Crossley Hospital

The Nurses Home
Ctossley Nurses Home

Crossley Hospital as located at New Pale Road, Kingswood, Cheshire. It was part of the old West Cheshire Hospital Management Committee Rural Sector. This was made up of Runcorn Cottage Hospital, Dutton Hospital., Crossley Hospital and Tarporley Cottage Hospital

Crossley Hospital was made up of two units built at Kingswood to treat tuberculosis which was prevalent in the nearby industrial cities at that time:-

Crossley West built in the 1900s approx by Liverpool City Council(?) also for TB patients. Known as Liverpool Sanatorium, Delamere Forest, Cheshire. Founded in 1901 with 40-49 beds.Occupying forty acres. Located at 500 feet above sea levelwith views over both the Dee and Mersey Valleys. Lord Derby, President, National Society for the Prevention of Tuberculosis, laid the foundation stone. It cost £15,000 to build. Major benefactors were Sir W. P. Hartley and Lady Willoc.
Crossley East built 1903 opened for TB patients funded by Sir William Crossley, part of the Crossley Carpet/Motor family from Manchester. Able to accommodate 90-100 patients. Opened 31st March 1905. Known as The Manchester Sanatorium, Delamere Forest, Cheshire, (Crossley Hospital) 66 acres with a 480 feet above sea level.

Both hospitals had their own medical superintendents and houses for nurses and other staff. Apprently patients were encouraged to be mobile and not confined to bed They fed in the main dining halls and were encouraged tp take walks in the grounds.

In 1946 streptomycin provided the means to cure most patients and the need for both hospitals declined Before that patients ogten stayed in hospital for two years or more. This when it was combined with surgery, made it possible to control TB. By 1960s the need for large scale sanatoria had ceased. After alternative uses by the Health Authorities the buildings have passed back into private hands.

Crossley West, the Liverpool hospital, became the Delamere Manor Nursing Home in the 1990s owned by Salix Care (for 50 patients who require constant nursing.care).
Acknowledgenment "Delamere" by Frank A Latham, Printed by the Local History Group 1991.

Plan of the main building:-
Plan of Crossley Hospital Main Building

acknowledgements:-
http://www.institutions.org.uk/hospitals/england/ches/crossley_sanatorium.htm

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