephen . The Scarisbrick family lived on the site from 1238 until...
and sold the estate to a consortium of farmers from Banks. The mansion stood empty while the land was cultivated by the consortium.
On 3 May 1932 the house was leased to Dorothy Glaister Greaves and became Sherbrook Private Girls' School. The ballroom was used as the school hall, with dormitories in the attic rooms, the library was re-stocked. The gardens were used for sports and leisure with tennis courts and hockey pitches. The house and grounds were used by the school until 1938 when it closed.
Greaves Hall Hospital
After the school closed, the house was used as a hospital for patients with tuberculosisTuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
.
In 1948, it was used for patients from Liverpool with mental health problems. The mental health unit had wards and ancillary buildings in the leisure grounds of the old house. The hospital closed in the early 1990s when services were moved to Southport.
Dereliction
The hall suffered from acts of vandalism and arson after it closed and its owners claimed it was beyond repair. Applications were made to demolish the building, and other buildings including the landmark water tower. Despite having Listed building status Greaves Hall suffered arson attacks which led to its partial demolition in 2003 and 2005. The building was removed from the heritage at risk registerHeritage at Risk
Heritage at Risk is a collective term applied to 'designated' heritage assets that are at risk as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development, or are vulnerable to becoming so.In England, an annual Heritage at Risk Register is published by English Heritage...
in 2009 and demolished shortly afterwards, having become structurally unsafe. Demolition took two months due to the grand scale of the building.
Development
Redrow homes have developed most of the site where the hospital wards once stood. The old the hospital school was converted into a new school for St Stephen's Primary. The former communal hall at the centre of hospital activities was converted into "Banks Leisure Centre" retaining the gymnasium, stage and function hall. The swimming pool was filled in and replaced by football/tennis/basketball courts.The nurses' houses are privately owned. The recreational ground and golf driving range are used for football and archery. In 2009 a development of houses was built next to the old nurses' homes. A small business park has been developed in ancilliary buildings south of the water tower
Water tower
A water tower or elevated water tower is a large elevated drinking water storage container constructed to hold a water supply at a height sufficient to pressurize a water distribution system....
, which is known as 'Greaves Hall Industrial Estate'.The hospital water tower
Water tower
A water tower or elevated water tower is a large elevated drinking water storage container constructed to hold a water supply at a height sufficient to pressurize a water distribution system....
is derelict and its future is uncertain. The remains of the maintenance buildings were demolished in late 2010.
Future
There have been proposals for the re-generation of the site. Part of the site has been designated for employment. More shops and businesses are needed in the village and Greaves Hall has been identified as a prime location. This will also incorporate the "Greaves Hall Industrial Estate" into the employment plan.The playing field is designated as green space along with the wood and cannot be developed.