The Royal
Architect Edward Banks (original section)
Opened 1849
Patients A lot!
Closed 1997
Other Once a general Hospital serving the local area
In 1845, a local businessman George Briscoe fell from a chair and broke his leg. Whilst lying in bed wondered about those less fortunate, those who couldn’t afford medical treatment. He and a friend Henry Rogers he resolved to do something to help. Each donated £500 to the fund for the building of a new hospital.
A three storey 80 bed building was designed by local architect Edward Banks, it opened on 1st January 1849 and had the rather long winded name of the South Staffordshire General Hospital and Dispensary!
By 1869 the hospital was seriously overcrowded and a meeting of the town representatives resulted in new wing for in-patients and a new out-patient block opening in 1872 Another new section was built after the death of king, Edward VII, a large 2 storey memorial wing was opened in 1912 two wards were named after the King and Queen Alexandra
Another new ward block was built in 1937 this contained the swimming pool, solarium semi circle ends and operating theatres. Sadly when the New Cross Hospital was built nearby the Royal was considered old and dated a lot of services moved out and wards closed, the hospital finally shut for good in 1997.
Today the hospital sits as a sad shell of its former self, vandalism and arson has been rife, measures have been taken to stop the Memorial wing from further damage all main access points have been bricked up.
The royal is a huge site that I could easily go to again and see more; sadly it seems that despite local people petitioning for it to remain as a public service it has been sold to Tescos.