St Gerards is a small Hospital set up by the Father Hudson Society in Coleshill to provide treatment for children. It became a TB and orthopaedics hospital and closed in 1998.
Coleshill, North Warwickshire , UK Demolished History
St Gerards is a small Orthopaedics Hospital set up by the Father Hudson Society in Coleshill to provide treatment for children.
The Father Hudson Society was founded by Father George Vincent Hudson who feared for the children of Coleshill and Birmingham. In the late 1890’s many of the children in the area were finding themselves destitute through no fault of their own. Father Hudson established a home for boys where they could take residence. The home developed over time into a sizable institute including many treatment facilities for children. All the services were provided completely free of charge. [1]
Unfortunately 100 years after the society was established, they found themselves mixed up in accusations of scandal in the late 1990’s. There were widespread accusations of physical abuse, emotional abuse and sexual abuse of unprotected children at Father Hudson Home. There are even allegations that vulnerable children disappeared inexplicably. According to reports, priests and nuns were the perpetrators. [2][3]
St Gerrards Hospital was built shortly after the home for boys was established, when it was realised many of the children in the home were suffering with poor health. The hospital was designed on pavilion lines, a design type developed in the mid-19th century with separated wards, nurses stations, etc.
The hospital was clearly influenced by the ‘fresh air’ movement then current in hospital design. The patients would have spent much of their time outside the main wards – their beds being wheeled through the double doors onto the veranda on the open side and an uncovered hard-standing on the other. Even if the beds were kept within the building, the idea was that the doorways were generally left open. Obviously, this would rely on the weather. The central section between the two wards may have been the nurses’ station with possible communal facilities for the patients as well.
The hospital was used in the First World War as a VAD hospital for wounded soldiers. After the war it specialised in TB and orthopaedic services and became the Warwickshire Orthopedic Hospital until it’s closure in 1998. [4]
References
1. http://www.fatherhudsons.org.uk/index.php?/site/Sochistory/
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_sexual_abuse_cases_in_Europe] A priest was convicted of these offences in 1998.
3. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/priest-jailed-for-seven-years-for-abuse-at-orphanage-1162100.html
4. http://planning.northwarks.gov.uk/portal/servlets/AttachmentShowServlet?ImageName=253948
Excellent report as always pal! everyone I know who’s been here seems to meet someone else there lol! 16 people there when I arrived with mule! met some great friends there
Fantastic Report Mate. Stunning Photography. Nice Work.
Andy K Urbex they checked ova the way first while i snuck in the tb bit got my shots before everyone else came and set up for a couple of photo shoots . nurses and dragons if i remember right… bizarre day
can you still visit this place or as it been knocked down?
Andy Kay thank you for your quick reply, shame it it has gone
My mother was a nurse and worked at St. Gerard’s in the late 1930s and/or early 1940s. Thank you. I shall soon be scanning some pix of St Gerard that my mother had in her possession.
when was farther hudsons home built.
iits been nocked down now houes are being built on the land
Tony Robert Jones thanks for letting me know, no wasted drive and disappointment
My oldest brother spent exactly 2yrs there ( discharged in 1961 ) after an accident with 1 of our other brothers ! I was only 3 or 4 yrs old but remember travelling to Coleshill on the bus from Winson Green to see him , lying there in traction . I also remember how the wards had big doors , which in th summer , were opened wide onto a garden . My brother remembers how some of the other boys who were on crutches , would go to the girls ward but scurry back as fast as they could when the nurses came along .
Tears rolling down my face. Memories i was there; back in the early 60’s. It never leaves your mind. Even nearly 60 years later. Silent tears of the time my younger years with st gerards.
You can’t any more… It’s been demolished