Abandoned Hospitals

[Plain Talker]

Originally posted by tosh13

I used to go to whiteley woods special school 1968 due to a childhood disability,I had calipers on my legs & other schools would not accept disabled children back then,Newfield & Annes Road school,I went to whiteley woods for about 9 months & I was discharged by the childrens hospital & then I went to Newfield.I remember a school just down the road mainly for downs syndrome kids I think it was called Bents Green.

 

I know what you mean, tosh; there are still some schools which won't entertain a kid with a disability. In this day and age it is horrendous.

 

I know that not every child with a disability, particularly those with a severe learning disability, will benefit from inclusion in mainstream schooling. (often they might not be able to cope without the one-to-one intensive attention they need in the mainstream.) but i think that those kids who could benefit from it, ought to be able to.

 

Bents Green was a fantastic school, my sister went there because of her learning disabilities, it was just up the hill from Whiteley Woods, at Ringinglow, opposite the fire station.

 

The headmaster, Mr Bailey, was a giant of a man, both in stature and in heart and almost to a child, there, at that school was universally loved. Every child used to clamour for a hug from this great, cuddly bear of a man, before going into class.

 

This school did wonders for my sister and her learning disabilities, helping and encouraging her, and helping her reach standards which the doctors who dismissed her as a toddler would have been astounded at. She did so well, thanks to the school, that she is now married with three gorgeous children, and she and her husband own their own home.

 

The school was originally an Open-Air School, intended to be a healthy outdoor school to "build-up" the health of "frail", "sickly", ill, or disabled children, (eg those with asthma etc) the student base was not that strongly geared to Downs Syndrome, there might have been at most, half a dozen kids with DS there during the time my sister was there, (early 1970's, to 1982) the school took kids with physical disabilities, as well as learning difficulties. some were severe, others not so severe.

 

PT

[Chris M]

Fulwood Hospital - was empty for several years before it

was sold to developers - and is now a "luxury complex".

 

The views over the Mayfield Valley are superb from the

front of the building.

 

It was originally an annexe for the old Royal Hospital on West St.

 

I think it specialised in plasic surgery .

 

I also recall that Phil Oakey (Human League) worked as a porter

there.

 

Tom Bailey of the Thompson Twins worked at Middlewood Hosp -

in the stores during the summer hols.

 

Cheers

[rosh]

Hi,

 

There seems to be a bit of confusion.

 

The Royal Hospital Annex (or Fulwood Hospital Annex) on Fulwood Road was at one point a specialist burns unit. It was used as an NHS store before being converted to flats and houses a few years ago. Now it's called Mayfield Heights and has lovely views over the Porter Valley - you'd have to be a contortionist to see the Mayfield Valley from there!

 

Whiteley Wood Clinic (originally, I believe, called the Woofinden Institute) was a mental health clinic until quite recently. It has just been converted to flats. If anyone knows anything about the early history of the building, I'd be interested.

 

The Whitley Wood Open Air School (for "weakly" children) was on Cottage Lane, quite near the current fire station on Ringinglow Road. It was opened in 1910 and I have a photocopy of the Annual Report of the School Medical Officer for 1910/11, which runs to several pages and includes a plan of the building and some photos of the children. The latest reference I have is from the 1935 Annual Report.

[Plain Talker]

Originally posted by Chris M

I also recall that Phil Oakey (Human League) worked as a porter

there.

 

Tom Bailey of the Thompson Twins worked at Middlewood Hosp -

in the stores during the summer hols.

 

Cheers

 

Tom Bailey taught music at Brook School, Stradbroke, IIRC

 

PT

[Rich]

Originally posted by Plain Talker

Whiteley Woods, for some years housed a residential hospital and outpatients dept for people with mental illnesses.

 

One friend of mine was being treated there for a nervous breakdown after her granny passed away, and she sadly committed suicide, just days before her 22nd birthday. THat was a horrrific time.

 

Apparently what is left, these days, of the clinic, treats people who have gender disorders.

 

If I recall correctly, there was also an annexe, to Jessop's hospital, which was on Matthews lane, at Norton, just behind Oakes Park school, not far from the water tower.

 

I understand that this land is also now redeveloped into housing .......

 

PT

 

Also on the land on Matthew's Lane where a housing estate now stands, there used to be Gleadless Valley Secondary school, mine and DaBouncer's old school.

 

Best thing they ever did knocking that place down, it were a right dump!

[katrina]

does anyone have any information of shrewsbury hospital or what area it was in, just curious.

[nsiebert]

I used to spend one afternoon a week at Middlewood Hospital as part of a Social Studies course at school, I did another year at the Northern General Hospital, just helping in the wards,

I remember always being frightened of the people lying around the grounds and the corriders, and we would be locked into the wards.

That was from 1972-1974, sometimes we just spent time in the Geriatric area, but sometimes in the wards.

I think people are more aware of mental illness now and understand the problems more.

[Plain Talker]

Originally posted by katrina

does anyone have any information of shrewsbury hospital or what area it was in, just curious.

 

Shrewsbury Hospital still exixts, katrina.

 

It is a group of alms houses, which are situated on norfolk road (IIRC) opposite where the high-rise flats are being demolished above the Sheffield railway station.

 

It is not a "hospital" per-se, it is nore like the "chelsea hospital" in london, where the chelsea-pensioners live."

 

The land came from the dukes of norfolk, I believe.

 

PT

[Timbuck]

My Grand Mother told me that Shiregreen School on Bracken Rd/Windmill lane, used to be a Hostpital in the early 1900's.

[Guest poppins]

My mother was a nurse at Middlewood Mental hospital in the late 40s and 50s, i remember her telling us they took care of all the shell shocked soldiers, engish and german.

 

So they could tell the difference the germans were given red blankets.

 

Also would anyone know back in those days why the nurses had to be single, no married women, also the nurses were not aloud the have their photos taken in uniform.

 

Would be interesting to know the reason why these rules had to be followed, i'm sure it was a good one whaterver it was.

 

 

poppins.