Manchester Hospital for Consumption Bowdon

MANCHESTER HOSPITAL FOR CONSUMPTION & DISEASES OF THE THROAT - Our readers will remember that new out-patient department of this hospital was opened by the Right Hon. the Earl of Derby last October. The work had outgrown the original premises John-street, and the committee were obliged to buy land and build in Hardman-street. Following out the scheme of extension new wards have been on course of erection for the past 12 months at Bowdon, an addition to St. Anne's Home, which was purchased two years ago as an inpatient department. The old building was capable of accommodating only 18 patients the most, and was found to be entirely inadequate to meet the wants of the poor people seeking admission. The two new wards just finished are each fitted with 10 beds, and are intended one for men and one for women. They are constructed on the newest principles, and are each 50ft. long by 24ft. wide, affording about 120 ft. of floor space and 2,000 cubic feet per bed ; bathrooms, lavatories, and nurses rooms arranged en suite. The new building is faced with terra cotta moulded blocks, which give it warm and comfortable appearance, and is connected with the old building by means of a covered way, which in itself forms little promenade in wet weather. The chief novelty, however, is the sun-room, which somewhat resembles a greenhouse, and is arranged in an angle of the building to face due south. This building fitted with seats for the patients, and is entered by a staircase from the wards. Here the patients will get all the sun that shines and will at the same time be protected from the cold winds. Fresh air warmed by pipes is admitted into the wards all round the skirting. The pipes being hung underneath the floor where the cold air is admitted, necessarily promote ventilation, and it is thought that the air in the wards will thus be chanced about three times in the hour. Pipes connection with the boilers are also arranged the roof to promote ventilation in summer when the wards do not require to be heated. The system of controlling the ventilation is perhaps novel. By means of a single handle, in each ward, the nurse in charge can open or shut the whole of the ventilators. A thermometer is fixed just above each handle, so that the amount of cold air passing over the warm pipes may be regulated, to keep the wards at any desired temperature. order to bring the sitting and dining room accommodation the same proportion as the sleeping accommodation, a new dining-room about 35 feet long by 18 feet wide, with large bays, has had to be added, and the kitchen has been extended. These additions were much wanted, and greatly improve the building. The whole of the extensions, now furnished complete, were informally opened on Wednesday, the 23rd inst., and the patients will begin to use them at once. The architects for the buildings are Messrs. Tate and Popplewell, of Manchester, the contractor, Mr. Lambert, of Altrincham, and the furniture for the extension has been entirely supplied by Messrs. S. Okell and Son, of Altrincham. These new buildings are a gift to the institution, but it need hardly be said that the committee are urgently want of increased annual subscriptions of about £1,000 to maintain the additional patients. It may be added that the medical staff are well satisfied with the progress of their patients at Bowdon. [ Manchester Courier 25 February 1887 page 3]

BOWDON - Two new wards have been added to St. Anne's Hospital for Consumption at Bowdon, near Manchester, and were opened on Wednesday week. They are each furnished with ten beds, and are each 50ft. long by 24ft. wide, affording about 120ft. of floor space and 2,000 cubic feet per bed. Bath-rooms, lavatories, and nurses' rooms are arranged en-suite. The new block is faced with terracotta moulded blocks, and is connected with the old building by means of a covered way. A novelty is the sun-room, which somewhat resembles a greenhouse, and is arranged in an angle of the building to face due south. This building is fitted with seats for the patients and is entered by staircases from the wards. Fresh air warmed by pipes is admitted into the wards all round the skirting. By means of a single handle in each ward the nurse in charge can open or shut the whole of the ventilators. A new dining-room about 35ft. long by 18ft. wide, with large bays, has been added, and the kitchen has been extended. The architects are Messrs. Tate and Popplewell, of Manchester, and the contractor Mr. William Lambert, of Altrincham. [Building News 11 March 1887 page 374]

Reference        Manchester Courier 25 February 1887 page 3
Reference        Building News 11 March 1887 page 374