High above Hither Green rises a silent sentinel. It is the Hither Green Water Tower. But what stories could this tower tell if it could speak?
The Hither Green Water Tower is a remnant of the former Park Fever Hospital. The hospital opened in 1897. It was built to treat infectious diseases. Scarlet fever and diphtheria patients found care here. Edwin T. Hall designed the hospital. He also designed London’s Liberty & Co. department store.
Imagine this area in the late 19th century. Hither Green was growing. The railways had arrived. Victorian and Edwardian houses were popping up. But there was also a need for healthcare. The Park Fever Hospital was built to meet that need. It stood as a beacon of hope during times of sickness.
The Prince of Wales himself opened the Park Fever Hospital. It was a grand affair. The hospital had 548 beds. Three thousand staff members worked there. It was the largest fever hospital in England at the time. Large wards housed scarlet fever patients. Smaller wards were for diphtheria and enteric infections.
The Hither Green Hospital suffered during the Second World War. Extensive bombing damaged the area. Much of the hospital was destroyed. Only the Hither Green Water Tower and some outbuildings remained. Yet, the tower stood tall. Its clock faces became an emblem of Hither Green.
The Hither Green Hospital closed in 1997. A century of service came to an end. The site was redeveloped into a housing estate. It is now known as Meridian South. But the Hither Green Water Tower was preserved. It stands as a reminder of the past.
The Hither Green Water Tower features large clock faces. They are illuminated at night. The tower is a landmark. It is a symbol of Hither Green’s history. It reminds us of the hospital that once stood here. It reminds us of the people who were cared for here.
The Metropolitan Asylums Board built five fever hospitals. Hither Green was one of them. There was a shortage of beds during a scarlet fever epidemic. The Park Fever Hospital addressed this need. It provided essential medical care to the community.
Today, the Hither Green Water Tower is more than just a structure. It is a piece of history. It is a reminder of the past. It is a symbol of hope. The Hither Green Water Tower stands as a proud monument in Hither Green.