Newsham Park Hospital

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

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

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.

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/sho...am+park&page=4

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.

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.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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..

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.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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.

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

Heres a close up of the damage.

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

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snappel

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

that is one place i would love to look around

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

One of my ancestors was there after being wounded in WW1

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


Caterina.:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by caterina

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


Caterina.:)

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Newsham General belmont road was demolished around 1988

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


Caterina .:)

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

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=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

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

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.

good luck steve!

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)

The group is having a meeting on monday 10th @ St Cecelias Parish Club the end of green lane 8.pm to give roles and responsabilites to members, adopt a new constitution, and start to set up a website.

If there is anyone interested in getting involved with the project photos video media or any oral hostory that can be included, let us know.

http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/sho...Starter-for-10

The Liverpool Mercury Saturday July 31st 1900



Swimming At the Seaman’s Orphanage

The Lord Mayor (Mr. Louise S Cohen) Who was accompanied by the Lady Mayoress and Miss Cohen, yesterday performed in a very high temperature, the pleasing ceremony of opening the new swimming bath generously given to the Liverpool Seamen’s Orphanage , Newsham Park, by several staunch friends of the institution.

The bath, which is in every way up to date, $$$ that a spray remains to be added, measures $$$ by 26 feet, the floor bring graded so as to save waste of water, while at the same accommodating divers, novices, and polo $$$ keepers. Galleries at each end complete the structure, which is capitally lighted and ventilated the architect (Mr Culshaw) having produced a bath which is the admiration of experts.



The Opening was brief and bright. Mr R. G. Allan (chairman of the institution) having conducted the guests to the chief gallery amid the cheers of boys and girls who with the teachers lined the bath, said the committee were adding to moral and intellectual training a more complete provision for physical exercise.

The Lord Mayo, in declaring the bath open, gave the children a description of Lake Vyrnwy, the source of the water in the bath and thanked the generous donors in the name of the institution, for their noble gift. The costs of the bath had been about £3500 of which only £100 remained to be subscribed. The bath held 40,000 gallons of water, so that it would cost £1 for each refilling or $$$ a year. That would represent a serious charge on the institution, but the result would be $$$ worth the expenditure. At present some $$$ percent of the men in the British navy could not swim, a fact greatly to be deplored and doubtless the fathers of not a few orphans who passed through that excellent institution had lost their lives owing to their being unable to swim. He, himself was educated at an $$pensive school, but it had not the advantages of a swimming bath such as that free school now possessed, and therefore he did not learn to swim; but he had been surprised at the ease with which all his children had acquired under good tuition, the useful art.

He rejoiced that the Liverpool baths were so numerous and steadily increasing. Last year over 1.250,000 baths were taken in Liverpool public baths, while on Thursday each week 12,000 children were bathed free, and $$$ people paid for baths in conclusion he placed £5 in the hands of the chairman for swimming prizes at the Seaman’s Orphanage. (Enthusiastic applause from the boys and girls.)

On the motion of Mr. Arthur Earle $$$ by Mr. Charles Greenrow, the Lord Mayor was thanked.

A short program of water races followed, and the band of the institution under Band master G.C. Smith $$ (bandmaster of the 1st L.V.A.) played selections in the grounds/ The arrangements by Mr. Mylie (headmaster) Miss Wilson (head mistress). And Miss $$$ (Lady Superintendant) were excellent. Mr W. R. Court (baths engineer) to the Liverpool Corporation) was present, him having naturally taken great interest in the new departure. The bath can be occasionally utilised as an $$$$ gymnasium.

may be Culshaw & Sumners architects perhaps W Culshaw`s son

Born in Ormskirk in 1807, William Culshaw came to Liverpool in his mid twenties and had a prosperous career as an architect and surveyor. By the time of his death in 1874 he occupied a large house in Rodney Street, and left a fortune of almost £140,000. Much of his success seems to have come from surveying and valuing property in connection with the spread of the railways. His son Alfred continued the practice until 1916.

The buildings William designed were generally rather old-fashioned, but in 1861 he was joined by a younger architect, Henry Sumners (1825-95), who took over the design side of the business and made the firm’s work more lively. Sumners, the son of a boot-maker in Bold Street, trained locally. He then worked for a time in London with Sir Charles Barry, architect of the Houses of Parliament, before travelling in France and Italy. After 1873 he set up his own practice, St Cyprian’s Church on the corner of Edge Lane and Durning Road being one of his most notable remaining works from this time.

Culshaw & Sumners designed buildings of every type for the booming port, including numerous warehouses, shops and pubs, over thirty office blocks and more than fifty villas in the suburbs. Many of those that remain today are now Grade II listed buildings.

Some info I uncovered whilst in St Georges Hall big history show, took me awhile to digitise the images and thought best to get uploaded.

Constructive meeting last night some good news for Newsham and the Seamans Orphanage.

Could do with some help looking for records relating to articles published in the Tabloids of the day regarding support that was given from transatlantic Liners. if anyone has access to these as I dont have full internet access TVM if anyone can spare a little time.

Great info Steven. We had a great mooch in there and around the out buildings.

Any shots of inside the swimming pool ?

I'm afraid not. The caretakers alsation dogs seemed to be guarding that rather too zealously. :PDT_Xtremez_42:

lmao