Doesn’t its name just tell a story? The Old Dispensary stands here, a testament to Stratford’s evolving history. It is a place where healing hands once provided care.
Let’s delve into the story of The Old Dispensary. This building is not massively old but still the oldest thing around here. Constructed in the early 1800s, it predates much of modern Stratford. This area was mostly marshes until the railways arrived in the 1830s. So, you can see why older buildings are rare.
The Old Dispensary wasn’t always a dispensary. In 1861, a local doctor named William Elliot opened it as a hospital. Mary Curtis, the building’s owner, lent it to him rent-free. Imagine this small hospital serving the growing community.
As Stratford industrialized, a new dispensary was needed. A plot of land nearby was donated to build it. This new facility would eventually become Queen Mary’s Hospital. The Old Dispensary then transitioned into its outpatients’ department.
Over time, The Old Dispensary took on different roles. It housed the offices of Arthur Webb Ltd., office fitters and building contractors. Later, it even served as the local museum. A shop front was added around 1949. Charles Living and Son, a local estate agent, removed it.
Queen Mary’s Hospital closed in 1983. The site is now a housing estate. Only the gateway remains of the old hospital. The Old Dispensary is the sole survivor of that medical era.
Today, the local council owns The Old Dispensary. It uses it for offices for its council-run gyms. It is still performing a medical function in a way. But The Old Dispensary never seems to have been an actual dispensary.
In the late 1990s, The Old Dispensary underwent restoration. A conservation company worked on the exterior. The workers had to climb out of a first-floor window to reach the scaffold. From there, they could see the original 1940s decoration inside. It was an entertainment center for the armed forces back then.
The restoration aimed to reflect a nineteenth-century engraving. A heavy cornice was added to the exterior. Quoin stones were affixed to the corners of the upper storey. Mouldings were added around the unadorned windows. These details repeated features of the original private residence.
The work began with cleaning off deep deposits of black sulphation. This was very solid in the scrolls around the windows. It was also found in the scallop shell above the side door. The workers carted bags of powder up the inside and out of the window. They repaired cracked and missing cement render. They rebuilt missing letters and numerals at the top of the building.
One day, a building safety inspector visited. He was horrified by the health and safety issues inside. He shut the building down. Everyone had to clean up and remove hazards. Some were sent to get safety boots.
A few years later, after its conversion into a pub, someone suggested a story board. This would explain the building’s significance to visitors. The interior layout was greatly altered to create the pub.
In an area of modestly tall towers, it is pleasing that at least one small piece of heritage is managing to cling on. The Old Dispensary stands as a reminder of Stratford’s past. It reflects the area’s medical history and architectural evolution. It is a landmark amidst the modern landscape.