The first recorded public debate about whether Ellesmere Port should have
its own health services was held in 1896 when the Town Coucil Planning
Committee considered employing one nurse. Requests for funding were made
to companies with business in the area (Shropshire Union Co and Mersey
Iron Works Co). Nothing came of it as far as we can determine.
The carnage of World War I changed all that. Many town across the country
opened hospitals to treat the flood of casualties that came back home from
the various war zones. Ellesmere Port Cottage Hospital was one of
them. It began life in 1914 as a military hospital run by
the Red Cross Society.
Heathfield
Houseon Chester Road was bought from the Mansfield
family and used during the First World War to nurse wounded soldiers transferred
from Fazakerley Hospital. The hospital was staffed by members of the Voluntary
Aid Detachment, trained by a local lady, Mrs.
Johnstone. At the end of the war, the hospital received a certificate
from the War Office in recognition of its work and was closed down.
The following photograph probably shows the
staff of the Red Cross Hospital judging by the nurse uniform:-
However the Town Council
saw their opportunity. Heathfield House and 12 acres of land was generously
donated to Ellesmere Port and Whitby Urban District Council by the Cheshire
Public House Trust, with Edward
Peter Jones, H. Caswell and C. Whitridge as Joint Trustees. The Trust
purchased the house and lands with the help this time round of Mr. Highfield
Jones, owner of the Mersey Iron Works.
Heathfield House:- This picture was presented to Miss L M Jeans, Matron of Ellesmere
Port & District Hospital, by the Ladies Linen League in appreciation
of her service, 1920-1937.
Edward Peter Jones - one of the
first Trustees and Chairmen of the hospital:-
A local committee was formed, which held its first meeting in May 1919,
leading to the opening of Ellesmere Port Cottage Hospital in December
the same year. Contributions of more than £250 per month were
received in order to keep the hospital open and the Ministry of Health
Voluntary Hospital Commission granted £70 per annum to the House
Committee.
The first Ellesmere Port and District Cottage Hospital
General Committee consisted of the following members-
Chairman Mr. C. Whitridge.
J. Highfield Jones, Vice-chairman, (& Director - Wolverhampton
Corrugated Iron Co) - later became Chairman of Hospital Board of Management
Mr J Tompkins (Trades Council) as Vice-chairman.
The Management Committee was representative of the key interests in and
around the town. There were
three representatives of the Council;
three from employers in the area,
appropriately in the first instance J. M. Frost from the flour millers,
J. Highfield Jones from the ironworks
C. Whitridge from the Shropshire Union Canal Co.;
three from the Trades and Labour Council;
three from the Traders’ Association;
three from general subscribers to the fund;
one representative from Ellesmere Port and District Cooperative Society
W. Stockton, Vice-President (1849-1942,
first Chairman of Ellesmere Port Urban District Council)
H. Lloyd, Vice-President
County Coundillor George Wall as a life governor.
William Stockton:- The Mersey Ironworks Housing Fund was very supportive with money in
the early days and then from 1925 the Council provided financial support
under the new Public Health Act.
The British Red Cross provided an ambulance
service which was stationed at the hospital.
Some events .....
mid-1920s - a modern operating theatre and a new maternity wing added
1926 - two new wards added to existing building
1928 - central heating installed
1929 - maternity and child welfare centre added
1939 - out patients department opened
1940 - new operating theatre and casualty and Xray departments were
opened.
1950 - further alterations to the hospital
1971 - new x-ray unit was constructed
early 1980s - 3 new wards constructed - number of beds increased from 34
to 100
1984 - made an associate hospital of the Chester acute group.
1990s - a while it was associated with the Mental Health Hospital in Chester,
then the Wirral & West Cheshire Mental Health Trust until linking with
the Ellesmere Port & Neston Primary Care Trust in 2002.
A short history of the hospital, M. Brown, The History and Growth
of Ellesmere Port Hospital, unpublisheded dissertation, Carlett Park College
of Technology, 1979. A reference copy of the dissertation is held by Chester
City Record Office. Does anyone have a copy?
