Clacton and District Hospital, Clacton-on-Sea (EHER 15639)

Clacton and District Hospital, formerly the Clacton and District Cottage Hospital. Cottage hospital of 1898. Two-storey with one-storey wings and sanitary annexes flanking the entrance. The operating theatre was to the rear of the women's ward. It was enlarged in 1926, 1930 and 1936.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. The Clacton and District Cottage Hospital was erected in 1899 to plans prepared by J.W. Martin as a memorial to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. Lying within the core of the complex the original building has a T-shaped plan, with a two-storey central range, flanked by single-storey four-bed south-east facing wards. The operating theatre was to the rear of the women's ward. Built in red stock brick the south facing entrance range comprises five-bays, of which three project forward. The main entrance is in the central two-storey bay and contains a gauged round headed arch with stopped and moulded edges above a large plain fanlight; this provides access to the out-patients department. At first-floor level is an oriel window containing twin light sashes with an embossed construction date of 1899 in plaster-work below. Each of the projections has open timber gable ends surmounted by terracotta finials (broken) and clay ridge bonnets. The roofs are tiled and rest on oversailing eaves supported by timber brackets. Bay windows with segmental heads and large sash windows light the wards; these are flanked by tall sashes with timber aprons. A two-storey administration/accommodation block with a mansard roof extends to the rear of the central range; this contains both gabled and round dormer windows. Two further wings, erected in 1926 to plans prepared by A. Sykes F.R.I.B.A, flank the original buildings of the south facing range. Built in a similar architectural style they contain three-bay six-bed wards with hipped roofs, large sash windows (now replaced), stone lintels and stone sills. The rear range with the mansard roof was also extended. The hospital was again enlarged in 1935 with the addition of the ‘Jubilee Extension’; a three-storey ward block with a reception/administration wing erected to the rear of the Victorian ranges. Built in an Art-Deco style, the nine-bay two-storey flat-roofed entrance block became the new focus of the hospital. A recessed square headed porch with a decorative surround in brick and tile, and unusually long bricks laid as soldiers in its head became the main entrance. Above the porch is a stone plaque with the inscription ‘CLACTON AND DISTRICT HOSPITAL. 1935, SILVER JUBILEE EXTENSION’ and below, a rectangular fanlight with an intricate geometric design. Large segmental windows with replacement modern glazing light both storeys, while at roof level is a plain parapet wall with an elevated central section surmounted by a flagpole. Two-storey sanitary annexes with shaped parapets flank the entrance block; these are linked to the three-storey wards and a lift shaft/boiler stack stands to the rear. The ranges erected in the 1920s-30s contain modern extensions. A single-storey ward/physiotherapy block has been built along the western boundary and further buildings have been added to the east beside the original range. <1>.<2> See also <3>