Standish Hospital, England

Standish Hospital once stood amidst the rolling hills of Gloucestershire, southern England. Starting out as a manor house, it saw a variety of medical uses over the subsequent decades. I visited the hospital in 2020, by which time redevelopment work was already starting. Unfortunately, the buildings were mostly empty, but there was some beautiful decay and stark empty wards.

History of Standish Hospital

Originally, it was a grand 16th-century country house surrounded by parkland called Standish House. As the years unfolded, the site shifted from residence to medical. Firstly, the private manor served her country during World War One, serving as a Red Cross hospital. The hospital had hundreds of beds but only eight nurses. The rest of the staff and support came from volunteers. The hospital treated over 2,000 soldiers during the Great War.

In the poverty-stricken post-war period, tuberculosis emerged as a rampant threat across England. In 1922, Standish House embarked on a new chapter, becoming a sanatorium to battle this disease. As of yet, there were no effective drugs to treat the disease. Patients would recuperate in fresh air, along with rest and nutritional meals. The hospital’s tranquil setting and fresh air offered a glimmer of hope for those battling the debilitating illness.

After the birth of the National Health Service in 1947, the hospital widened its services and began treating a broader range of medical specialties. Specifically, orthopaedics, rheumatology, and respiratory care. Eventually, in 1953, the name was changed to Standish House Chest Hospital. The hospital’s doors welcomed patients from the surrounding towns and villages, including former coal miners from the Forest of Dean.

The NHS underwent a major reorganisation in 1970s and 1980s, and the hospital enjoyed some modernisations. However, the first proposals to close the hospital emerged in 1992. In 2004, these plans were confirmed, and the hospital closed.

Redevelopment into residential

A private developer purchased the 31-hectare site in 2017, who is redeveloping the site for residential use. Most of the buildings are already demolished, and a few have already been converted. The redevelopment completion date is 2025.