Royal Naval Hospital Haslar, Gosport, UK

Royal Naval Hospital Haslar aka Serenity Hospital

The Royal Hospital Haslar was the largest hospital in England. It had a long and distinguished history serving military personnel, and later civilians. The site closed in 2009.

Visited July 2013 - September 2014  UK Gosport, UK Abandoned

History of the Royal Naval Hospital Haslar

For over 250 years the Royal Naval Hospital Haslar in Gosport provided medical services to the Royal Navy. The hospital had a long and distinguished service, and more recently provided treatment for all three military services and to civilians.

Planning for the hospital commenced in 1745 to be the first of three hospitals providing medical treatment to Sailors of the Fleet. Building of the hospital took 16 years and was completed in 1762, however the fourth side was not completed due to over-expenditure. When it opened, Haslar Hospital was the largest hospital, and the largest brick building in England.

Royal Hospital Haslar - Front elevation and plan
Royal Hospital Haslar – Front elevation and plan
Royal Haslar Hospital - External view of the main building
Royal Haslar Hospital – External view of the main building

As Haslar developed it didn’t take long until it started to resemble a prison more than a hospital. It was not uncommon for sailors to feign illness in order to be brought back to land from where they could escape. Extensive security measures were put in place and Haslar became known as an impenetrable fortress. The distinctive brick wall surrounding the site remains to this day, and was there to keep the sailors inside!

Development and expansion over the years ensured Haslar could stay at the forefront of care, and was always held in high regard. The many wars through the 20th century saw Haslar grow in terms of professionalism and technical ability while treating many casualties.

In 1966 Haslar became the core of the Tri-Services hospitals. The hospital was opened up to use by the NHS in later years, after military services were transferred to other hospitals. The site was closed and sold to developers in 2009.

Further History

A full history of Royal Hospital Haslar has been put together by the Haslar Heritage Group and can be found on their website.

Royal Haslar Hospital - Ward full of beds
Royal Haslar Hospital – Ward full of beds
The ward was used as a set for filming of the popular TV medical drama Holby City
Royal Haslar Hospital - Ward Beds
Royal Haslar Hospital – Ward Beds
 
Royal Haslar Hospital - Bed detail
Royal Haslar Hospital – Bed detail
Royal Haslar Hospital - A row of beds in a hospital ward
Royal Haslar Hospital – A row of beds in a hospital ward
Royal Haslar Hospital - Hospital ward
Royal Haslar Hospital – Hospital ward
Royal Haslar Hospital - Large staircase
Royal Haslar Hospital – Large staircase
Royal Haslar Hospital - An empty ward
Royal Haslar Hospital – An empty ward
 
Royal Haslar Hospital - Empty room
Royal Haslar Hospital – Empty room
Royal Haslar Hospital - Saline drip bag
Royal Haslar Hospital – Saline drip bag
Royal Haslar Hospital - Waiting area
Royal Haslar Hospital – Waiting area
Royal Haslar Hospital - Temporary waiting room set up in an old ward
Royal Haslar Hospital – Temporary waiting room set up in an old ward
The ward in 1905The ward in 1960These pictures from 1905 and 1960 show the same ward as the image above, while the hospital was in use. Note the curtains for patient privacy were only added in 1960.

Royal Haslar Hospital - Decaying ward
Royal Haslar Hospital – Decaying ward
 
Royal Haslar Hospital - Seats in a ward
Royal Haslar Hospital – Seats in a ward
Royal Haslar Hospital - Lights in an operating theatre
Royal Haslar Hospital – Lights in an operating theatre
Royal Haslar Hospital - Plastic bone and book about medical procedures
Royal Haslar Hospital – Plastic bone and book about medical procedures
Original operating theatre at HaslarAdmirals Walk and the pavilion above main arcadeThe original operating theatre was situated above the main arcade. The first image shows the inside of the pavilion which can be seen in second image. The pavilion was removed after the First World War.

Royal Haslar Hospital - Children's ward
Royal Haslar Hospital – Children’s ward
 
Royal Haslar Hospital - Mural showing the Haslar Peninsula
Royal Haslar Hospital – Mural showing the Haslar Peninsula
Royal Haslar Hospital - Huge spiral staircase
Royal Haslar Hospital – Huge spiral staircase
Royal Haslar Hospital - Looking up the spiral
Royal Haslar Hospital – Looking up the spiral
Royal Haslar Hospital - Looking down the spiral
Royal Haslar Hospital – Looking down the spiral
 
Royal Haslar Hospital - Spiral staircase viewed from the bottom
Royal Haslar Hospital – Spiral staircase viewed from the bottom
Royal Haslar Hospital - Corridor in the Crosslink which was a later addition
Royal Haslar Hospital – Corridor in the Crosslink which was a later addition
Royal Haslar Hospital - Emblem in entrance
Royal Haslar Hospital – Emblem in entrance
 
Royal Haslar Hospital - CT Scanner
Royal Haslar Hospital – CT Scanner
Royal Haslar Hospital - Masses of equipment left behind
Royal Haslar Hospital – Masses of equipment left behind
Royal Haslar Hospital - Control booth
Royal Haslar Hospital – Control booth
 
Royal Haslar Hospital - X-Ray Machine
Royal Haslar Hospital – X-Ray Machine
Royal Haslar Hospital - Fluoroscopic X-Ray Machine
Royal Haslar Hospital – Fluoroscopic X-Ray Machine
Royal Haslar Hospital - Small X-Ray Machine
Royal Haslar Hospital – Small X-Ray Machine
 
Royal Haslar Hospital - MRI Scanner
Royal Haslar Hospital – MRI Scanner
Royal Haslar Hospital - MRI Scanner and computer equipment
Royal Haslar Hospital – MRI Scanner and computer equipment
Royal Haslar Hospital - The arcade
Royal Haslar Hospital – The arcade
Royal Haslar Hospital - Arcade entrance
Royal Haslar Hospital – Arcade entrance
 
Royal Haslar Hospital - Tramway in arcade
Royal Haslar Hospital – Tramway in arcade
Royal Haslar Hospital - The Main Arcade was the original entrance
Royal Haslar Hospital – The Main Arcade was the original entrance
Tram being pushed into HaslarTramway through Haslar main entranceThe tramway connected Haslar Jetty to the hospital so sick or injured sailors could be transferred easily from ships. Sick Berth staff would push the tram by hand into the hospitals arcade.

Royal Haslar Hospital - Columns and arches
Royal Haslar Hospital – Columns and arches
Royal Haslar Hospital - The gymnasium
Royal Haslar Hospital – The gymnasium
 
Royal Haslar Hospital - Lecture theatre
Royal Haslar Hospital – Lecture theatre
Royal Haslar Hospital - Dental surgery
Royal Haslar Hospital – Dental surgery
Royal Haslar Hospital - Waiting area
Royal Haslar Hospital – Waiting area
Royal Haslar Hospital - Hydrotherapy Pool
Royal Haslar Hospital – Hydrotherapy Pool
 
Royal Haslar Hospital - Hydrotherapy Pool
Royal Haslar Hospital – Hydrotherapy Pool
Royal Haslar Hospital - Items in the lab
Royal Haslar Hospital – Items in the lab
 
Royal Haslar Hospital - Laboratory
Royal Haslar Hospital – Laboratory
Royal Haslar Hospital - Centrifuge
Royal Haslar Hospital – Centrifuge
Royal Haslar Hospital - Chair behind frayed curtains
Royal Haslar Hospital – Chair behind frayed curtains
Royal Haslar Hospital - Staircase in the newer extension
Royal Haslar Hospital – Staircase in the newer extension
Royal Haslar Hospital - Stairs from top
Royal Haslar Hospital – Stairs from top
 
Royal Haslar Hospital - Wheelchair
Royal Haslar Hospital – Wheelchair
Royal Haslar Hospital - Chair in large empty room
Royal Haslar Hospital – Chair in large empty room
Royal Haslar Hospital - Pool table
Royal Haslar Hospital – Pool table
 
Royal Haslar Hospital - Cafe area
Royal Haslar Hospital – Cafe area
Royal Haslar Hospital - Canada Block external
Royal Haslar Hospital – Canada Block external
Royal Haslar Hospital - G-Block External
Royal Haslar Hospital – G-Block External
Haslar Padded Cell - Pocock Brothers Padded Cell
Haslar Padded Cell – Pocock Brothers Padded Cell
Padded CellMore about the Padded Cell

G-Block was the hospital’s psychiatric ward and features an original Pocock Brothers padded cell. I have written a separate report about the padded cell.

Further Feading
If you liked this report please also check out Proj3ct M4yh3ms Haslar Hospital report on his website.
Author: Andy Kay | Facebook | Flickr | Instagram

47 thoughts on Royal Naval Hospital Haslar, Gosport, UK

  1. Thank you for going behind the scenes with honest and good intentions! Shameful that this beautiful hospital was closed.

  2. What a crying shame this hospital was closed and leaving all those expensive machines. With all the property being built so making a hospital this side of the water. When they did close why leave all the machines

  3. If there was ever a domestic threat has large could be reopened immediately by the military. Lots of memories of my father working here.

  4. Wish it never closed, have you tried getting to the QA and actually tried to find a car parking space, Gosport needed Haslar.

  5. Amazing pictures buddy, some really good times here for sure! Loving the pictures of the scanners and stairs, don’t think I can get enough of this place

  6. I lived and worked at R.N.H. Haslar as a member of the operating theatre team. It is so so sad to see the old place falling to bits!!!!!

  7. I trained and worked there in 1990 and had several operations as well. Sad to see it so unloved. But I have kept my fab memories.

  8. I spent time here between 1990 – 1997 . Brilliant memories but very sad now to see it in such a state . What a waste and what a history .

  9. My first posting and my best memories. What a wonderful establishment, beautiful building and a fantastic team. It should never have closed and makes me so desperately sad to see the decaying interior. We were so proud of our hospital.

  10. It was an awakening in my life, I enjoyed my experience of Nursing in the Navy, the Patients, the camaraderie,the Serenity of the Hospital. The grounds were wonderful for the patients recovering and the staff that guided them in these surroundings. I know we can never go back, but memories keep one going. My regret is that RNH.Haslar was sold because they say it was too expensive to run.. The NHS is still loosing money in different ways.
    Part of RNH Haslar could have been used for the general public, part for service personal in the area and part for Private patients, which could have helped with the funding. I feel that too many expect not to pay anything for Health, there are not enough people paying Into the NHS.,because more are on benefits than working., too many at the top being paid extortionate wages. On the plus side there have been many advancements in medicine and surgery, but you cannot beat good nursing care, which is what I found when nursing in RNHHaslar. It is a long way to QA?, and like a city to get around, making it more expensive to park. the Staff are very good and volunteers obliging, but it still does not make up for the loss of RNH Haslar.

  11. Miss this place so much it was a fantastic place to work will never understand why we were closed Gosport residents are now at risk

  12. I worked at Haslar from 1995 till 2000 and loved my job n working here it’s such a shame it closed but fab pictures xx n great memories xx ( I worked on E6

  13. FYI its NOT Royal Hospital Haslar,its Royal Naval Hospital Haslar.I spent many happy years there as a young Medical Assistant.

  14. I had several Ops. At Hasler, also my father was cared for when he was ill,the staff were wonderful,the doctors also were to be admired it was a sad day when the hospital was closed

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