Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Large pavilion-plan hospital erected in 1899-1905 as a replacement for the original naval hospital at Chatham. The Royal Naval Hospital was designed by John. T.C. Murray and comprised a large general hospital, a separate isolation hospital , service buildings, a chapel and staff housing. The hospital was transferred to the National Health Service in 1961, the Medway Hospital, and since them many of the original buildings have been demolished.

Monument Types

• ROYAL NAVAL HOSPITAL (Demolished 1961 onwards, Post Medieval to Modern - 1899 AD to 1961 AD (between))
• HOSPITAL (Modern - 1914 AD to 1918 AD (at some time))
• GENERAL HOSPITAL (Modern - 1961 AD to 1961 AD (post))

Full description

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Although there was an existing Naval hospital in Chatham, built in 1827-8, the construction of a new barracks in 1897 meant that a new hospital was required and a site on Chatham Hill selected. The hospital was designed by John C. T. Murray and the work supervised by the Admiralty architect S. P. Brinson. Work began in June 1899 on the pavilion-plan hospital, for 500 beds, with a separate isolation hospital, service buildings and a chapel. The buildings were constructed of red brick with Doulting stone dressings, except for the chapel which had Portland stone dressings. The chapel was given a prominent position in front of the administration block and echoed in architectural style Westminster Cathedral. Arranged in a broad crescent on the southern perimeter was the staff accommodation for the main hospital. The hospital was formally opened by Edward VII on 26th July 1905.

The hospital remained in Naval use until 1961 when it was transferred to the National Health Service. A programme of modernisation was undertaken which has resulted in the demolition of much of the original hospital including the isolation hospital and the chapel. Some buildings remain, now covered by later building work, and the southern housing crescent.

WWI Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) Hospital - used at some time between 1914 and 1918. Naval personnel were treated here throughout WW1.

Hazel Basford, 2004, Kent VAD - the work of voluntary aid detachments in Kent during the first World War (Unpublished document). SKE31644.

<1> RCHME, 1993, Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England: Compilation of Kent Hospitals Record Sheets, NBR:101366 (Unpublished document). SKE6841.

Sources and further reading

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