Bolton Infirmary

THE NEW BOLTON INFIRMARY - The Infirmary now in course of erection on the Bridge House Estate, near Chorley-street, Bolton, is designed on the pavilion principle, and will consist of four blocks, connected with each other by corridors. The administrative pavilion is placed in the centre, and contains the principal entrance, board-room, operating-room, etc., together with the nurses' and servants' bedrooms. In the pavilion to the right the ground-floor is set apart for the dispensary and for the out-door patients' department. This pavilion also contains the receiving wards. On the upper floor is the women's ward, containing fourteen beds. The left-hand pavilion is a two- storied building, with a ward for fourteen beds on each floor, with nurses' rooms adjoining. There are also seven small wards, which can be used for convalescent rooms if desired. In addition to the staircases, lifts are provided for hoisting the patients to the different floors. A prominent feature of the design is the children's hospital, which (says the Bolton Chronicle) owes its existence to the bounty of the late Dr. Chadwick, who left £5,000 towards its erection and endowment. It consists of two wards with eight beds each, with nurses' room, and a large day or recreation room. This portion of the buildings overlooks the Park, and communicates with the main building by a circular corridor. The buildings are Gothic in style, and are of brick, with Yorkshire stone dressings, the roofs being covered with Westmoreland green slates. A tower, 102 ft. high, rises from the centre of the administrative block. Haden's stoves are used for warming purposes. The contract, amounting to about £20,000, has been let to Messrs. Marsden, of Bolton, the architect being Mr. R. Knill Freeman, of the same town.  [Builder 3 January 1880 page 21]

The new infirmary at Bolton, which we illustrate, was commenced in the spring of 1879, and, in all probability, the building will be ready for occupation by autumn next. The infirmary consists of four distinct buildingsCviz., the administrative block (which is placed in the centre), the right and left pavilion, and the Children's Hospital (at the back of the left pavilion) . The corridors connecting them are one story only in height, so as not to interfere with the free circulation of air. The administrative block contains on the ground‑floor the principal entrance‑hall, board‑room, secretary s office, matron's and surgeon's day‑rooms, operating room, and small occasional ward, also the kitchens, larders, servants' hall, lavatories, etc. The upper floors are appropriated for surgeon's, matron's, nurses, and servants' bedrooms, with requisite bath‑rooms, &c., the plan being so arranged that each department is kept thoroughly distinct. In the centre of the front, over the entrance‑hall, a tower is carried up to a total height above the ground of 103feet. The upper portion of this could be utilised for water tanks. The right pavilion (that nearest the tower) contains the entrance for patients, with its accident‑receiving rooms, etc, also the dispensary and out‑patients' departments. The latter consist of a large waiting‑room, also medical and surgical, consulting, and examination rooms, lavatories, &c. The house ‑porter's apartment is placed here, and is in such a position as to control both the entrances. A small ward, capable of taking three beds, is also placed on the ground‑floor. On the upper floor is a large ward for 14 beds, and a smaller one for three beds; also nurses' day and night rooms. The left pavilion has on the ground‑floor a large ward for 14 beds, and two occasional wards for three beds each, also nurses' day and night rooms. The upper floor is similar, but with only one small ward. Both the pavilions have balconies at the end for the use of convalescents. The children's hospital, which has been placed so as to overlook the park, is a one ‑story building, containing two wards for eight beds each, a recreation ward or play‑room, lavatories, etc, also nurses' day and night rooms. A terrace is provided, communicating with the wards for the use of convalescents. These wards are so arranged that they can be completely isolated from the main building. The sizes of the wards are as follows: CLarge pavilion 59ft. by 27ft., cubic space for bed 1,820ft. ; small wards 22ft by 16ft. 6in., cubic space for bed 1,877ft.; children's wards 35ft. by 26ft., cubic space for bed 1,700ft. The total number of beds is as follows: - Men's wards, 42 beds; occasional wards, 17 beds; children's hospital, 16 beds: total 75. The principal corridor extends from end to end of the building, with a total length of about 300 feet. The pavilions are provided with hydraulic lifts for patients, and hoists for raising dinners and coals to the upper stories. Shoots are also provided for dirty linen, dust, etc. Fireproof construction has been adopted throughout. The heating of the wards is by Hayden's system of central fireplaces, which combine open grates with hot air and ventilation. In these and in all sanitary matters the most modern improvements have been adopted. The materials employed are brick, with Yorkshire stone dressings, and the roofs are covered with green slates from Elterwater. The amount of the contract is ,19,250. The tender of Messrs J. H. and G. Marsden, builders and contractors, of Bolton, was accepted. Mr R. K. Freeman, of Bolton, is the architect. [Building News 14 January 1881 p42]

BOLTON - The new infirmary at Bolton is to be opened on the 5th of next month. The plans of the structure, which were selected out of sets sent in by 37 competitors, were prepared by Mr R. K. Freeman, architect, of Derby and Bolton. The style is Gothic. The building is constructed of brick, with Yorkshire stone dressings, and may be said to consist of four distinct departments. There is, first of all, the administrative block in the centre, the right and left pavilions, and a children's hospital at the rear of the left pavilion. All these are connected by corridors only one story in height, so as not to interfere with the free circulation of air. Over the entrance‑hall there is a tower which rises to a height of 103ft. from the ground. The dimensions of the wards are as follow:CLarge pavilions 59ft. by 27ft.Ccubic space per bed, 1,820feet; small wards 22ft. by 16ft. 6in.Ccubic space per bed, 1,877ft. ; children's wards 35ft. by 26ft., with a cubic space for each bed of 1,700ft. There will be room for 75 beds in all, 42 being in the men's wards, 17 in the occasional wards, and 16 in the children's hospital. The principal corridor extends from end to end of the building, with a total length of about 300ft. Special care has been taken in the construction to reduce the danger arising from fire to a minimum. The wards will be heated by a system of central fireplaces, which combine open grates with hot air and ventilation. .[Building News 26 August 1881 p281]

Bolton is to be congratulated on the near completion of the handsome buildings which are intended shortly to be devoted to the purposes of a public infirmary and dispensary for the borough.  … The Bridge House Estate, situate between Chorley Street and the Bolton Park was secured and in the spring of 1879 the work of excavating and building was commenced. On 1 May 1880, the corner stone of the new Infirmary was laid by Mr Alderman John Musgrave. The plans for the structure, which was selected out of sets sent in by 37 competitors, were prepared by Mr R K Freeman, architect of Derby and Bolton. The building occupies a commanding position on rising ground, and has the advantage of being easy of access from any part of the town, whilst removed from its noise and smoke. The style of architecture is Gothic. The building is constructed of brick, with Yorkshire stone dressings, and may be said to consist of four distinct compartments. There is, first of all, the administrative block in the centre, the right and left pavilions, and a children's hospital at the rear of the left pavilion. All these are connected by corridors only one storey in height, so as not to interfere with the free circulation of air.  On the ground floor of the central block there are the principal entrance hall, board room, secretary’s office, day rooms for matron and surgeon, operating room, and small occasional ward, together with kitchens, servants' hall, lavatories, etc. The upper floor is appropriated to bedrooms, and the requisite bath rooms. Over the entrance hall there is a tower which rises to a height of 103 feet from the ground. The right pavilion contains the entrance for patients, with its accident receiving rooms, and the dispensary and out patients' departments. The house porter's apartment is placed here, and there is a small ward, capable of taking three beds. On the upper floor of this wing is a large ward for 14 beds, and a smaller one for three beds as well as nurses' day and night rooms. The left pavilion has on the ground floor a ward for 14 beds, and two occasional wards for three beds each, also nurses' day and night rooms. The upper floor is similar, but with only one small ward. Each pavilion is provided with a balcony at the end for the use of convalescents.

The children's hospital enjoys the prettiest outlook of all, being in close proximity to the Bolton Public Park. It is a one-storey building, containing two wards for eight beds each, a recreation ward or play room, and the usual rooms for attendants. This hospital can be so arranged as to be completely isolated from the main building. The dimensions of the wards are as follows: Large pavilion 59 feet by 27 feet, cubic space per bed 1,820 feet; small wards 22 feet by 16 feet 6 inches, cubic space per bed 1,877ft.; children's wards 35 feet by 26 feet, cubic space per bed 1,700 feet. There will be room for 75 beds in all, 42 being in the men's wards, 17 in the occasional wards, and 16 in the children's hospital. The principal corridor extends from end to end of the building, with a total length of about 300 feet. Special care has been taken in the construction to reduce the danger arising from fire to a minimum. The wards will be heated by Hayden's system of central fireplaces, which combine open grates with hot air and ventilation. The inaugural ceremony has been fixed for the 5th September. [Manchester Guardian 24 August 1881 page 7]

Reference        Manchester Guardian Friday 28 February 1879 Page 1 (Contracts)
Reference        Manchester Guardian Saturday 1 March 1879 Page 9 (Contracts)
Reference        Building News 14 January 1881 p42 and illustration
Reference        Manchester Guardian 24 August 1881 page 7
Reference        Building News 26 August 1881 p281
Reference        Builder 3 January 1880 page 21