Barnes Hospital, Cheadle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barnes Hospital |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
The restored and redeveloped hospital in 2020
|
|
| Former names | Barnes Convalescent Home |
| General information | |
| Status | Converted into apartments |
| Type | Former hospital |
| Architectural style | French Gothic Revival |
| Location | Cheadle, Greater Manchester, England |
| Coordinates | 53°23′50″N 2°13′24.7″W / 53.39722°N 2.223528°W |
| Construction started | 1871 |
| Completed | 1875 |
| Renovated | 1893, 1945 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Lawrence Booth |
| Designations | |
|
Listed Building – Grade II
|
|
| Official name: Barnes Hospital | |
| Designated: | 12 November 1999 |
| Reference #: | 1379609 |
_2.jpg)
Barnes Hospital is a famous old building in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, England. It used to be a hospital but is now apartments. The building is located near major roads like the M60 and M56 motorway. It is a Grade II listed building, which means it's protected because of its special history and design.
Completed in 1875, the hospital is a great example of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture. It stands on a small hill, making it a well-known landmark. The hospital closed in 1999. Even though it was protected, it became empty and started to fall apart. Today, the old hospital building has been turned into flats. It is the main part of a new housing area called Barnes Village.
Contents
What is the History of Barnes Hospital?
Why was Barnes Hospital built?
In the 1860s, there was a growing need for places where people could recover after being sick. This was partly thanks to Florence Nightingale and her work in nursing. A kind person named Joseph Adshead wanted to build a recovery hospital in Manchester. After he passed away in 1861, another hospital, Manchester Royal Infirmary, rented a place called Cheadle Hall. They used it as a recovery hospital. Cheadle was chosen because it was in the countryside, away from the smoky factories of Manchester.
In 1869, a rich local businessman named Robert Barnes gave £10,000 to start a new recovery hospital in Cheadle. He had made his money in the cotton trade in Manchester. Robert Barnes had also been the mayor of Manchester from 1851 to 1853. He later gave even more money, bringing his total gift to £26,000. Another donor, Humphrey Nicholls, gave £10,000.
When was Barnes Hospital built?
Building the Barnes Convalescent Home started in 1871 and finished in 1875. It was made from bricks, using clay found nearby. The hospital had 132 beds for patients. While they were building, workers found pieces of three old stone crosses in 1874. One of these crosses, from the 10th or 11th century, is now at St Mary's Church, Cheadle. The other pieces were from even older crosses.
How did the hospital operate?
The hospital often cost more money to run than it made. However, in 1925, it was agreed that this allowed more patients to be treated at the main Manchester Royal Infirmary. Around this time, electricity and running water were added. When a bone and joint department was set up at the infirmary, many patients needing long-term care came to Barnes. The hospital also added lifts, an operating room, an X-ray department, and areas for physical and occupational therapy.
During World War II, Barnes Hospital helped wounded soldiers recover. It also treated people with serious illnesses like tuberculosis in separate isolation wards. In its later years, the hospital mainly cared for older people and those who had strokes. It's thought that tens of thousands of patients were treated there over 115 years.
When did Barnes Hospital close?
Barnes Hospital closed in September 1999. This happened because the health trust running it needed to save money. In the same year, the hospital was given its Grade II listed status to protect it. After closing, the hospital temporarily housed many refugees from Kosovo. Later, in 2007, about 100 Romani families briefly stayed on the site.
The hospital building was sold in 2001. For several years, the owners let the building become empty and damaged. It was later sold to another company, who planned to build 128 homes around the hospital.
What is the Architecture of Barnes Hospital?
_(5450751016).jpg)
The Barnes Convalescent Hospital was built between 1871 and 1875. The architect was Lawrence Booth. It is known for its unique design and was one of the first hospitals built specifically for recovery. The building has a cross shape and is in the French Gothic Revival style. It is made of red and blue bricks, with stone and terracotta decorations. The roofs are covered with Welsh slate.
The building has fancy brickwork, pointed arches, and decorative roof tiles. On the west side, there is a tall clock tower. It has clock faces on each side and a high top section with an ornamental iron crown. Changes were made to the building in 1893 and again between 1939 and 1945.
A famous architectural guide described the building as "large, Gothic and grim." When it was empty, people called it a "great gaunt pile of a building, abandoned and all dark at night."
Has Barnes Hospital been a Filming Location?
Barnes Hospital has been used for filming movies and TV shows.
- In 1974, the Spanish director Jorge Grau used it for his horror film, Let Sleeping Corpses Lie. The hospital was made to look like a spooky morgue in Manchester.
- In September 2005, the building was shown on the paranormal TV series, Most Haunted Live.
What is Barnes Village?
Work began in 2015 to redevelop the site. This included turning the old hospital building into apartments. The new housing development is now known as Barnes Village.
See also
- Listed buildings in Cheadle and Gatley
- Healthcare in Greater Manchester
- List of hospitals in England
