Considering a modern health center now occupies this space, can you believe the Beckenham Beacon’s story stretches back to the 19th century? This isn’t just a place for modern medicine. It is a site with a rich history.
The Beckenham Beacon stands where Beckenham Cottage Hospital once stood. The hospital served the community for many years. In the 1860s, Beckenham was a growing area. It needed better healthcare. Peter Hoare, a banker, recognized this need. He lived at Kelsey Manor. He decided Beckenham needed its own hospital. Bromley already had a cottage hospital since 1869.
In 1872, Beckenham Cottage Hospital opened. It had four beds. The location was Middle Barnet Field. Today, it is near Beckenham Recreation Ground. The rent was nominal, just one shilling per year. Imagine paying that little for such a vital service. In its first year, the hospital treated 26 patients. Patients paid 6d per day, about 2.5p today. The building also housed public baths and a washhouse.
The hospital faced a crisis in 1876. Peter Hoare died. His executors wanted a commercial rent of £80 per year. The community rallied to save the hospital. They raised enough money to buy the freehold. They even doubled the number of beds.
A.W. Reed became the paid collector in 1877. He replaced volunteers. He collected pennies to support the hospital. The Lea Wilson ward opened in 1880. It was named after a local squire. In 1891, the Croydon Road Recreation Ground opened. It gave patients a pleasant view from the wards.
Percival Hall Jones endowed the Percy Jones Ward in 1887. This added four beds. Two years later, an operating theatre was added. The hospital then had 31 beds. In 1893, an anonymous donor gave £100 for central heating. In 1898/99, an extension added 32 beds. It cost £4,742.14d.
In 1899, the Marie Louise block was added. This included the Fewster children’s ward. It was named after the son of A. Gurney Smith Esq. In Victorian times, the hospital was affectionately called “The Cottage”.
In 1902, Muirhead’s firm supplied an X-Ray machine. This was just seven years after X-Rays were invented. Alexander Muirhead also invented the first electrocardiogram. In 1911, the hospital treated 285 people for motoring accidents. By 1913, Beckenham’s population was 14,000.
During World War I, the hospital was linked to H.M.S. Crystal Palace. This was a Royal Navy station. Balgowan School became a military hospital. Kelsey Manor also served as a hospital for wounded officers. In 1916, the hospital had 28 beds.
From 1919 to 1939, maternity services were offered from a house on Croydon Road. The community supported the hospital. Foxgrove Cricket ground raised over £500 in 1921. The Town Fete raised over £3,000 in 1923. A ward was added in 1921 to honor the dead of WWI.
The Linen Guild formed in 1924. They repaired sheets and blankets. Patients had to provide their own linens. “Beckenham Bunnies” formed in 1931. These junior members collected pennies for the children’s ward. Charity boxes shaped like bricks were in shops. They encouraged people to “Buy a brick for Beckenham”. One million shillings were collected. This funded a new extension. The Percy Jones Ward for women and the George Stilwell Ward for men were added in 1924.
Sir George Sutton paid for a new children’s ward in 1932. It cost £6,000. When he died in 1935, he left the hospital £14,000. StoneParkMaternityHospital opened in 1938. It cost two Guineas for a fourteen-day stay.
The Trapnell wing opened in 1939. It had a private patients’ room. It also had a nurses’ home for 50 nurses. During World War II, the hospital became a casualty clearing station. It had 125 beds. Staff worked long hours. The children’s ward became a casualty reception area.
Today, the Beckenham Beacon continues to serve the community. It offers modern healthcare services. It stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of Beckenham. The Beacon provides for two GP surgeries, an Urgent Care Centre, outpatients, phlebotomy, a sexual health centre and ancillary departments. Though the original Beckenham Hospital is gone, its legacy lives on in the Beckenham Beacon.