Plaque

Hornsey Central Hospital - foundation stone, 1907

Erection date: 7/11/1907

Inscription

To the glory of God and for the healing for the poor this stone was laid on 7th November 1907 by Alderman John Scott Balfour, Mayor of Hornsey.
W. P. Wood, JP - Hon. Treasurer
F. D. Askey, Town Clerk - Hon. Secretary
George Lethbridge RIBA - Architect
Mattock & Parsons - Builders

Site: Hornsey Central Hospital war memorial and others (10 memorials)

N8, Park Road, 151, Hornsey Central Health Centre

There are 10 memorials in this area around the the war memorial building in our photo. The two pier heads are to the right of the building, at the entrance to a small area of grass which contains 3 uncomfortable-looking benches which seem to be constructed from other architectural stone-work from the demolished buildings.

The two VC pavement plaques are laid in the terrace to the right of the war memorial building.

To the right of the steps there is a disabled access ramp, the walls of which have been used to hold the other 6 plaques, rescued from the old buildings.

From the magnificent Lost Hospitals of London: The Hornsey Cottage Hospital was built by Hornsey Borough Council on land donated by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. The foundation stone was laid in 1907 but the Hospital did not open until 1910. See this 1910 map.

The building was extended in 1924 as part of a War Memorial for those killed during WW1. See this 1935 map. In 1927 it changed its name to Hornsey Central Hospital because of nursing staff recruitment problems - nurses were unwilling to work in a 'cottage' hospital. The Hospital was further extended in 1938 and again in 1956. It closed in 2001 and the buildings became derelict and were squatted until 2007, when demolition began.

From the Imperial War Museum we understand that in 1925 (or 1924 according to the stone itself) the South Ward (the War Memorial extension according to the stone itself) was erected and the foundation stone was laid by Mrs Anderson. Seems likely that the memorial stone for James Anderson, financed by his mother, was unveiled at the same ceremony. 

Hornsey Historical Society has a photo of the war memorial building and other hospital buildings which have since been demolished. This article describes how residents were involved in deciding on the form that the Hornsey war memorial should take. They voted overwhelmingly for this building "the hospital entrance on the main road (Park Road) would have a special feature, ‘of an artistic memorial design’, with an entrance hall hung with marble tablets recording the names of the Fallen". The War Memorial building was opened on Armistice Day, 11th November 1921 and dedicated by the Bishop of Willesden.

The IWM site seems to suggest that the building in our photograph is the 'Hornsey memorial chapel' but we don't think that's right - there are no religious symbols on the building, nothing church-like at all, and the HHS article makes no mention of a memorial chapel.

The Wellcome Collection holds the hospital's 1929 Annual Report which has a good photo showing the layout of the buildings on Park Road.

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Hornsey Central Hospital - foundation stone, 1907

Subjects commemorated i

Mattock & Parsons

Builders active 1890 - 1912 at least, initially as Mattock Bros, and based in...

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F. D. Askey

Hornsey Town Clerk in 1907. From British History Online: "During the 1880s F....

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George Lethbridge

Architect known for his war memorial designs. Born Devon. Married Jessie Nais...

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W. P. Wood

Hon. Treasurer of Hornsey Borough Council in 1907.

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Hornsey Central Hospital - foundation stone, 1907

Created by i

Alderman John Scott Balfour

Mayor of Hornsey 1906-07 and 1912-13. From Stones of Haringey: "Born in Cupa...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Hornsey Central Hospital - foundation stone, 1907

Also at this site i

Hornsey Central Hospital - foundation stone, 1911

Hornsey Central Hospital - foundation stone, 1911

This is probably the 'opening' stone for the hospital which was begun in 1907.

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Hornsey Central Hospital war memorial

Hornsey Central Hospital war memorial

This plaque is placed above the door of the War Memorial building. It seems t...

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Hornsey Central Hospital war memorial - Brett Cloutman VC

Hornsey Central Hospital war memorial - Brett Cloutman VC

{Beneath a representation of the Victoria Cross medal:} Major Brett Cloutman,...

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Hornsey Central Hospital war memorial - Edward Bamford VC

Hornsey Central Hospital war memorial - Edward Bamford VC

{Beneath a representation of the Victoria Cross medal:} Captain Edward Bamfor...

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