Bristol General Hospital

Bristol General Hospital (sometimes referred to as BGH or Bristol General) was a healthcare facility in Guinea Street, Harbourside, Bristol, in the south west of England. It opened in 1832 and closed in 2012. The BGH was managed by the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. The building has since been converted into apartments.

Bristol General Hospital
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Western view of the hospital
Bristol General Hospital is located in Bristol
Bristol General Hospital
Shown in Bristol
Geography
LocationBristol, England, United Kingdom
Coordinates51°26′47″N 2°35′34″W / 51.4465°N 2.5928°W / 51.4465; -2.5928
Organisation
Care systemPublic NHS
TypeDistrict General
Services
Emergency departmentNo Accident & Emergency
Beds77
History
Opened1832
Closed4 April 2012
Links
WebsiteTrust page on United Hospitals Bristol site
ListsHospitals in England

History

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The hospital has its origins in a small house in Guinea Street where it was established with 20 beds in 1832, primarily with support of Quakers.[1][2] Construction of purpose-built facility, at a site previously occupied by Bathurst Ironworks and designed by William Bruce Gingell, was undertaken between 1852 and 1856.[2] An extension was opened by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1891.[2] The nurses accommodation, designed by Henry Crisp and Sir George Oatley, was completed in 1895 and extended in 1907.[2]

The King Edward VII Wing, a substantial additional clinical facility, followed in 1914, just before the start of the First World War.[2] The ogee dome on the roof of the hospital was completely destroyed and the roof badly damaged during the Second World War.[2]

Although for much of the post-war period the hospital continued to be one of the main providers of clinical services to the Bristol and North Somerset area, in later years it became a specialist rehabilitation hospital.[3] In 2008, the hospital was used as the filming location for the BBC Three drama series Being Human, which was broadcast in early 2009.[4]

After services moved to the Bristol Royal Infirmary and to the new South Bristol Community Hospital, the hospital closed on 4 April 2012.[5][6] The site was subsequently acquired by City & Country, a property developer, who have restored the ogee dome on the roof of the hospital[7] as part of works to convert the hospital into apartments.[8]

Archives

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Records and plans of the Bristol General Hospital are held at Bristol Archives (Ref. 40530) (online catalogue) and (Ref. 44931) (online catalogue).[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The Voluntary Medical Institutions of Bristol". Bristol Historical Association. 27 November 1984 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Historic England. "Bristol General Hospital (1207586)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  3. ^ "Bristol General Hospital". University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2008.
  4. ^ "Second bite for BBC's Being Human". BBC News. 26 February 2009. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  5. ^ "Bristol Royal Infirmary in line for £90 million makeover". Bristol Evening Post. 10 December 2008. Archived from the original on 16 December 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
  6. ^ "South Bristol Community Hospital/Bristol General Hospital". Bristol South and West NHS Primary Care Trust. Archived from the original (MSWord) on 22 May 2005. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
  7. ^ "Bristol General Hospital restored to its former glory with bomb damaged dome finally reinstated". Bristol Post. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  8. ^ "First look inside stunning new penthouse apartments boasting panoramic views of Bristol - with a £1.25m price tag". Bristol Post. 8 April 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  9. ^ "Bristol Archives". Bristol Museums. Retrieved 24 September 2018.