The original caption may contain language which is historic and which may no longer be considered appropriate. It has been retained in the record in the interest of historical accuracy.
The caption on the reverse of the photograph reads: “Botley’s Park Hospital, Chertsey, Surrey. Picture shows the special rack in the room adjoining the children’s ward, which is used for storing the soap, towels, brush and comb, etc. of the little patient.”
At the outbreak of the Second World War, the Emergency Medical Service opened Botleys Park Emergency Hospital in the site of the Botleys Park Hospital, opened in 1932 as the ‘Botleys Park Colony for Mental Defectives’. Half of the accommodation of the Colony was requisitioned by the Ministry of Health, and fifteen huts in two rows along a central sloped ‘corridor’, later covered, were built in the grounds to provide approximately 500 extra beds. More huts contained X-ray, Physiotherapy, and Occupational Therapy Departments. The mansion of Botleys Park, previously adapted to be used as classroom, workshops, medical blocks, and the nurses’ home, accommodated nursing staff from St Thomas’ and St George’s Hospitals. Civilian patients from St Thomas’ and St James’ Hospital were transferred to the Botleys Park Emergency Hospital, and later servicemen from France were treated. Following the end of the Second World War the Emergency Hospital was renamed St Peter’s Hospital, and occupied the northeast corner of the Botleys Park estate whilst the original Botleys Park Hospital remained to the southwest. St Peter’s Hospital joined the NHS, and the hutted wards were gradually upgraded before the site was redeveloped. Today, St Peter’s Hospital continues to operate: most of the huts have been demolished but the central covered corridor remains. See also MED01/01/1246-1249 and MED01/01/1251-1255. High-resolution copies of this image are available for free for non-commercial use. Please Enquire to place an order.
This is part of the Series: MED01/01 Series of prints; within the Collection: MED01 Topical Press Agency Medical Collection
Source: Historic England Archive
Photographer: Topical Press Agency Limited
Photographer: Harrison, Norman Kingsley
Childrens Ward, Second World War, Health And Welfare
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