Withington Community Hospital
Encyclopedia
Withington Community Hospital (officially known as the Withington Community Hospital and Diagnostic and Treatment Centre) is a hospital in south Manchester
, England. Despite being named as the Withington Community Hospital, due to local border modifications the hospital is now situated in West Didsbury
.
A new hospital building to the south-east of the old site is now a primary care base, it now provides specialist care to those who are awaiting diagnostic treatment and day surgery appointments.
At its height, the hospital was the largest teaching hospital in Europe, thanks in part to its affiliation with the University of Manchester
, which has one of the largest medical school
s in the north of England
.
, which covered most of south Manchester. In 1859 it had as inmates 458 adults (including minors of 17 and upwards) and 195 children. In the 1880s conditions were improved at the instigation of Dr J. Milson Rhodes one of the board members: the removal of the children to Styal was one of his reforms. In 1864-66, it was converted into a hospital for the poor with the notable British nurse, Florence Nightingale
, quoted as saying "... your hospital plan will be one of the best, if not the best, in the country" when writing to the architect Thomas Worthington
–upon initial observation of the plans. The hospital also provided support for the military just after the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 and German prisoners of war were kept there. At this time it was known as simply Withington Hospital, being named that after a change in 1910. (It was until 1904 outside the city of Manchester in Withington Urban District.) The frontage of 1854–55 is showy and the chapel is Italianate in style: behind were the seven pavilions of the hospital of 1864-66 with many later buildings all over the site. In the later years all the old buildings were taken over by the hospital and a new smaller workhouse was built on the opposite side of Nell Lane: this closed in 1928.
It was occupied by the military for some time before reverting to civilian patients: in 1929 it had beds for 1,300 patients, 12 pavilions and 11 visiting staff. The National Health Service
form was introduced in 1948 under Aneurin Bevan
. It had developed considerably since that period until the 1990s, when the hospital faced closure; its fate was sealed when the doors shut in 2002. When this occurred, the trust operating the then defunct hospital relocated units across the city. Three of the former buildings are Grade II listed.
s, 231 flat
s, 14 houses and other structures. It was confirmed this action was a result of the economic downturn affecting potential buyers.
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England. Despite being named as the Withington Community Hospital, due to local border modifications the hospital is now situated in West Didsbury
Didsbury
Didsbury is a suburban area of the City of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Mersey, south of Manchester city centre, in the southern half of the Greater Manchester Urban Area...
.
A new hospital building to the south-east of the old site is now a primary care base, it now provides specialist care to those who are awaiting diagnostic treatment and day surgery appointments.
At its height, the hospital was the largest teaching hospital in Europe, thanks in part to its affiliation with the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
, which has one of the largest medical school
Manchester Medical School
The School of Medicine at the University of Manchester is one of the largest in the UK with around undergraduates, 1400 postgraduates and staff. The school is divided into five separate divisions, also called schools, one of which, Manchester Medical School is responsible for medical...
s in the north of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
Originally known as the Chorlton Barlow Moor Work House, the hospital was purpose-built in 1854–55 as a workhouse for the poor of the Chorlton Poor Law UnionChorlton Poor Law Union
Chorlton Poor Law Union was founded in January 1837 as a consequence of the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834, also known as the New Poor Law. It was overseen by an elected board of 19 guardians representing the 12 parishes in the area it served: Ardwick, Burnage, Chorlton-upon-Medlock,...
, which covered most of south Manchester. In 1859 it had as inmates 458 adults (including minors of 17 and upwards) and 195 children. In the 1880s conditions were improved at the instigation of Dr J. Milson Rhodes one of the board members: the removal of the children to Styal was one of his reforms. In 1864-66, it was converted into a hospital for the poor with the notable British nurse, Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale OM, RRC was a celebrated English nurse, writer and statistician. She came to prominence for her pioneering work in nursing during the Crimean War, where she tended to wounded soldiers. She was dubbed "The Lady with the Lamp" after her habit of making rounds at night...
, quoted as saying "... your hospital plan will be one of the best, if not the best, in the country" when writing to the architect Thomas Worthington
Thomas Worthington (architect)
Thomas Worthington was a 19th-century English architect, particularly associated with public buildings in and around Manchester.-Early life:...
–upon initial observation of the plans. The hospital also provided support for the military just after the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 and German prisoners of war were kept there. At this time it was known as simply Withington Hospital, being named that after a change in 1910. (It was until 1904 outside the city of Manchester in Withington Urban District.) The frontage of 1854–55 is showy and the chapel is Italianate in style: behind were the seven pavilions of the hospital of 1864-66 with many later buildings all over the site. In the later years all the old buildings were taken over by the hospital and a new smaller workhouse was built on the opposite side of Nell Lane: this closed in 1928.
It was occupied by the military for some time before reverting to civilian patients: in 1929 it had beds for 1,300 patients, 12 pavilions and 11 visiting staff. The National Health Service
National Health Service (England)
The National Health Service or NHS is the publicly funded healthcare system in England. It is both the largest and oldest single-payer healthcare system in the world. It is able to function in the way that it does because it is primarily funded through the general taxation system, similar to how...
form was introduced in 1948 under Aneurin Bevan
Aneurin Bevan
Aneurin "Nye" Bevan was a British Labour Party politician who was the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party from 1959 until his death in 1960. The son of a coal miner, Bevan was a lifelong champion of social justice and the rights of working people...
. It had developed considerably since that period until the 1990s, when the hospital faced closure; its fate was sealed when the doors shut in 2002. When this occurred, the trust operating the then defunct hospital relocated units across the city. Three of the former buildings are Grade II listed.
Re-development
In July 2008, the named developers (PJ Livesey) of the older buildings of the hospital announced that the plans to build 360 homes had been shelved. The structures were to be considered for a full refurbishment into 116 apartmentApartment
An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...
s, 231 flat
Apartment
An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...
s, 14 houses and other structures. It was confirmed this action was a result of the economic downturn affecting potential buyers.