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29
TREATMENT CENTRES AND CLINICS.
During the year practically all the Borough Council's centres and clinics took
part in a "general post" pending the completion of new health centres—one in
Lisson Grove and the other on a portion of the site adjoining the Town Hall. The
old premises at No. 14 Salisbury Street, rented from the St. Marylebone Health
Society and occupied by the Council for maternity and child welfare purposes, were
vacated on the 31st July, 1937, prior to demolition of the property to make room
for the Health Society's new day nursery to be erected on the site. The services
were transferred first to the maternity and child welfare centre temporarily held
at No. 113, Marylebone Road and later (on the 7th October, 1937) together with
the Tuberculosis Dispensary (No. Ill, Marylebone Road) and other clinics, to
further temporary accommodation at the Old Baths Establishment, Marylebone
Road.
An outstanding event so far as the health services of the Borough are concerned
was the completion during the year of Health Centre No. 2 at No. 217, Lisson Grove
(formerly No. 27, Grove Road) on the site of the old Shelter House and Cleansing
of Persons Baths.
The opening ceremony was performed on Friday, the 3rd December, 1937, by
His Worship the Mayor of St. Marylebone (Alderman R. Stiles Allen, J.P.), who was
accompanied by the Mayoress, and supported by the Rt. Hon. Lord Snell, C.B.E.,
J.P., Chairman of the London County Council; Captain A. S. Cunningham-Reid,
D.F.C., Member of Parliament for St. Marylebone; Councillor Dr. C. A. Fuller,
Chairman of the Public Health and Maternity and Child Welfare Committee;
Alderman John Fettes, J.P., and other members of the Council.
The building, which was designed by Sir Edwin Cooper, R.A., has been erected
for its special purpose, taking full advantage of the contours of a difficult site upon
the bank of the Grand Union Canal. It has its main entrance with a paved forecourt
directly upon Lisson Grove. From the forecourt, at the side of which a Shelter has
been provided for perambulators, the ground and first floors of the building, which
will be used mainly for the Maternity and Infant Welfare and School Medical Service
Departments, are reached.
The secondary entrance at the back, owing to the slope of the site, is on the
lower ground floor level and advantage has been taken of this by planning the
Children's Bathing Station on this floor, so that there shall be no contact for the
children with the other departments. The Bathing Station for adults and the
accommodation for families temporarily excluded from their homes to permit of
disinfection, etc., are also here, the former provided with separate entrances for men
and women on the side of the building.
The external elevations of the building are on simple lines, relying upon proportion
and scale for the effect, and are of red bricks with a red tile roof.
The interior has been planned to obtain the maximum of light and floor space.
The walls are finished in hard plaster with a painted surface suitable for washing in
all parts, except in the bathrooms, etc., where white glazed tiles have been employed.
A suitable Laundry is provided on the lower ground floor for the various
departments.
The contractors were Messrs. John Mowlem and Company, Limited.
Plans of the various floors and photographs of the building are shown on
pages 21-27. It may be noted with regard to the second floor plan that, as it is
possible that the premises may be used as a first aid post under the Air Raid
Precautions Scheme, and in any case classes for medical practitioners and first aid
personnel are being held, the space through which the emergency exit from the
matron-housekeeper's flat passes has been transformed into a store for respirators
and other air raid precautions equipment.