New End Hospital (formerly Hampstead Union Workhouse and Infirmary)
Author(s): Colin Thom
An important and historic site, containing a variety of purpose-built poor-law and medical buildings of several periods and types. These reflect significant developments in hospital planning and design, and relate closely to contemporary legislation. The oldest structure on the site, built in 1849-50 as Hampstead Union Workhouse, was designed by H. E. Kendall. A large, symmetrical Italianate block, it is the best surviving example of the workhouses built in London under the Poor Law Act of 1834. It is listed Grade 2. To this was added, in 1869, a dispensary and an infirmary, both designed by John Giles, and both embodying the changing emphasis at that time from provision of care for the destitute to provision of care for the sick and infirm, as expressed in the Metropolitan Poor Act of 1867. The narrow wards and tall windows of the infirmary betray the influence of Florence Nightingale's ideas on hospital planning. The infirmary was extended in 1878, again by John Giles. The most notable structure on the site is Charles Bell's circular ward tower of 1884-5, the first large-scale, free-standing example of its type in the country. It provided three floors of wards, each 50 feet in diameter, and each capable of holding 24 beds positioned radially against the outer wall. This building is also listed Grade 2. A further infirmary block, designed by K. D. Young, was added to the west of the workhouse and dispensary, facing New End, in 1896. Administered as a general hospital, known as New End Hospital, under both the London County Council (LCC) and the National Health Service (NHS), the buildings are currently empty and awaiting redevelopment.
- Report Number:
- 95/1992
- Series:
- RCHME
- Pages:
- 8
