London Chest Hospital: Closed Or Still Operating?

The London Chest Hospital, a castle-like red-brick building in Bethnal Green, London, closed down on April 17, 2015, after 167 years of operation. The hospital was founded in 1848 by a group of men, including bankers, merchants, and the physician Thomas Bevill Peacock, to treat heart and lung diseases, particularly tuberculosis. Over the years, the hospital witnessed major historical events, including World War II, when half of its beds were used to treat air raid casualties, and it became known for its expertise in cardiovascular health. In 2015, the hospital closed as services were consolidated to create the Barts Heart Centre, one of Europe's largest cardiac centres.

The London Chest Hospital closed on 17 April 2015

The London Chest Hospital, located in Bethnal Green, adjacent to Victoria Park, closed its doors on 17 April 2015. The hospital had a long history of serving the community, dating back to its founding in 1848 by a group of Quakers, including bankers, merchants, and the physician Thomas Bevill Peacock. Over the years, it gained a national reputation for its treatment of cardiac and pulmonary diseases, particularly tuberculosis.

During its 167 years of operation, the hospital underwent several name changes and witnessed major historical events, including World War II, when half of its beds were made available to treat air raid casualties. In 1941, the hospital was bombed, damaging the north wing and destroying the chapel. Despite the challenges, the hospital pushed through, and by 1994, it became part of the Royal Hospitals NHS Trust, later renamed the Barts Health NHS Trust in 2012.

However, in 2015, the trust reshuffled its specialist services, leading to the closure of the London Chest Hospital. The closure was approved by NHS England in October 2014, with Barts Health announcing that the hospital no longer met the demands of modern specialised medicine. The services were consolidated with those of The Heart Hospital to create the Barts Heart Centre at St Bartholomew's Hospital, one of Europe's largest cardiac centres.

The closure of the London Chest Hospital marked the end of an era, leaving a void in the community it had served for so long. The site was quickly sold to housing developers, and in 2015, Snapdragon was appointed to provide communication and consultation support for the redevelopment project. Despite the hospital's closure, its legacy lives on, with its iconic castle-like red and cream facade being preserved in the approved redevelopment plans of 2024.

The closure was due to a reshuffle of specialist services

The London Chest Hospital, a castle-like red-brick building in Bethnal Green, adjacent to Victoria Park, closed down on the 17th of April 2015. The hospital was founded in 1848 by a group of predominantly Quaker men, including bankers, merchants, and the physician Thomas Bevill Peacock. Over its 167 years of operation, the hospital treated patients during the tuberculosis endemic, World War II, and witnessed major improvements in cardiovascular health.

The closure of the London Chest Hospital was indeed due to a reshuffle of specialist services. In 2015, the Barts Heart Centre was established at St Bartholomew's Hospital, consolidating services from the London Chest Hospital and The Heart Hospital, part of University College London Hospital. This move was part of a reconfiguration of specialist cardiovascular services in north and east London, ensuring that the hospital was no longer equipped to handle the specialised demands of 21st-century medicine.

The London Chest Hospital had a national reputation for treating cardiac and pulmonary diseases, particularly tuberculosis. As the incidence of tuberculosis decreased dramatically, the hospital's focus shifted to treating ailments of the heart. The hospital's expertise in chest and rib removal surgeries, developed during the tuberculosis endemic, laid the foundation for its later specialisation in cardiovascular health.

The closure and consolidation of services enabled the creation of one of Europe's largest cardiac centres, providing state-of-the-art facilities and specialised care for patients. However, the closure was met with opposition from local campaigners, who held an emotional connection to the hospital, especially given its long history in the community. The site of the former London Chest Hospital was sold to housing developers, and in 2024, new plans were approved to redevelop the site while preserving the listed portions, including the iconic castle-like facade.

The site was sold to housing developers

The London Chest Hospital, a castle-like red-brick building in Bethnal Green, adjacent to Victoria Park, closed down on the 17th of April 2015. The closure was due to a reconfiguration of specialist cardiovascular services in north and east London, which led to the creation of the Barts Heart Centre at St Bartholomew's Hospital.

Following its closure, the site was quickly sold to housing developers, with plans for redeveloping the site and providing market and affordable housing. The London Chest Hospital had been a part of the community for a long time, and many local residents, stakeholder groups, and elected members had an emotional connection to the site. The redevelopment plans faced several constraints and challenges, including the site's location within the Victoria Park Conservation Area and the presence of a Grade II-listed building and a much-loved 400-year-old mulberry tree.

In August 2015, Clarion Housing Group and Crest Nicholson acquired the site from the Barts NHS Trust. They began working on proposals for the redevelopment, which included enhancing the formal lawns at the primary entrance to establish a relationship with the nearby Victoria Park and providing on-site play space. An extensive consultation programme was implemented, including public exhibitions, community workshops, and meetings with various stakeholders.

The original planning application for full planning permission and listed building consent was submitted in November 2016 but subsequently amended in November 2017 and May 2018 to address the concerns and constraints raised by various authorities and third parties. The scheme was approved by the Tower Hamlets Council's Strategic Development Committee in September 2018.

The redevelopment plans faced opposition, particularly regarding the fate of the ancient mulberry tree. Experts from the East London Garden Society, backed by celebrity supporters and local campaigners, took the developers to court to block plans that they believed would kill the tree. The battle lasted until 2021 when the court blocked the plans completely. In 2022, developers Clarion submitted new plans that preserved the listed portions of the site, including the iconic castle-like red and cream face of the old hospital, and these plans were approved in 2024.

The hospital had a 167-year history

The London Chest Hospital, located in Bethnal Green, adjacent to Victoria Park, had a 167-year history serving the community before it closed down in 2015. The hospital was founded on 13 March 1848 by a group of men, predominantly Quakers, who included bankers, merchants, and the physician Thomas Bevill Peacock. Their aim was to establish a hospital that specialised in treating diseases of the heart and lungs, particularly tuberculosis.

The hospital opened in 1855, and during the First World War, one of its matrons, Lillian Grace Dalton, was appointed Matron in the Territorial Force Nursing Service for the 4th London General Hospital. She was recognised for her services with the Royal Red Cross award. By 1937, the hospital had undergone several name changes and was now known as the London Chest Hospital, a name that stuck. That same year, a new surgical wing was added, which performed specialist chest surgeries such as rib removals targeting tuberculosis symptoms.

During World War II, half of the hospital's beds were made available to treat air raid casualties. Sadly, in 1941, the hospital was bombed, resulting in the destruction of the north wing and the chapel, and severe damage to an ancient mulberry tree on its grounds. In 1948, the hospital became part of the National Health Service, and it continued to be a prominent medical institution over the years, witnessing major improvements in cardiovascular health and treating cardiac and pulmonary diseases.

In 1994, the hospital became part of the Royal Hospitals NHS Trust, and it was renamed the Barts Health NHS Trust in 2012. However, in 2015, the hospital closed as services were consolidated and moved to the Barts Heart Centre at St Bartholomew's Hospital, marking the end of the London Chest Hospital's long history of serving the community.

The site's redevelopment plans faced challenges

One of the key challenges was the presence of a much-loved and historic mulberry tree on the site. The developers' initial plans to relocate the four-hundred-year-old tree caused a local uproar, with experts arguing that the move would likely kill it. Backed by celebrity support and local campaigners, the battle against relocating the tree lasted until 2021 when the court blocked the plans.

Another challenge was the site's location within the Victoria Park Conservation Area and the Grade II listed status of some of the buildings. The redevelopment plans had to consider various constraints and undergo an extensive community outreach programme to address the concerns of local residents, stakeholder groups, and elected members emotionally connected to the site.

To overcome these challenges, the developers submitted amended planning applications and implemented an extensive consultation programme. The consultation included public exhibitions, community workshops, meetings with politicians and councillors, and communications around the future of the mulberry tree. The final approved plans preserved the listed portions of the site, including the iconic castle-like red and cream face of the old hospital, while also providing for market and affordable housing.

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