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Newsham Park HospitalNewsham Park Hospital (often featured to as ‘Park Hospital’) is a former seaman’s hospital, orphanage and asylum.
Newsham Park Hospital is a grade II listed building in Liverpool, Merseyside, England (grid reference SJ379920). It now lies derelict but was previously a hospital prior to which it was the Liverpool Seamen's Orphan Institution. HistoryFoundationBefore 1869, there was no institution in Liverpool for the support and education of the orphans of British seamen. The first move to establish such an institution was made by a group of leading Liverpool ship-owners in 1868. The sponsors of the project comprised a group of ship-owners and merchants who for some time had been concerned about how best to help the widows and families of deceased Merseyside men including those lost at sea. Members of the public were invited to attend a meeting at the Mercantile Marine Service Association Rooms on 16 December 1868, at which the resolution to found such an establishment was proposed by Ralph Brocklebank and Bryce Allan, both leading ship-owners and philanthropists. James Beazley, another leading ship-owner, was invited to be chairman of the committee to establish an orphanage. It was James Beazley who, on 17 December 1868, wrote to nine of his colleagues offering to donate £500 to start a building fund if they would donate the same amount.[1] There was an immediate response to this letter, and further donations were received following a more widespread public appeal. In 1869 an account was opened in Heywoods Bank, Brunswick Street. Within a few months, there was enough money for the General Committee to look around for a temporary home. On 9 August 1869, the Liverpool Seamen's Orphan Institution opened in temporary rented accommodation in Duke Street, and by the end of that year, there were 46 boys and 14 girls in residence. On 7 April 1870, Liverpool Town Council gave 7000 square yards (0.6 hectares) of land on the northeast side of Newsham Park to construct a Seaman's Orphan Institution. On 11 September 1871, the foundation stone of new building was laid by Mr. Ralph Brocklebank, the first President. The foundation stone of the chapel was laid on 1 August 1873 and the Liverpool Mercury carried the following report on 2 August entitled "Liverpool Seamen's Orphanage Institution: Laying the Foundation Stone of the Chapel."
On 30 January 1874, there was held an informal opening of the North wing of the orphanage, As well as the children who moved from the temporary orphanage in Duke Street the committee also looked after children on an outdoor relief basis. The institution was formally opened on 30 September 1874 by the Duke of Edinburgh, the "Sailor Prince", fourth son of Queen Victoria. The occasion was covered in The Liverpool Mercury on Monday 5 May 1879 as follows:
Further progressAs of June 1884, around 800 fatherless children were being supported by the orphanage, of which around half were living at the orphanage and an equal number were being supported at home, with their mothers. It was understood that the average annual cost to support one child in the orphanage was around £15 (equivalent to £2,100 in 2023), compared with £8 (equivalent to £1,100 in 2023) annually for those supported at home. The institution was financially supported entirely by voluntary donations.[2] In May 1886, Queen Victoria visited the institution, and added her name to the list of patrons. From the outset the education of the children was given top priority, and from 1892 the boys' school, and from 1898 the girls' school were administered strictly under government regulations, and the institution received a share of the Parliamentary Grant from the Education Department. By 1899 there were 321 children in the orphanage, while 508 were receiving outdoor relief in the form of monetary grants and clothing. Children of all religious denominations were assisted, with preference given to orphans of British seamen connected with the Port of Liverpool. The scholastic and religious instruction was under the supervision of the Church of England Chaplain. In July 1900 the Swimming Baths were opened and reported as follows by the Liverpool Mercury:[3]
The war yearsThe First World War brought problems, and by 1918 one thousand orphans were being assisted. Royal appreciation of the work was shown from time to time by visits to Newsham Park, and following a visit by Queen Mary and the Princess Royal in 1921 George V bestowed upon the institution the title "Royal" and granted it a Royal Charter of Incorporation. In the inter-war years, the institution made continued progress. During the Second World War, the children were evacuated to "Hill Bark", Frankby, Wirral, the country home of Mr E.B Royden, a devoted friend and committee member. Here the children remained and flourished throughout the war. Post-war and closureIn 1946, preparations were made for a return to Newsham Park, but with the great expansion in the country's social service schemes, many surviving parents were understandably reluctant to place their children in the orphanage. This led to a gradual decline in the number of resident children. New laws prohibited children under 11 years of age from being educated at the same school as older children, and young children from living in an institutional school. Despite Newsham Park's endowment, financial difficulties were increasing and there seemed little prospect of bridging the widening gap between income and expenditure. As a result, the orphanage was closed on 27 July 1949 while continuing to implement the objectives of the founders in providing means for the education and maintenance of the children of deceased British merchant navy seamen. Places in various schools were found for those then being housed and educated at Newsham Park. Most were transferred to the Royal Merchant Navy School at Bearwood, fees, etc. being borne by Newsham Park. The sale of the premises at Newsham Park to the Ministry of Health for use as a hospital realised £125,000 in 1951; the proceeds were forwarded to the Charity Commissioners for investment. The committee continued to provide support to orphaned seamen's children on a non-resident basis, thus continuing to pursue the original objectives of the institution's founders, with special emphasis on education. The work of the Institution in providing for the relief and education of the orphaned children of seamen continues today, and in 1969 the Institution celebrated its centenary. Newsham Park HospitalNewsham Park Hospital opened its doors in 1954. The hospital developed its own psychiatric department and received an influx of patients with severe mental problems. The hospital officially stopped taking new patients in 1988, and by 1992 all remaining patients and staff were relocated. AsylumIn 1992 with the closure of Rainhill Lunatic Asylum the inmates were moved to Newsham Park Hospital taking up 90% of its space. £1.6 million was spent on the hospital so it could house its new patients. There are still notices posted on boards in the School block and paperwork on the property that are dated 1996. All records of patients and staff have been closed for 100 years since 1997 when the building was finally vacated of patients and staff. Post Hospital historyIn 1997 the property was bought in auction by a property developer. In 2004 a plan by its owners, Gateway Properties, to develop the building into flats was defeated by local regeneration campaigners, and in July 2007 the site was put up for sale. Current statusThe site is now owned by property developer Anglefarm Limited. Their associates Land Ecology Limited have submitted a planning application to "convert and refurbish part of the historic building into an events venue, including kitchen facilities, dining restaurant and bar, function and seminar facilities, external seating area and all associated works."[4][5] References
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