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83
In the year 1899, the present site consisting of 17½ acres was
purchased at a cost of £9,768, and the Scarlet Fever Hospital
removed from the Sewage Farm to this ground.
It is interesting to note that during its reconstruction a large
marquee put up to house the patients temporarily was blown down
one windy March day and called for the services of the Fire
Brigade and staff to deal with the catastrophe.
At this time Roman Road was not completed and the entrance
to the hospital was from Boundary Road.
In 1902, galvanized iron and wood huts were erected for
Diphtheria and Typhoid cases, and these were in use as acute and
convalescent Diphtheria Wards until the recent reconstruction of
the hospital. This building also provided other accommodation
for medical officer, matron, stall', dining rooms, bedrooms and
stores.
In 1907, the first brick building (A) Block was constructed,
comprising 26 beds on ground floor, recreation room on first
floor, also laundry, stable and porter's lodge and mortuary. The
entrance to Roman Road was made available.
In l909, the original iron building removed from the Sewage
Farm, was demolished and two permanent buildings erected, which
consisted of one two-storey block (C and CA) for patients on
ground floor, and bedrooms for staff, dining rooms, kitchen and
annexes on first floor.
Also the cubicle block (B) was provided to deal with cases
of mixed infection. The doctor's bungalow was subsequently
erected. A hut originally built as a quarantine house for Smallpox
families was later used as a ward for the treatment of cases of
Tuberculosis.
All these buildings remained in use until the recent reconstruction
which, with the new additional wards, has increased
the hospital to its present size and state of efficiency, which was
fully described in last year's report.
In order to appreciate its present usefulness it is necessary to
carry one's mind back to the time when, although extra provision
for patients was increasing with the growth of the Borough, such
was not in any way proportionate to its needs.