Leverndale Hospital

In 1895, Leverndale Hospital first opened its doors. It wasn’t known as Leverndale then. It was the Govan District Asylum. The imposing Renaissance Revival style, designed by Malcolm Stark, hinted at the grandeur within. Leverndale Hospital stands as a testament to the evolving understanding of mental health. Initially designed to house 400 patients, the asylum expanded to accommodate 520 by 1908. A nearby mansion, Hawkhead House, became part of the facility in 1914. The hospital became known as Hawkhead Asylum for a time. This isn’t to be confused with Hawkhead Hospital for infectious diseases. That one was located a short distance away in Paisley. After joining the National Health Service in 1948, Hawkhead Mental Hospital, as it was then called, saw significant changes. Hawkhead House was demolished in the 1950s. The name Leverndale Hospital was adopted in 1964. In the mid-1970s, new units for psycho-geriatric patients were added. The implementation of Care in the Community in the early 1980s marked a turning point for Leverndale Hospital. Several older buildings, like the Kelburne and Towerview Units, were decommissioned. They were later converted into apartments between 2003 and 2006. Leverndale continues to evolve. A new acute admissions unit was completed in the summer of 2013. This shows Leverndale’s ongoing commitment to providing modern mental health care.