Westbury and District U3A report

Members of Westbury and District U3A gathered in the URC church hall to hear about the history of hospitals in Salisbury, on Tuesday 11th September.

The group reports, “Lesley Meaker from the artcare department of the hospital, explained how a search in the roof of the modern hospital yielded large numbers of records about the history of medical care in Salisbury since the thirteenth century. A lottery heritage grant enables both paid and volunteer staff to meticulously examine and digitally record these records, as well as ensuring their preservation and occasional display.

“St Nicholas Hospital was founded by the Bishop of Salisbury in 1228, Trinity Hospital now an Alms house followed in 1350. In 1763 Lord Feversham left £500 towards the creation of a hospital in Salisbury. A meeting at The Vine in 1766 chaired by Lord Radnor decides to open the hospital on Fisherton Street in 1767 using existing buildings. A move to a purpose-built hospital followed in 1771. Fisherton Asylum opened in 1813, eventually becoming the present day Fountain Way mental health facility. 1902 saw an isolation hospital opening at Old Sarum, mainly for children and electricity connected to the infirmary improving care. Harnham, (Tower) hospital, a former workhouse was used to care for soldiers during the First World War.

“During the Second World War, the Americans built a hospital at Odstock. Lesley told her audience that sometimes when they had finished operating, the surgeons would set to and help to do some of the building. This meant that Salisbury had two hospitals which were combined on the Odstock site in 1992, however the American stars and stripes is still flown on July 4th  in memory of the origins of the buildings on the Odstock site.

“Many picture and written records were shown to the audience, these ranged from pictures of matrons’ luxurious sitting room, menus for the patients, and a letter from Florence Nightingale to her cousin who was matron at one time.

“The expanding digital collection and a more detailed history can be accessed on the website

http://salisburyhealth carehistory.uk. It is well worth a look.

“Next month, on 9th October, the meeting will hear about the American Museum at Bath. The meeting starts  at 2pm prompt in the URC hall. New members are welcome. If you want to try us, the first meeting is free.”