It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.
Monument details
| HER Number: | TQ 57 SE 147 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Southern Hospital (Site of) Darenth |
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Summary
In 1883 a temporary convalescent hospital for smallpox as set up by the Metropolitan Asylum Board (MAB). The site comprised tents and marquees for 300 beds, the largest civilian hospital camp at that time. In 1887 some temporary huts replaced a part of the camp and in 1890 a permanent hospital for convalescent smallpox patients was built on the higher ground above the camp. The two halves of the hospital were known as the "Upper" and "Lower" hospitals. The last of the tents were replaced by huts in 1902. In the following year the hospital changed its role slightly to cater for general convalescent fever cases rather than smallpox. It was transferred to the London County Council along with other MAB hospitals in 1930 following the Local Government Act, and in 1948 was transferred to the NHS. The hospital is now closed, date not known, and all buildings demolished and built over.
| Grid Reference: | TQ 571 722 |
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| Map Sheet: | TQ57SE |
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| Parish: | DARENTH, DARTFORD, KENT |
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Full description
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In 1883 a temporary convalescent hospital for smallpox as set up by the Metropolitan Asylum Board (MAB). The site comprised tents and marquees for 300 beds, the largest civilian hospital camp at that time. In 1887 some temporary huts replaced a part of the camp and in 1890 a permanent hospital for convalescent smallpox patients was built on the higher ground above the camp. The two halves of the hospital were known as the "Upper" and "Lower" hospitals. The last of the tents were replaced by huts in 1902. In the following year the hospital changed its role slightly to cater for general convalescent fever cases rather than smallpox. It was transferred to the London County Council along with other MAB hospitals in 1930 following the Local Government Act, and in 1948 was transferred to the NHS. The hospital is now closed, date not known, and all buildings demolished and built over.
Southern Hospital (aka Dartford War Hospital) used as Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) Hospital between June 1916 and March 1918 for 48 officers, 1034 O/Rs and German POWs. In 1918 US government took over the Upper Hospital (2000 beds) until patients were repatriated in 1919.
Information from Bexley Young Archaeologists' Club following a survey of the Dartford Hospital sites for the Home Front Legacies Project:
The Upper Southern became the US Base Hospital No. 37 in 1918 until 1919. A plaque was presented to the Upper Southern Hospital to commemorate the stay of the US Base Hospital No. 37 in 1955 and it is now in storage at Dartford Museum. The Upper Southern was closed in 1959. The A2 is built across a large portion of the site of this hospital. The location point of this record marks the site of the Upper Southern, with the Lower Southern (TQ 57 SE 1086) at TQ56867209.
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