A Commanding site in Abbotsham Road
In April 1924 it was announced that a meeting of the General Management Committee fo the Bideford and District Hospital has been held in connection with the steps being taken for the building of a new Hospital. The option of re-modelling and enlarging the present site was found to be ‘excessive commensurate with the result.’ This scheme was abandoned and the Committee was ‘more and more convinced after the years of consideration given to the subject that the erection of a new Hospital on a more suitable site would meet with greater public approval and support.’ The Committee was able to avail themselves of the voluntary assistance of expert help. “Three sets of plans and estimates were examined, and those of Mr H Dighton Pearson, of Gower Street, London – a brother of Dr Ellis Pearson – were regarded as so entirely in accord with the conditions laid down, and the requirements sought, as to render it unnecessary to incur the expense of proceeding further.”
“The voluntary system in Bideford commenced in the year 1849-50 at a meeting convened by the Mayor (Mr W Wickham), and they found some names on the first Committee familiar to them still. A Dispensary was first opened in Buttgarden street, and thence removed to the Quay. In 1873 it was extended, the rules revised, and its sphere of usefulness widened by the addition of an Infirmary. The year 1887 saw the erection of the Meddon-street Hospital, and this was opened free of debt by the Mayor (the late Mr A G Duncan). In 1890 an Endowment Fund was created by a special effort which resulted in £1,650 being placed upon trust for the permanent maintenance of the Institution. In 1894 the children’s ward was added to the Hospital, and from that date to the present it had served a very useful purpose in the town and district. It might be interesting to know that the total number of patients treated from the foundation of the Dispensary in 1850 to December 31st, 1924, was approximately 44,000. Subscriptions and donations during the same period (omitting legacies) amounted to about £47,000. The inception of the present scheme began in 1919, and after many years of careful consideration, the Committee decided to acquire that beautiful site of about 5½ acres and to erect a modern hospital equipped to meet the requirements of present-day medical science."
In July 1924, the tender from Messrs Mardon, Ball and Co, at £15,072 was unanimously accepted. Two local firms – Glover and Son, and Ellis and Sons – were not successful.
25 November 1924
“The Ceremony of Laying the Foundation Stone of the New Bideford and District Hospital, in course of erection on the commanding site in Abbotsham Road, overlooking the estuary of the Torridge, will take place on Wednesday, December 10th, and the Right Hon. Lord Glane has kindly consented to lay the Stone. This important event will no doubt evoke renewed interest in, and appreciation of, the magnificent work of this voluntary Institution. It was started in 1849, first as a public Dispensary in a small house on the Bideford Quay, the outcome of a meeting requisitioned by influential residents of the district and convened by the then Mayor, the late Mr Wm. Wickham. The need for the provision of hospital beds soon became evident and, in Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Year of 1897, during the Mayoralty of the late Mr Alexander Greig Duncan, the Institution was transferred to the site in Meddon-Street. The Meddon-street premises, however, have long since become unsuitable and, for various reasons, now altogether undesirable for the purpose of a modern hospital. It was felt by many that to spend more money there would be short-sighted and unwise.”
Appeals for funding took many forms as this letter in March 1925 to the Editor from the Treasurer shows.
Mr E W S Bartlett (Chairman of the Hospital Management Committee and Bridge Trust) reported in June 1925 “the Bideford Hospital would be opened this year, and without hesitation it would be the most beautiful and up-to-date Institution in North Devon.”
Ernest William Smith Bartlett
In July 1925, the more mundane aspects of running the new establishment are apparent.
In August 1925 a campaign to raise a special fund the provision of a Children’s Ward at the new Hospital was successfully inaugurated at a largely attended and representative public meeting, called and presided over by Dr Toye. The meeting was a gratifying reflex of the public interest in the project, and augurs well for the successful issue of the effort. Before the close of the meeting the Mayor announced that about £100 had already been promised towards the £2,500 required.
25 August 1925
“The new Bideford and District Hospital is nearing completion and will be formally opened by Sir William Reardon Smith, Bart, on Wednesday, the 23rd of September, 1925.
"The hospital occupies an ideal position in the Abbotsham road, being placed on high ground, about five acres in extent, near the centre of the town and away from all dust and noise. The advantages of such surroundings to the sick and injured must prove of incalculable value, second only to the skill and devotion of the doctors and nurses. The wards (26 beds) situated on the ground floor, contain ample air space, with numerous windows on the east, south and west, and sun balconies on the south. There are in addition separate rooms (6 beds) for private patients. The nursing staff is well provided for, their quarters being placed away from the wards on the first floor of the north side of the building. Electric light, gas and central heating have been installed, and the sanitary arrangements are admirable, and as near perfection as possible."
22 September 1925 - Opening ceremony arrangements
“The official opening ceremony by Sir William Reardon Smith will take place at 2.30pm, and the Mayor and Corporation, representatives of neighbouring public authorities, and others taking part will proceed from the Town Hall to the Hospital in a Civic Procession, leaving the Town Hall at 1.45pm. Inhabitants along the route are asked to display as much decoration as possible. Those who have not already given their donation towards the cost of the Children’s Ward can obtain purses or envelopes for the purpose, at the entrance gates to the Hospital. Tea (tickets 1s) will be provided at the Hospital at the conclusion of the ceremony, and the Town Band will play selections. In the evening, to conclude the day’s rejoicings, a grand promenade concert and dance will be held in the Pannier Market at which it is hoped as many as possible will attend in fancy costume.”
29 September 1925
“Scenes of the greatest enthusiasm marked the official opening on Wednesday afternoon last, of the new Bideford and District Hospital, erected and equipped on an admirable and easily accessible site on the Abbotsham-road, at an approximate cost of £21,000. The foundation stone of the new Hospital was laid by Lord Glanely last December, whilst the opening was performed by another generous contributor to the funds and a native of the district Sir William Reardon Smith, Bart., now of Cardiff. Wednesday marked the consummation of a movement for which the general community of the neighbourhood have long laboured with enthusiasm and zeal, and the occasion was one of general rejoicing, as the attractive display of flags and bunting on public buildings, business establishments, and private houses in the town indicated. The weather was fortunately fine, and the opening ceremony, which was attended by many hundreds of people of all classes, took place in the open space in front of the main entrance of the building.
Groups of officials at the opening
It was an interesting feature of the opening ceremony that among those present was the youngest contributor, age 2 years, and the oldest, age 93. It was also mentioned that the workmen employed on the building had contributed weekly out of their wages to the Building Fund.
Mr E Bate and Master F Burnett
The new building
“Everyone who has been through the building has been impressed with its bright and cheerful interior. All the internal walls are finished broken white (pale cream) and the ward doors and operating theatre in white enamel. The corridors, kitchens, etc. are finished in French grey, and the skirtings throughout are a light metallic grey, while all the outside doors and iron work are painted a medium Brunswick green. Special attention has been paid to the warming of the operating theatre rooms to enable them to be heated at short notice at any time of the year. The hot water supply is carried out in copper tubes, and is circulated throughout the building to all draw-off points.”
“The Mayor of Bideford (Dr E J Toye) and Corporation, supported by representatives of neighbouring authorities including the Mayor of Torrington (Mr G M Doe) and the Chairman of Northam Urban District Council (Major General Sir J Murray Irwin, KCMG CB), Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Church Lads’ Brigade, etc. marched in procession to the new Hospital via the Quay, High-street, Buttgarden-street, Meddon-street, past the old hospital (where the nurse in charge, Miss Toussaint, had assembled with those of the patients who could be moved, on the entrance steps), through Old Town, and thence into Abbotsham-road. The whole route
A feature of the gathering was a large attendance of school children, as was very befitting in view of the special and very praiseworthy effort they have made in aid of the Children’s Ward Fund.
Opening Day Contributions
“School purses handed to Lady Smith were: Abbotsham, £6 11s; Appledore (Council) £10; Appledore (Council, Infants), £1; Appledore (Church), £8 10s; Bideford Old Town, £14; Bideford Geneva Girls and Infants, £13 5s; Bideford Church Girls, £6 6s; Bideford Church Infants, £3 13s 6d; Bideford East-of-Water Infants, £3 10s; Buckland Brewer, £11 2s 6d; Buckland Brewer, Thornhillhead, £6 2s 6d; Bucks, St Annes, £2 1s 6d; Bradworthy, £9 14s; Clovelly, £38 10s 6d; Frithelstock, £6 11s; Hartland, (Council), £19; Hartland (Elmscott), £6 18s 3d; Hartland (Meddon), £5 10s; Littleham, £6; Monkleigh, £4 10s; Northam (Mixed), £13 7s; Northam (Infants), 10s; Parkham, £12 5s 6d; Putford (East and West), £1 18s 6s; Weare Giffard, £4 10s; and Woolsery, £5 5s; making a total from the Schools of £220 11s 9d. Other purses included Newton St Petrock (not yet completed); Primrose League Buds, per Mrs Stent, £5; Clovelly whist drive and donations from Mrs Hamlyn, £10 10s; and Ye Amyas Leigh Lodge, RAOB, £1 5s; making with the above, £237 6s 9d.
Contributions through Mr R Butler including: Mr Swain’s collecting box, £9 11s 8d; Mr Shute’s collecting box, £10 2s; Mrs Nicholls’ (Lady Nurse), £2 0s 9d; Messrs Baglow, Braddick and Roy Ellis (organ), £10 19s 9d; Mr C Matthews (third box), £2 10s 4d; Master Jack Rattenbury, £3 3s 6d; proceeds of dance in market, £14 13s 9d; collecting sheet at Hospital Hate, in charge of Messrs J H Osborn and W J Barry, £14 13s 8d; Doll competition (Misses Lake and Sluman tied, name Stella) £1 17s 1d; total £69 12s 6d.”
Later in the month, the Committee thanked the people of Bideford and District...
Children’s Ward Auction Sale
"Bideford and District has responded splendidly, as usual, to the various appeals for funds to enable the new Hospital to begin its work free of debt, but more remains to be accomplished during the next few weeks before that result can be attained. Among the schemes adopted by the Building Committee a Sales by Auction effort is being organised in Bideford and Parkham. Circulars explaining the scheme have been distributed as widely as possible inviting residents to contribute articles of any kind for such sales. The auctioneers in the town have offered their services gratuitously, and remittance of cash and offers of goods are being received.”
Maybe your family contributed to the Children’s Ward Appeal Fund? An article dated 29 September 1925 identifies those who have contributed.
And by October of that year, the sum has increased.
In that same month, Miss Blacker of Cleave, Northam, wins a ‘words competition’ arranged by Mrs Hinchliff of Instow – her prize is £2 2s.
In February 1927, it was reported at the annual meeting of Bideford Hospital that “satisfaction was expressed that the new hospital and equipment, which had cost a total of £24,273, had been paid for, and there was no liability in regard to the building. The Committee’s 76th annual report stated the past year had been to some extent experimental owing to the new conditions set up by the removal from Meddon-street to the newly-equipped premises in Abbotsham-road. Ordinary expenditure increased by 45 per cent but a good deal of outlay on new equipment was not likely to be repeated for some time. Subscriptions were 3 per cent below last year’s figure, but showed an increase on 1924 and all previous years. All other sources of income showed a gratifying increase upon 1925. A special feature of the new hospital was the setting apart of certain rooms as private wards, for which a charge of £3 3s per week was made, exclusive of drugs, dressings, etc. and of any charge which might be made by the doctor for treatment and attendance. These had been taken full advance of by patients desiring privacy.