Former Rochford Hospital (EHER 15012)

Rochford Hospital originated on the site of the Rochford Union Workhouse (EHER 15383) as the hospital was initially established in the infirmary buildings of the workhouse. Several buildings already occupied the northern site including female wards (1901-1937), surgical wards (1926-1930) and an operating theatre/x-ray department (1926-1930). In 1937 plans for an ambitious extension scheme were approved by the Ministry of Health; they included a 64 bed childrens block, the initial phase of the maternity block, a tuberculosis isolation building and nurses accommodation. The hospital closed in the 1990s and some of the building were demolished.

Rochford Hospital comprises a series of buildings across the hospital site. The earliest of these was the Rochford Union Workhouse (EHER 15383), which has been demolished. Information formerly contained in this record but pertaining to the workhouse has been transferred into EHER 15383. Some parts of the hospital are Listed at Grade II and recorded separately, as follows: The Johnson Isolation Unit, EHER 26402 The Main Block comprising the Broom and Dowsett Wards: EHER 26403 The Hospital Boiler House: EHER 26404 The former workhouse Chapel: EHER 26426. 1998. Building survey as part of comparative study of modern/industrial sites and monuments. Rochford Hospital embraces the functionalist principles of the International architectural style, combined with a developed form of the more traditional pavilion plan; the widespread use of sun and open-air treatment is also evident. The Samuel Johnson TB isolation block, with its arrowhead plan, is thought to be nationally unique. Following closure in the 1990s the listed buildings (the main range, power house and isolation block) have been sympathetically converted to new uses including private flats and homes for the elderly. The Hospital: SITE DESCRIPTION: Rochford Hospital includes buildings associated with the administration of the 1834 New Poor Law and these have been fully considered in a previous survey of Essex Poor Law Buildings (Garratt 1998). The current assessment examines the later buildings at the northern end of the site and in particular, those associated with the ‘Hospital Extension Scheme’. Several buildings already occupied the northern site including female wards (1901-1937), surgical wards (1926-1930) and an operating theatre/x-ray department (1926-1930). Further buildings were to be erected, but it was not until 1937 that plans for an ambitious extension scheme were approved by the Ministry of Health; they included a 64 bed childrens block, the initial phase of the maternity block, a TB isolation building and nurses accommodation. Revisions to original plans were made primarily due to unavailability of materials and economies enforced by the outbreak of World War II, but the extensions were largely complete by 1940. With the formation of the NHS in 1948, the Southend Municipal Hospital (renamed the General Hospital, Rochford), was taken over by the Southend-on-Sea Management Committee who added 30 more beds and provided places for specialist consultants and resident medical staff. Although further extension work has occurred through to the present day, the second stage of extensions, envisaged in the 1930s by the Borough Corporation, were never implemented. The earlier buildings designed by Norman Evans were built of yellow stocks with blue brick treatment and red brick detailing; these have all been demolished. Those associated with the 1938-1947 ‘Hospital Extension Scheme’ are one- and two-storey, steel framed reinforced concrete structures with flat roofs and brick screen walls. Designed by architect F.W. Smith, the buildings are reminiscent of the International Style, although the brickwork and details such as the window framing, could more accurately be described as Moderne. The main ward block (EHER 26403) is a symmetrical two-storey range with south facing wards, superficially based on the pavilion plan; the range is dominated by four, south projecting eight-bed wards terminating with semi-circular sun lounges with attached balconies and terraces. These provide ample amounts of sunlight and fresh-air which was seen as an important part of the curative process. To the rear of the ward blocks are sanitary and bathing blocks, with ward kitchens and staff offices included in a centrally placed rear range. Flanked by the four sun bays is the main entrance to the administration block and central rear courtyard, that is reached, via a driveway extending below the first-storey of the main ward blocks (Herbert Dowsett and Margaret Broom wards). The main doorway is approached via a set of concrete steps flanked by semi-circular planters and is set below the first-floor balcony of the doctors common room. The entrance hall, is decorated with pale brown granite terrazzo with pale green detailing, and joins a main east-west corridor that extends the length of the block, linking to the operating theatre to the west and x-ray department to the east. A modern extension connects the corridor to the surgical wards, operating theatres and Samuel Johnson block sited to the east. A two-storey childrens block with 64 beds was opened to the west of main entrance (Herbert Dowsett ward) in May 1943, but by 1960 part of the ward was used for adult treatment and eventually all the children were relocated to another hospital. The Margaret Broom maternity ward was of a similar layout to the Herbert Dowsett block with south-facing eight bed, three bed and single bed wards, but included an additional labour ward to the north and a modern premature baby unit to the east. To the north and rear of the administration block is a large dining hall, with washing-up and servery ranges to the east; high level windows and large skylights supply the maximum amount of natural light. To the north are the kitchens, which are laid out in a distinctive semi-circular design, with food preparation areas sited in open bays around the perimeter of the room. To the rear of the kitchens and linked by a corridor are the kitchen stores and garages. To the west of the site is a two-storey TB isolation block (Samuel Johnson building) (EHER 26402) with a single-storey pneumothorax unit to the rear. The TB block was constructed in a unique arrow shape and includes a circular sun lounge/day room at its apex with four bed wards extending to either side of a rear courtyard and service range. The stepped design of the wards, with their large south facing windows and the circular day room and sun balcony, allowed the optimum amount of light to permeate into the building. An open courtyard to the rear of the apex, which was enclosed on all sides by corridors, allowed patients to take air and benefit from sunlight whilst remaining in isolation. Although the building is now connected to the main hospital building it was originally detached. The pneumothorax unit was initially used for chest x-rays, but has since been converted into offices and a chapel. A large imposing power house (EHER 26404) stands to the rear of the hospital and dominates the surrounding landscape. The large rectangular section five-storey tower with central stack, is flanked by single- and two-storey ranges containing a boiler room, generator room, tank room, calorifiers and engineers workshops. The interior of the water tower is lit by five large attenuated windows, with smaller apertures above that are built into its eastern and western elevations up to the third-floor. A single-storey mortuary, comprising a morgue, post-mortem room, cold stores, offices and a chapel lies along the northern boundary of the site away from the main hospital buildings. Situated toward the north-western corner of the site was Dalys House, a three- and five-storey nurses home, with a training block to the rear; a detached matrons’ house stood nearby. Erected with a south facing aspect Dalys House was built in the same style and materials as the main complex. The building contained bedrooms for 155 nurses, common rooms, reading rooms, bathrooms, WCs and separate sisters' accommodation. Projecting from the rear of the central section was a large recreation hall/theatre that included a stage and terraced first-floor balcony. Following closure in the 1990s, plans were submitted to convert the listed buildings (the main range, power house and isolation block) into private flats and homes for the elderly; the remaining buildings were to be demolished. A detailed survey was undertaken of the entire complex prior to these works (Cooper-Reade 1996, 1998). <4> ARCHAEOLOGICAL POTENTIAL : All the necessary recording has been completed. SIGNIFICANCE: Rochford was intended to be a model hospital and may have been influenced by The Royal Masonic Hospital, London. It is highly significant in terms of hospital design, and in understanding the evolution of architectural and social developments during the 1930s and 1940s. The isolation block is thought to be nationally unique. CURRENT STATUS: The main hospital block, power house and Samuel Johnson isolation ward are listed Grade II. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Maintain existing status MANAGEMENT: Sympathetically converted to new uses, care needs to be taken to ensure that the buildings and their setting are preserved. No further recording necessary. Information from <1>. Rochford Hospital is an outstanding example of the International Modern Movement architectural style. It was designed by F.W. Smith in the 1930’s and built in the 1940’s. The most important buildings are the main hospital block, the isolation block, the nurses’ house and the boiler house. The nurse’s house has been demolished. <2> See also <3> <4>.