[Please Not - These image have been moved and can be found: HERE]
The Royal Liverpool Infirmary (designed by Alfred Waterhouse) closed in 1978 and was unused until 1994 when the University of Liverpool bought
it. Some of it is used as department/lecture buildings, there is a doctors surgery at the front and some other admin offices, and a conference
center.
I noticed not long ago that a large proportion of the building was unused, and it looked particularly interesting with its Gothic architecture
and circular ward blocks. With some help, I managed to get a look inside in March this
year...
By the time the infirmary was built, the area around Brownlow Hill, Brownlow Street and Pembroke Place had become a 'medical quarter' - here had
existed the first two Liverpool Infirmaries along with the lunatic asylum and maternity hospital. Also the nearby School of Medicine and nurses homes
presented more reasons to build the new infirmary here.
![](http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/rli/Dscf9890.jpg)
One of the main corridors running across the hospital
When finished in 1889, the hospital included an impressive range of facilities. These included a
chapel, mortuary, administration block, kitchens eight pavilion-style wards and two blocks of circular
wards.
The hospital was extended
in 1909-1911 with the addition of the outpatients department. Although not designed by Waterhouse, it was created in the same style, and today nicely matches
the former administration block.
During the design stage, Waterhouse had consulted with Florence Nightingale who was of the opinion that ventilation
was of upmost importance. Consequently all the wards were designed with this in mind, using a draft system to draw fresh air from the outside into the ward
and then up through an outer flue in the fire place. The rather unique circular ward blocks were created to give more room and light to patients, and one of
these blocks remains in 'original' condition.
![](http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/rli/Dscf9973.jpg)
A ward in the circular
'F' block
![](http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/rli/Dscf9942.jpg)
Standard pavilion-style 'Nightingale' ward
The
interior of the infirmary was beautifully decorated with glazed brickwork, and is similar in style to the Tate Hall in the University of Liverpool's
Victoria Building (also designed by Waterhouse).
![](http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/rli/Dscf9931.jpg)
Entrance to ward
1
![](http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/rli/Dscf9940.jpg)
Missing floor in 'B' block
Of particular interest in the
hospital are the bed plaques. Originally the hospital was voluntarily run, and so funding was a problem. Wealthy Liverpudlians sometimes made donations to
the hospital, sponsoring a bed. The remaining wall-mounted plaques give us a clue as to who was being treated in the hospital at various times. Unfortunately
some of the plaques were damaged when the hospital was taken over by the NHS - when fitting wall lamps, they simply drilled and screwed into the
plaques!
![](http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/rli/Dscf9916.jpg)
Plaque showing donation by Bruce Ismay, Chief Engineer on
Titanic
![](http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/rli/Dscf9934.jpg)
Dennis Bayley Fund donation
Some evidence of
sanitation facilities remains, with some toilets and a rather eerie looking shower still there. Aside from this, most fittings have been removed from the
hospital, including the mortuary and chapel
interiors.
I expect before long the rest of the hospital will be converted, so I hope to try and get back in there. Although the University
are preserving the original brickwork and layout, it will never be quite the same. I just wish I'd had a look round in 1994 when it was still totally
empty...
Thanks to the 'Liverpool Royal Infirmary - A History' booklet produced by the University of Liverpool for
information
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