Newsham Park Hospital

[Kev]

Isn't there already a thread for this, anyways......

A DERELICT Liverpool hospital at the centre of a restoration row is up for sale.

Campaigners have fought for years for Newsham Park hospital, a landmark on the ECHO’s Stop the Rot hitlist, to be regenerated.

Now the grade II listed Liverpool site is being marketed by owner Gateway Properties.

But Tuebrook councillor Steve Radford today said he was fed up with a lack of action and wanted to set the wheels in motion which could lead to compulsory purchase of the building.

He said: “We’ve had three or four planning applications in the past and we’re frustrated.

“Unless the council moves rapidly towards a CPO I believe the building will be lost.”

Cllr Berni Turner, the city’s executive member for the environment, met Cllr Radford and Newsham Park campaigners this week.

She said: “We’ve now got a clearly defined strategy to move forward, and the owners need to understand we’re not prepared to let this building sit and rot – we’ll take whatever steps necessary to bring it back to life.”

In a separate twist, council conservation chiefs said they were planning to write to Gateway demanding a series of repairs to the site.

If the company fails to comply, a formal repairs notice will be served which could also pave the way to a CPO.

Last year Gateway Properties apologised at a Stop the Rot forum for the lack of action. Now it is marketing the Orphan Drive building.

But one property company, Manchester-based Opal Property Group, which has looked at the site, says the scale of renovation would be “exceedingly difficult without sig-nificant public funding.”

Previous plans have included building flats on the site to make the restoration financially viable.

A council spokesman said: “We anticipate any plan would require enabling development in the grounds to make it financially viable.”

catherinejones@liverpoolecho.co.uk

[Paul D]

I really hope this building is restored,it's sad seeing it in its dormant state.

[snappel]

I don't remember seeing a thread, at least not in the 'developments' section. About time something was done with the place. I had a chat with the caretaker there a while back, and although there are smashed windows here and there, the place is reasonably secure.

[PhilipG]

Kev.
I don't think there is a separate thread, but there were quite a few posts in the Postcard thread, which changed its name to this:
http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2741&highlight=newsham+park&page=4

[steveb]

This has been going on for years. Last year the owners were told that they
had 2 months to start renovations or the council would step in.
The building has a live in caretaker, who has a BIG! dog. I have seen inside
and it is fantastic very little damage and it would be a shame if flats were
built on the site. Gateway properies were hoping to sell the site but would
be buyers want the land, not really interested in the building unless they
get millions in grants, yet another Liverpool building under threat.

[snappel]

Yeah, the caretaker caught me when I was having a sniff around! Sound guy though when he realised I wasn't up to anything bad.

I'm just glad that there are people campaigning for it's preservation. So many of the old Victorian institutions have been demolished over the last few decades. Plus I'm a fan of Waterhouse's architecture, and it would be a total waste to have that replaced by some shoddy modern flats.

[steveb]

Yeah, the caretaker caught me when I was having a sniff around! Sound guy though when he realised I wasn't up to anything bad.

I'm just glad that there are people campaigning for it's preservation. So many of the old Victorian institutions have been demolished over the last few decades. Plus I'm a fan of Waterhouse's architecture, and it would be a total waste to have that replaced by some shoddy modern flats.

Yes he is OK. I was fortunate to go with a group of people for a look
inside, it like a time warp, most of the internal doors are boarded so access
to the wards etc is impossible and of course with the bobby shop next door.
People often confuse the building by calling it Newsham hospital, when it
is the Park hospital, Newsham general, now well demolished was off Belmont
Rd and was a massive ex workhouse, I did my hospital radio stint there in the
late 70,s. I will when time permits go and see the caretaker as I wasn't
allowed to photo the inside..

[Cadfael]

Same old story.

Council takes control over a building and leaves it to rot away for 20 years.

Suddenly it is too far gone to be saved and has to be demolished.

Flats suddenly spring up on the site, and the council go and polish their gold plated taps in their office.

Grade 1/2 listed doesn't mean a jot these days.

[steveb]

Same old story.

Council takes control over a building and leaves it to rot away for 20 years.

Suddenly it is too far gone to be saved and has to be demolished.

Flats suddenly spring up on the site, and the council go and polish their gold plated taps in their office.

Grade 1/2 listed doesn't mean a jot these days.

This is just the point, Park hospital is in very good condition hardly any
damage at all, unlike some buildings that, like you rightly say have been
left to rot, look at the old deva hospital, slowly falling to bits.
Now is then time to do something, not umm and arrr like the council does.

[drone_pilot]

This is a loverly building, but theres all ready been a fire in some of the out buildings, how much longer before its the main building.
http://www.militaryimages.net/ims/pic/5JMbGx/5.jpg

[drone_pilot]

Heres a close up of the damage.

http://www.militaryimages.net/ims/pic/5JMbGx/6.jpg

[snappel]

I believe that's the boiler house, although it was originally a swimming bath for the orphans.

[steveb]

I believe that's the boiler house, although it was originally a swimming bath for the orphans.

You are correct, there was a swimming pool for boys only. Some of the out
buildings were training workshops for the orphans to teach them a trade
such as boot making and carpentry

[Gnomie]

that is one place i would love to look around

[Kev]

What I've learned so far about this building's history is amazing.

[Gnomie]

One of my ancestors was there after being wounded in WW1

[caterina]

When was Belmont Hospital the old Workhouse demolished please i had a Great Gran in there according to records . ?


Caterina.:)

[steveb]

When was Belmont Hospital the old Workhouse demolished please i had a Great Gran in there according to records . ?


Caterina.:)

Newsham General belmont road was demolished around 1988

[caterina]

Steve b thanks for that information in 1901 census my ggrran was in there..


Caterina .:)

[Steven Corcoran]

The Liverpool Seamen?s Orphan Institution was established in order to provide care and education for the many Liverpool children who lost families at sea. A group of Liverpool merchants and ship-owners funded the establishment of the orphanage in 1869, in a temporary rented building on Duke Street and in 1870 Liverpool City Council donated land next to Newsham Park and a large building was erected to house and educate the orphans.

It was opened in 1874. And in 1876 Queen Victoria visited, giving her royal seal. The building had separate wings for boys and girls but shared dining facilities, hospital and classrooms. All orphans were taught reading and writing, in addition girls learnt knitting and needlework and boys were instructed in carpentry and swimming.

The Institution also made an agreement with the ?Indefatigable? training ship, to train boys after leaving the orphanage. During World War II, the orphans were evacuated to Frankby, Wirral but returned to Newsham Park in 1948. In 1949 the decision was made to close it down and in 1951 the building was sold to the Ministry of Health and turned into a hospital which itself closed in 1988 has been left derelict till this time

Despite the closure of the orphanage, the institution still exists and continues to provide support for Liverpool families.

C?mon lets all make this happen.
Facebook : Newsham park community development association.
Looking at the past hoping to regenerate the future.
Sorry for spamming you guys probably know this delete whats appropriate

[Johnny Robbo]

I had an uncle who, along with his sister, spent about 8 years in the Seamens Orphanage in the 1900's after their father was drowned at sea. They were described as "Inmate Scholars" in the 1911 Census. Another ancestor was an Officer working at the Institution.

As Steve C mentioned, the Institution still operates, these days from an office in Tower Buildings. Most of the orphanage records including the Register of Inmates are now held at the Merseyside Record Office in the Maritime Museum at Albert Dock. These records are generally only accessible with the prior written consent of the Institution but consent will normally be forthcoming for bona fide family researchers.

I did not realise that the orphanage had its own pool where the boys were taught to swim. Quite an asset in those days and possibly a recognition that most boys were only there because their fathers had drowned. This probably accounts for why my uncle was the best swimmer in our family and did the cross-river swim on several occasions.

Johnny Robbo

[Steven Corcoran]

[QUOTE=Johnny Robbo;205519]I had an uncle who, along with his sister, spent about 8 years in the Seamens Orphanage in the 1900's after their father was drowned at sea. They were described as "Inmate Scholars" in the 1911 Census. Another ancestor was an Officer working at the Institution.

As Steve C mentioned, the Institution still operates, these days from an office in Tower Buildings. Most of the orphanage records including the Register of Inmates are now held at the Merseyside Record Office in the Maritime Museum at Albert Dock. These records are generally only accessible with the prior written consent of the Institution but consent will normally be forthcoming for bona fide family researchers.

I did not realise that the orphanage had its own pool where the boys were taught to swim. Quite an asset in those days and possibly a recognition that most boys were only there because their fathers had drowned. This probably accounts for why my uncle was the best swimmer in our family and did the cross-river swim on several occasions.

Johnny Robbo[/QUOTE

The boiler house was the swimming baths and was opened in 1900 so the outer building is victorian and i would imagine Grade II listed which is a plus, we have approached a solicitors to get in touch with building owners which will be no easy feat, and are actively looking for people to get involved with the project at committee level from the outset if you can spare a little time get in touch. So hopefully we will have some movement with the project in 2010

All the best for the new year

[Steven Corcoran]

After a meeting with Steven Twigg the labour candidate for West Derby, has said he will ask English Herritage to get a small fund together to condudct a full site survey, and find out the costing's to restore this building, after a meeting we held last week we now have architectural drawings of the building complex and can start to put together a business plan.

We will hopefully have contact with the building owners in a week or two, and will be seeking permissions to enter the building complex.

Lets hope it all falls into place

[Steven Corcoran]

An interesting day yesterday went arround to my friends community center, and helped with a little bit of painting and filling in holes, during the course of the day he rang up one of the building owners and started a conversation, this lasted for some time and it appears the owners of the property are willing to give the association space within the building to operate out of we have to draw up our proposals and email them over, this will be an interesting journey.

Whilst this is early days it gives the Association a chance to develop ties with the building owners and get the community behind the project and put our vision accross.

[wsteve55]

good luck steve!

[steveb]

Hi
again in Anfield Cem are numerous double headstones marking the communal graves
of orphans from the Seamens Orphanage.
Mail me direct if anyone want's copies of photo,s taken by me
Steve(friends of anfield cemetery)