Old Photograph Mearnskirk Hospital Newton Mearns Scotland

Old photograph of Mearnskirk Hospital in Newton Mearns, Scotland. In 1913, Glasgow Corporation bought Southfield Estate along with four of its neighbouring farms, Hazelden Head, Westfield, Eastfield and Langrig, with the intention of using it as a country home for children who were not thriving and at risk from tuberculosis. The mansion house was to be kept as an administrative building and there were to be 300 beds for children and 160 sanatorium beds for adults. However, these plans were delayed by World War 1. By 1919, when the plans were revised, the mansion house was in such poor repair that the decision was made to demolish it. On 9 May 1930, the new Mearnskirk Hospital for children opened as a tuberculosis hospital for children under the age of 15. The first patients were a group of children transferred from Robroyston Hospital in Glasgow. Ironically, one of the group, 6 year old George McEwan presented,on behalf of the staff of Robroyston Hospital, a gift of a large box of cigarettes to the new superintendent, Dr. John Wilson. The hospital was officially opened on 12 October 1932 by HRH the Duchess of York, the late Queen Mother, who planted a tree to commemorate the event.



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