Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II listed building. Main construction periods 1818 to 1999

Summary from record TQ 57 SW 235:

Rare example of an intact early 19th century workhouse, 1838, with detached chapel, added in 1878 and two infirmary blocks of 1887 - 1897. Further additions, including more ward blocks, a kitchen block and a nurses' home, were made at the turn of the century. In 1913 the site was renamed the King Edward Hospital, and two further medical blocks and a new nurses' home added in the 1930's. Renamed West Hill Hospital under the NHS, the site has many post 1948 additions, and the original workhouse blocks have been sold and converted to offices.

Summary from record TQ 57 SW 232:

Built on the corner of Priory Road (formerly Priory Lane) and West Hill in 1729 this was the site of the Dartford Parish Workhouse. With the Poor Law Amendment Act in the 1830's Dartford parish was amalgamated with twenty-one surrounding parishes and a new larger workhouse was required which was built in the gardens and on the site of this earlier workhouse.

Monument Types

• WORKHOUSE (Demolished, Post Medieval - 1792 AD to 1838 AD? (between))
• SITE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1818 AD to 1999 AD)
• WORKHOUSE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1838 AD to 1914 AD (between))
• GENERAL HOSPITAL (Closed, Modern - 1913 AD to 1986 AD? (between))
• WORKERS HOSTEL (Modern - 1914 AD to 1918 AD (between))
• WORKHOUSE (Modern - 1918 AD to 1930 AD? (between))
• OFFICE (Modern - 1986 AD? to 1986 AD (post))

Full description

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The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 5274 WEST HILL (North Side) Former Dartford Union Workhouse Buildings to rear and N.E of range fronting West Hill TQ 57 SW SP/564
II G.V
2. Workhouse buildings. Circa 1838; their mid C19 function shown clearly on O.S map of 1868; some later C19 and C20 alterations. Yellow stock brick walls. Slate hipped roofs; brick stacks. Sash windows and pivot windows. Attached to each other by C19 brick walls. Range comprising former Able Womens' Hall and Lying-in ward on NE: two storeys. Overhanging eaves. 8 ground floor sash windows with vertical glazing bars and two doorways. Ten iron pivot windows to first floor. Flights of stone steps in centre and at SE end. Centre spine range comprising former cook house and master's buildings: two storeys. East elevation: from N. end: 3 sash windows above 3 ground floor iron pivot windows; three sash windows above and below. Former master's kitchen and pantry with two first floor sashes, and C19 slate-roofed lean-to verandah on iron columns against ground floor, the last with French casement, sash window and 6 panel door. West elevation: similar verandah and fenestration. Rounded south end comprising former master's residence with sash window with glazing bars above and below in front and to each side; stone flags on ground in front of rounded end. North range comprising former chapel: to rear of and flanking the centre spine wing. Workhouse chapel housed in 3 storey range until new detached chapel opened 1878. Five ground and first floor windows to each side of spine wing; 6 second floor window openings. Overhanging eaves. End doorways in front of internal stone staircases. N.W range comprising former Able Men's Hall and Accident ward: 3 storeys. Mostly pivot windows in slightly cambered heads, seven on ground floor, 5 on both 1st and second floors, and one modern first floor window.
Listing NGR: TQ5371874147

Description from record TQ 57 SW 235:
Built on the site of earlier Dartford Parish Workhouse (TQ 57 SW 232) in 1838 and designed by John Whichcord who also designed Cranborrk, Malling and Tonbridge workhouses. It originally consisted of:

Range of former Dartford Union Workhouse facing on to West Hill

Workhouse. Circa 1838 with later alterations. East wing comprises possibly mid C19 addition (shown as now on O.S map of 1868). Middle and west wings refurbished post - 1909 (O.S map of 1909 shows through-passage in middle wing). Yellow stock brick walls; middle and west wings with ashlar dressings; double pitched slate roof to east wing. East Wing: three storeys. Eight blocked ground floor windows. Eight sash windows with glazing bars to first floor; four windows to second floor. Interior: first floor dormitory above mid C19 women's hall with C19 fireplace surround at each end; N.W
fireplace surround at second floor. Two straight baluster C19 iron and stone staircases. Former ground floor register office with C19 fireplace surround with angle blocks; former strong room with mortices for strong room door. Middle and west wings: two storeys. Brick parapet with ashlar cornice and blocking course. Sash windows with glazing bars. Middle wing: band; modillions to cornice. Four bays each side of centre projecting bay; the last originally a through-passage, but since early C20 faced with ashlar, with Venetian doorway with panelled door and fanlight at ground floor, three-light first floor window and segmental pediment. Windows with rubbed brick arches; aprons to first floor windows. Interior: former board room at rear with coved cornice and tall sash windows; stairs of early C20 in place of C19 through-passage; first floor C19 pilastered fireplace surround. East wing: windows with eaved ashlar architraves, 4 to first floor and two, including one paired window, below. Interior: fireplace surround of circa 1900 on first floor; 4 panelled door. Mid C19 functions of range shown clearly on O.S map of 1868.

Buildings to rear and N.E of range fronting West Hill

Workhouse buildings. Circa 1838; their mid C19 function shown clearly on O.S map of 1868; some later C19 and C20 alterations. Yellow stock brick walls. Slate hipped roofs; brick stacks. Sash windows and pivot windows. Attached to each other by C19 brick walls. Range comprising former Able Womens' Hall and Lying-in ward on NE: two storeys. Overhanging eaves. 8 ground floor sash windows with vertical glazing bars and two doorways. Ten iron pivot windows to first floor. Flights of stone steps in centre and at SE end. Centre spine range comprising former cook house and master's buildings: two storeys.
East elevation: from N. end: 3 sash windows above 3 ground floor iron pivot windows; three sash windows above and below. Former master's kitchen and pantry with two first floor sashes, and C19 slate-roofed lean-to verandah on iron columns against ground floor, the last with French casement, sash window and 6 panel door. West elevation: similar verandah and fenestration. Rounded south end comprising former master's residence with sash window with glazing bars above and below in front and to each side; stone flags on ground in front of rounded end. North range comprising former chapel: to rear of and flanking the centre spine wing. Workhouse chapel housed in 3 storey range until new detached chapel opened 1878. Five ground and first floor windows to each side of spine wing; 6 second floor window
openings. Overhanging eaves. End doorways in front of internal stone staircases. N.W range comprising former Able Men's Hall and Accident ward: 3 storeys. Mostly pivot windows in slightly cambered heads, seven on ground floor, 5 on both 1st and second floors, and one modern first floor window.

In 1840 a small isolation hospital was built to the west of the workhouse (TQ5368874259) since demolished and a detached chapel added at the rear (TQ 57 SW 234) in 1878. The role of the workhouse to care for the poor of the area is shown by the addition at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries of further facilities in the form of infirmaries, wards, and nurses' accommodation.

In 1913 the workhouse was renamed the King Edward Hospital. In 1914 the demand for accommodation for the workers ar the Vickers-Armstrong munions works lead to the closure of the workhouse and its conversion to a workers hostal. The infirmary became a Munisions Workers Hospital. The buildings reverted back to their original functions in 1918. In 1930 the workhouse closed again and the hospital transferred to Kent County OCUncil. Further facilitites were added: a new nurses' home, an orthopaedic clinic and maternity ward. During the war a bomb fell on one of the infirmary blocks killing 22 women patients and 2 nurses. In 1948 the hospital transferred to the new NHS and develped until 1986 when the hospital closed. In the mid 20th century the hospital covered a large area (3.5 sq km) the majority of these buildings have now been demolished and built over. The chapel, the former Police Station (TQ 57 SW 197) and old workhouse buildings remain which have been converted into offices and are Grade II listed.(1, 2)

Description from record TQ 57 SW 232:
Built on the corner of Priory Road (formerly Priory Lane) and West Hill in 1729 this was the site of the Dartford Parish Workhouse. With the Poor Law Amendment Act in the 1830's Dartford parish was amalgamated with twenty-one surrounding parishes and a new larger workhouse was required which was built in the gardens and on the site of this earlier workhouse(TQ 57 SW 233) .(1)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, Canterbury Sites and Monuments Record, 64 (Index). SWX11836.

<2> RCHME, 1993, Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England: Compilation of Kent Hospitals Record Sheets (Unpublished document). SKE6841.

Sources and further reading

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