Gwynedd

Northern Wales from map by W. & A. K. Johnston, 1882 CC-BY (NLS)

ANGLESEY

Cefni Hospital, Bridge Street, Llandgefni, SH 463 757  

Extract from the 25 inch OS map, revised 1914-1915 CC-BY (NLS)

Rebuilt hospital opened 1993 and replaced former Cefni and Druid hospitals. Since 2009 a dedicated centre for older people with memory problems.  Original hospital built between 1900 and 1920 on the same site.

Ysbyty Penrhos Stanley, Penrhos Beach Road, Holyhead, SH 257 817

Extract from the 25 inch OS map, revised 1923 CC-BY (NLS)

Opened in 1996. Replaced the Valley Hospital SH 290 794 and the Stanley Sailors’ Hospital SH 252 831

Extract from the 25 inch OS map, revised 1923 CC-BY (NLS)
Extract from the OpenStreetMap, CC-BY (NLS)

BANGOR

Ysbyty Gwynedd, Penrhos Garnedd, Bangor SH 558 701  

Extract from the OpenStreetMap, CC-BY (NLS)

Large 1980s general hospital on greenfield site.

BLAENAU FFESTINIOG

Ffestiniog Memorial Hospital, Bron View, Wynne Road, Blaenau Ffestiniog, SH 702 455

Extract from the 6 inch OS map, revised 1949 CC-BY (NLS)

 

Blaenau Hospital © Adam Voelcker

War memorial hospital, 1924, architect Clough Williams-Ellis. [Sources: information kindly supplied by Adam Voelcker, co-author of Buildings of Wales Gwynedd.]

CAERNARFON

Eryri Hospital, The Park, Caernarfon, SH 486 615

Extract from the 25 inch OS map, revised 1899 CC-BY (NLS)
Extract from the 6 inch OS map, revised 1938 CC-BY (NLS)

  Caernarfon Union Workhouse infirmary, 1881, Thomas & Ingleton, architects with addition built in 1911, Rowland Lloyd Jones, architect, to the north-east of the 1845 workhouse building (parts of which survive).

Extensions of 1973 provided day rooms etc. It then had 67 beds, and catered for orthopaedic and surgical patients. After the opening of the new general hospital at Bangor in 1984, Eryri closed for about a year. Alterations were then carried out before it re-opened in 1985 for rehabilitation of the elderly. [Sources: Wales.nhs.uk additional information kindly supplied by Adam Voelcker, co-author of Buildings of Wales Gwynedd]

Bryn Seiont Hospital, Pant Road, Caernarfon, SH 482 615  

Extract from the 6 inch OS map, revised 1913 CC-BY (NLS)

Demolished. A private house, with ward wing built to north. Extended in the 1970s-80s. Site cleared and a new dementia care centre built 2015.

DOLGELLAU

Dolgellau and Barmouth District Hospital, SH 730 175

Extract from the 6 inch OS map, revised 1938 CC-BY (NLS)

Cottage Hospital, built 1927-9, North and Padmore, architects. Opened in 1929. A Mrs Dowthwaite of Aberdyfi subscribed £1,500 towards the fund, and also promised £500 towards X-ray equipment. It had taken 9 years to raise the money for building the hospital which included a maternity ward.

Dolgellau and Barmouth District Hospital © Adam Voelcker
Dolgellau and Barmouth District Hospital © Adam Voelcker
Dolgellau and Barmouth District Hospital © Adam Voelcker

Extension 1933, funds raised for Children’s Ward 1937, further extension 1938. In 1974 a new general unit was opened, which lead to the closure of maternity homes in Dogellau and Barmouth. Further additions in the 1980s and new maternity unit 1998. [Sources: Wales.nhs.uk additional information kindly supplied by Adam Voelcker, co-author of Buildings of Wales Gwynedd.]

Llwyn View Hospital, Dolgellau    SH 733 177

Extract from the 6 inch OS map, revised 1900 CC-BY (NLS)

Former Dolgellau Union Workhouse (now converted to private housing)

LLANDUDNO

Plas Mariandir Convalescent Home SH 785 800

Extract from the 6 inch OS map, revised 1948 CC-BY (NLS)

Convalescent home built between 1915 and 1919 for convalescent men of Manchester see Architects of Greater Manchester site

Postcard of Plas Mariandir Convalescent Home, postmarked 1949

Lady Forester’s Convalescent Home Llandudno SH 796 812

Extract from the 6 inch OS map, revised 1911 CC-BY (NLS)

Convalescent home, built 1898-1904 to designs by E. B. I’Anson. The builders were W. Brown & Sons. In the early 21st Century the building was in use as the North Wales Medical Centre. This closed around 2006 and the building was empty and awaiting a new use in 2007. In 2011 it became a Blind Veterans UK centre (the charity that was formerly St Dunstans).

Blind Veterans UK, the former Lady Forester’s Convalescent Home, photographed in 2016 by Richard Hoare © CopyrightRichard Hoare and licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0

Swinglehurst Convalescent Home  Llandudno SH 7969 8126

Extract from the 6 inch OS map, revised 1948 CC-BY (NLS)

Built as a private house in the 1880s for George Lowe, a retired jeweller from Chester, and named Bryn Lupus. In around 1944 it became a convalescent home for the Manchester and Salford Saturday Fund and renamed Swinglehurst after the Chairman of the Saturday Fund, Charles Swinglehurst who died in 1947. The house fell into disrepair and was demolished in 1965, the Porter’s Lodge survived and was named Swinglehurst whilst the site went on to be a housing development in the 1990s.

Ty’n y Coed Convalescent Home  Llandudno SH 791 797

Extract from the 6 inch OS map, revised 1948 CC-BY (NLS)

Opened as a convalescent home in 1892 by the Birmingham Hospital Saturday Fund. The house had been built for a Liverpool Timber merchant called Davis in 1871 and was purchased by the BHSF in 1891. It was extended to the left of front in 1899 and again in 1927. In 1971 it became the Harriet Robertson Research Institute.

Llandudno General Hospital, SH 782 809

Extract from the 6 inch OS map, revised 1948 CC-BY (NLS)

Llandudno Fever Hospital (first block built by 1890s) to the north became part of larger general hospital for which the work started in 1938. Greatly extended 1980s-90s and in 2006 a new osteoporosis and bone densitometry unit was opened.

LLANFAIRFECHAN

Bryn-Y-Neuadd Hospital, Aber Road, Llanfairfechan, SH 782 809

Extract from the 6 inch OS map, revised 1948 CC-BY (NLS)
Extract from the OpenStreetMap, CC-BY (NLS)

Psychiatric hospital built 1967-71. The mansion house on the site had been acquired by St Andrews Hospital, Northampton, in 1898. It was demolished when the new hospital was built. [Sources: Llanfairfechan.org.uk ]

Heath Convalescent Home, Llanfairfechan SH 684 753

Extract from the 6 inch OS map, revised 1899 CC-BY (NLS)

Built in 1897 to designs by Thomas Bower. It was established as a memorial to Robert Heath, ironmaster. More recently the building was in use as government offices. [Sources: American Architect & Building News, 14 March 1896 – architectural perspective of the east front: National Monuments Record of Wales]

PORTHMADOG

Ysbyty Alltwen, Tremadog, Porthmadog, SH 556 402

Extract from the OpenStreetMap, CC-BY (NLS)

Spanking new hospital on greenfield site to west of Tremadog, opened 2009. Nightingale Architects (Nick Durham and Tom Withecombe). (information on architects kindly supplied by Adam Voelcker, co-author of Buildings of Wales Gwynedd)

Ysbyty Alltwen, Tremadog © Adam Voelcker

Wales NHS website gives the following information:

The hospital has been designed as a number of separate building elements.  A two storey building with inpatient areas on the upper floor is positioned to take advantage of daylight, views and privacy from the main hospital entrance.  Single storey sections containing outpatient facilities, offices and support accommodation are located on a higher level near the main entrance for good access, and all sections are grouped around an enclosed central courtyard space, or ‘Winter Garden’.  This public space within the development will provide a focus point for the hospital which can be used by staff, patients and visitors all year round, whatever the weather. All patient bedrooms have en-suite facilities and are positioned to maximise natural light, as well as providing additional space for clinical procedures and for visiting family members

Ysbyty Alltwen, Tremadog © Adam Voelcker

The site has complex topography, geology and ecology, all of which have had an impact on the final design.  It also has a rich history and contains the remains of 19th century mine workings and an ancient Roman corn-drying kiln.

Ysbyty Alltwen, Tremadog © Adam Voelcker

Sustainability was a key consideration throughout the design process in order to create an exemplar hospital for the 21st Century.  The impact of the building in terms of energy use, pollution, green transport and social considerations is minimised as much as possible.  The heating system is based around a biomass boiler, which burns waste timber from local managed forestry sites.

PWLLHELI

Bryn Beryl Hospital, Caernarvon Road, Abererch, Pwllheli, SH 387 371

Extract from the 1:10,560 National Grid Survey OS map, published 1963 CC-BY (NLS)

The original house Bryn-goleu, by Robert Williams, under the terms of a will, was established as a hospital in 1924, the Pwllheli Cottage Hospital. Two ward blocks connected to the main house were added by the Navy during the war. In 1974 a prefabricated block was added that acted as a Geriatric unit.

Bryn Beryl, reproduced by permission © Adam Voelcker

From appearance and isolated position, former sanatorium or isolation hospital perhaps. [Sources: additional information kindly supplied by Adam Voelcker, co-author of Buildings of Wales Gwynedd. ]

Pwllheli Day Hospital, Ala Road, SH 371 350  

Extract from the 6 inch OS map, revised 1899 CC-BY (NLS)
Pwllheli Hospital © Adam Voelcker

Former Pwllheli Union Workhouse, c.1838-9, William Thomas, architect. [Information kindly supplied by Adam Voelcker, co-author of Buildings of Wales Gwynedd.]

TYWYN

Tywyn & District War Memorial Hospital, Aberdyfi Road, Tywyn, SH 590 004

Extract from the 6 inch OS map, revised 1948 CC-BY (NLS)

Another memorial to the First World War (extended to the Second World War). Cottage Hospital built 1919-22, F. Howarth, architect. Also fair-sized extension in the 1980s or thereabouts, and even larger 21st C extension. The foundation stone was laid Mrs David Lloyd George on 11th August 1920 and the hospital opened by Dr Alban Davies on 17th August 1922. In 1932 a maternity unit was built. The Tywyn Hospital Appeal Fund raised £32,000 and a continuing care ward (Dyfi) was added which was opened in 1973 by HRH Prince Phillip. [Sources: Wales.nhs.uk additional information kindly supplied by Adam Voelcker, co-author of Buildings of Wales Gwynedd.]