Heatherwood Hospital
Demolition 2022-23
Goodbye to an Ascot Landmark
In the early 1920's the skyline at the start of the Ascot high street
changed forever as a new hospital was built and in 1922 it accepted
it's first patients
Over the next 100 years many buildings were added to the site
including the Maternity three storey building in the early 1970's
The management of the hospital changed a number of times, each one
with their own ideas of what was best for the locale, along with the
local health authority we now find ourselves witnessing the demolition
of the original hospital and a new modern unit to the rear of the
site, which has now been built.
This web page is just some of the visual memories captured as we say
goodbye to an old friend.
Welcome to Heatherwood
Demolition Image Gallery
Obtaining pictures is not easy as all around the site a solid fence
has been erected.However the pictures here were taken at the west end
of the site, where the fence is clear.
19102022 Preparation for Demolition
We see each building with it's contents removed and scattered outside,
open to the elements. A lot of those items would have been funded by the
League of Friends and other charities who supported the hospital over
the years.
This first video was captured this week whilst visiting Ascot. Never
thought I would see the day when the old hospital would be ready for
demolition in my life time.🥲
28022023 Heatherwood Demolition Commences Part 1 Already Demolished
Second video
A cold day in February and confirmation the old hospital will be
demolished as work commences.
A large section has already been demolished including the Chapel of St
Luke Radio Heatherwood and the Paul Bevan Day Unit.
My view, very disappointed that the chapel and Paul Bevan unit were not
repurposed for future use.😢 These buildings were funded by the local
community in donations and fundraising.
In the 60's the league members were paying subscriptions, organizing
dinner dances all in the aid, to give the hospital a chapel.
Despite all the assurances from senior members of the trust; "the chapel
would be protected",hollow words unfortunately!.
There is now no evidence that the League of friends ever existed at this
site and how much they contributed to the hospital.
Radio Heatherwood studio has now been demolished, six years after the
radio was forced to leave site because the building was in the way ?.
This video shows the change since last October.:-😢
28022023 Heatherwood Demolition Commences Part 2 Buildings Lost Forever
Third video
A collection of still images on video of buildings, which have already
gone forever. Each picture,details when it was obtained.
27032023 Heatherwood Demolition Still Images
Images 4 & 5 Estates, Forest Lodge, Ward 10 &
Hospital Chapel, Demolished.
Image 6 View to Social Services & Bowledge
Hill. Note the tiles from the roof have been removed along with the
tiles from the social hall,these no doubt will be repurposed elsewhere.
Image 7 Red Cross Centre Almost Demolished.
Image 8 Paul Bevan House, taken on the
27022023.
27032023 Heatherwood Demolition Still Images
Images 9 & 10 & 11 Old A & E Entrance.
Image 12 Old Out-Patient & Treatment.
Image 13 Day Surgery & Switchboard
Demolished.
Image 14 Maternity & Out-Patients.
Image 15 View From Access Road to Ward 5
being removed,Section already removed.
Image 16 View From Access Road to Ward 5
being removed,Section already removed.
Image 17 Old Boiler House with tiles being
removed.
27 & 28 March Heatherwood Demolition Video Part 2
Fourth video (Item 18)
A collection of still images on video of buildings, some already for
demolition others gone already.
Includes information about the buildings, also some captured on the
28/03/2023.
04 & 29 April Heatherwood Demolition Video Part 3
Fifth video (Item 19)
Images and video's collected on the two dates.
Buildings lost during the month was, boiler house, social hall, wards
1,2, and partial admin.In addition Rose cottage was also demolished.
By the time this is published,the iconic admin building will have been
demolished.
A high fence is erected on the access road to the new hospital, which
will make it very difficult to obtain pictures from the west of the
site.
10 19 & 23rd May Heatherwood Demolition Video Part 4
Sixth video (Item 20)
Images and video's collected on the three dates.
Conformation sunken garden has been lost,old original Path Lab building
and walkway to maternity unit demolished.
The last remaining treatment buildings from the 1920's are the only
survivors from the original build.
A new view of the site from behind ward 5 shows how much has been lost.
Conformation Bowledge hill is still protected by fencing to prevent
damage.
June Heatherwood Demolition Video Part 5
Seventh & Eighth video (Item 21)
Images and video's collected throughout the month of June
Maternity unit becomes the emphasis for this month, as the unit is
completely demolished.
Two versions of the video for this month have been created.Item 21 the
long version & Item 22 is the short version.
Confirmation ward 5 and the hyperbaric unit have both been demolished.
Confirmation Diagnostic unit(Formerly Special Care Baby Unit)
Demolished.
The removal of the Maternity unit, just leaves the original Ward 4 and
the old 1960's A&E still standing.
July Heatherwood Demolition Video Part 6
Eighth video (Item 22)
Images and video's collected throughout the month of July
The removal of ward 4, just leaves the original old 1960's A&E still
standing.
This month saw the clearing of all the old rubble from Maternity area
and this has allowed some clear views across the site.
August Heatherwood Demolition Video Part 7
Ninth Video (Item 23)
Friday 4th and all buildings have now been demolished
And In The End
The first physical pictures of the demolition, commenced in February
2023 and by August the last of the buildings were demolished.
A hospital which had served it's community since 1922 was now consigned
to the history books of Ascot.
Thousands of people's lives were changed with the building of this
hospital,fundraisers,staff,local community,
Thankyou Heatherwood 1922-2023 for serving your community so well.
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P.J. Davidson-Smith
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