| Title | Woodlands Convalescent Hospital 1877 – 1993 |
| Date | 1873 – 1993 |
| Location | Rawdon |
| Photo ID | E008 |
| Comment | Woodlands was built as a convalescent hospital in 1877. It was brick built and designed by architects Andrew & Pepper of Bradford at a cost of £20,000. |
The money was provided by Sir William Henry Ripley, politician and Bradford businessman, a further £5,000 was spent on improvements during 1891/92.
Convalescent servicemen were treated here in both World Wars, in the 1914-18 period over 3,000 were treated.
It was converted into a highly regarded orthopaedic hospital in 1951.
It closed in 1993, one of the reasons given was the location in Cragg Wood being inconvenient.
It has now been converted into apartments. (February 2013)
X531 – Woodlands Convalescent Hospital, Undated.
Woodlands Convalescent Hospital – Undated
An early view of Woodlands from the gardens.
E009 – Woodlands Convalescent Hospital, Undated.
Woodlands Convalescent Hospital – Undated
A view of Woodlands from the gardens.
D050 – Woodlands Convalescent Hospital, Undated.
Woodlands Convalescent Hospital – Undated
A view of the hospital, note the worker on the haystack and other persons around the fence posing for this photograph.
D051 – Woodlands Convalescent Hospital, Undated.
Woodlands Convalescent Hospital – Undated
A room for patients to read, relax and play games in. A billiard table is visible, and on the left billiard cues are stacked against the wall.
FB265 – Woodlands Convalescent Hospital, Undated.
Woodlands Convalescent Hospital – Undated
An interior view of the hospital day room.
FB266 – Woodlands Convalescent Hospital, Undated.
Woodlands Convalescent Hospital – Undated
A view of the dining room at Woodlands Hospital.
A321 – Woodlands Convalescent Hospital, Undated.
Woodlands Convalescent Hospital – Undated
A photograph of the front terrace of the hospital overlooking a garden.
A327 – Woodlands Convalescent Hospital, Undated.
Woodlands Convalescent Hospital – Undated
A photograph of a man walking up the drive to the hospital, possibly a service man out for a walk, with others standing and sitting on a bench.
Y603 – Woodlands Convalescent Hospital, Undated.
Woodlands Convalescent Hospital – Undated
Another photograph of the front terrace of the hospital overlooking a garden.
B219 – Woodlands Convalescent Hospital, Undated.
Woodlands Convalescent Hospital – Undated
A picture post card of the hospital taken from the image above.
B219R – Woodlands Convalescent Hospital, Undated.
Woodlands Convalescent Hospital – Undated
A message on the reverse of the picture post card reads:
“Dear Auntie, I hope you are well. We shall soon he having Christmas here. Mother is making cakes from ?”
It is addressed to Miss L Webster c/o Mrs Horsfall, Hayfield, Crosshills.
H234 – Woodlands Convalescent Hospital, 1914/18.
Woodlands Convalescent Hospital – 1914/18
A group of wounded servicemen, nurses and hospital staff posing for a photograph.
Donated by Jan Jones.
The man on the back row, 4th from the right, is identified as Hugh Robinson, born in Rochdale, he joined the Lancashire Fusiliers.
He served in Egypt and it is presumed he was sent with the fusiliers to Gallipoli, on March 21st 1918, he was killed aged 24.
He has no known grave but his name is on a memorial at Pozieres, Northern France. The is a message on the reverse of the photo-card which is difficult to read as it was written in pencil which has faded:
“Dear B ?, I received your letter to hand. I will stay another week before I ……..? Hope you are enjoying the best of health as it is with me at present. Wilson is here with ? ………my best respects to Edith when you ? again.”
Email from Jan Jones: 3rd March 2018: You may remember I sent you a few images in connection with my Great Uncle Hugh Robinson, who was a patient at Woodlands Convalescent Home during WW1. I was just looking at your pages again and realise that I can update them slightly for you. Since our last correspondence I have found that he did indeed fight at with the Lancashire Fusiliers at Gallipoli and was wounded in August 1915. No more info than that but maybe as a result of that injury he ended up at Woodlands.
B448 – Woodlands Convalescent Hospital, 1914/18.
Woodlands Convalescent Hospital – 1914-18
The location of this photo is unknown but it is probably Woodlands, Hospital.
Here we see a group of wounded servicemen and nurses.
The man on the back row second from the left is identified as Lawrence Luty.
DD036 – Woodlands Convalescent Hospital, Undated.
Woodlands Convalescent Hospital – 1914/18
Belgian and British wounded servicemen, the location is noted as Rawdon, so they were probably convalescing at Woodlands Convalescent Hospital.
To see Woodleigh Hall, where the nurses for Woodlands were housed – Click here.
Photographer John Kirby Smith, Guiseley.
Previous Comments:
BlueBus
I’m sure I remember, when I worked for Ledgard buses from 1957 to 1963 and maybe earlier than that a little lodge cottage on the main road about where the Crematorium entrance is now. It seemed quite neglected and there was a maroon signboard with white lettering which said “MITCHELL MEMORIAL HOME.”
09 January 2016
valryan85a
Remember going to see my Dad in Woodlands when it was a convalescent home (early 1950s) my auntie Nancy Blezard was also a patient there when it was an orthopedic hospital. I think this is Woodlands in Crag Wood, Rawdon.
Consolidated by Jack Brayshaw. 02 February 2021.
Last updated: 11 February 2024 – Photo ID: Y603. 28 December 2022 – Photo ID: X531. 08 November 2022 – All images updated.
