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Dulwich Hospital over the years The Metropolitan Poor Act, 1867, required that infirmary accommodation be separate from workhouse buildings. To relieve overcrowding in its workhouse in Newington, near the Elephant and Castle, in 1871 St Saviour's Union (made up of the parishes of St Saviour and St George-the-Martyr in Southwark, and St Mary in Newington) planned to build a new infirmary outside its area near Peckham Rye Common, as no suitable site could be found in Southwark. However, the plan was abandoned when the cost proved prohibitively high. Instead, the Union was allowed to purchase a 6.5 acre site in East Dulwich, on the edge of the Dulwich Estate near Champion Hill station, for ?14,000 on condition that the exterior of the buildings have 'a more pleasing effect' than would normally be expected for such an institution. Despite virulent objections from the local populace led by Charles Barry (1823-1900), the architect and surveyor of the Dulwich College, who felt that property prices would fall and affect the College's income, and by the engineer and inventor Sir Henry Bessemer (1813-1898), a local resident, whose home would look down towards the proposed building, the project went ahead and the foundation stone was laid in June 1885. The St Saviour's Union Infirmary opened in April 1887. It had 723 beds and had cost ?50,000 to build. Its frontage along East Dulwich Grove measured 700 ft (210 metres). Built in the typical pavilion-plan layout, it had a large 2-storey central administrative block with two projecting wings at the front. The west wing contained the Medical Superintendent's residence. In the east wing were the Committee Room and, above it, apartments for the Matron and Assistant Matron, bedrooms for the senior nurses and mess rooms and day rooms for the nurses. The central portion contained various offices for the Superintendent, clerks and stewards, and Matron's sitting room. Above these was the chapel, some 70 ft (21 metres) long and 28 ft (23 metres) wide. The basement, which extended under the centre and the two wings, was used for storage of foodstuffs, beer and coal. An underground tramway enabled trolleys to transport the coal. On either side of the central block were a pair of double 3-storey ward blocks, placed roughly in a north-south direction so as to make the best use of daylight. The 24 Nightingale wards (12 for men and 12 for women) contained between 26 to 30 beds each, and the open balconies at the ends of the wards were large enough for three to four patients to be wheeled out in their beds onto them. Each ward had a two-bedded isolation ward, a day room and staff rooms. The bathrooms and WCs were located in sanitary towers at the far end of each ward. Corridors on each floor - 9 ft (3 metres) wide - connected the ward blocks with the central administrative block. The ground floor corridor was enclosed, but the upper two storeys were open, so that patients could benefit from fresh air. Heating for the wards was supplied by open fireplaces and hot water pipes. The centre of each floor of the ward blocks was fitted with a telephone, as were the Medical Superintendent's residence and various other points in the building. The porter's lodge, containing an office, a parlour and bedroom for the porter, was located at the entrance of the Infirmary on East Dulwich Grove. Close to the entrance gates were the receiving wards, one for male and one for female patients. These also contained the attendants' rooms, bathrooms and clothes stores. There were also two padded rooms lined with India -rubber padding. The kitchens and scullery were on the ground floor to the rear of the centre block. Bedrooms for 70 nurses and servants were on the first and second floors of separate blocks behind the east and west wings, connected to them (in case of fire) only by light iron bridges on the second floor. In 1902 the Infirmary was renamed the Southwark Union Infirmary, after St Saviour's Union became the Southwark Union in 1901. The Hospital was returned to the Guardians in April 1919. Of the 12,522 soldiers treated at the Hospital, only 119 had died, less than 1%. Civilian patients began to be transferred back in May 1919, and in July 1919 a Peace Day celebration was arranged for the patients. They received an egg for breakfast and, later, a meal with chicken and new potatoes, followed by stewed fruit, jelly or blancmange. Tea and cake were served later. The 45 child patients also received toys. In 1921 it was renamed the Southwark Hospital. When the LCC took over administrative control in 1931 it became a general hospital and was renamed the Dulwich Hospital. The ground floor wards were converted to an Out-Patient Department, offices and laboratories, thus reducing the number of beds to 423. Additional facilities were also built, including a new operating theatre, pharmacy, and a new boiler house with a chimney stack. During WW2 the Hospital treated local civilian air-raid casualties and, although bombs exploded nearby, its buildings did not receive a direct hit. In 1948 the Hospital joined the NHS, coming under the control of the Camberwell Hospital Management Committee, which included St Giles and St Francis Hospital. The Metropolitan Poor Act, 1867, required that infirmary accommodation be separate from workhouse buildings. To relieve overcrowding in its workhouse in Newington, near the Elephant and Castle, in 1871 St Saviour's Union (made up of the parishes of St Saviour and St George-the-Martyr in Southwark, and St Mary in Newington) planned to build a new infirmary outside its area near Peckham Rye Common, as no suitable site could be found in Southwark. However, the plan was abandoned when the cost proved prohibitively high. Instead, the Union was allowed to purchase a 6.5 acre site in East Dulwich, on the edge of the Dulwich Estate near Champion Hill station, for ?14,000 on condition that the exterior of the buildings have 'a more pleasing effect' than would normally be expected for such an institution. During WW1, following the 2nd Battle of Ypres, the number of casualties had risen alarmingly and the existing number of hospital beds was insufficient. The War Office approached the Local Government Board for permission to use some Poor Law Infirmaries temporarily. Both Southwark and Lambeth Unions were asked to participate in the scheme. The Southwark Union Infirmary was the first such institution in London to be evacuated. Within two weeks, 166 of its patients had been transferred to the Newington workhouse infirmary in Walworth, 134 to the Lambeth Infirmary in Renfrew Street, and a further 39 adults and 98 children to the Christchurch workhouse infirmary in Lambeth. The Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) took over the Infirmary on 11th November, 1915, and it was renamed the Southwark Military Hospital at the insistence of the Guardians. The existing staff was retained and augmented with nurses from the V.A.D. as well as 55 RAMC personnel, there were 15 Sisters, 28 Staff Nurses, 59 probationers, 40 orderlies and ancillary staff. The number of beds was increased to 820, with tents erected in the grounds as sleeping accommodation for those patients who could be ambulant during the day. The Hospital received a large proportion of Empire troops - Australians, South Africans and Canadians. By 1918 wounded American were also being admitted. The Hospital was returned to the Guardians in April 1919. Of the 12,522 soldiers treated at the Hospital, only 119 had died - less than 1%. Civilian patients began to be transferred back in May 1919, and in July 1919 a Peace Day celebration was arranged for the patients. They received an egg for breakfast and, later, a meal with chicken and new potatoes, followed by stewed fruit, jelly or blancmange. Tea and cake were served later. The 45 child patients also received toys. When the LCC took over administrative control in 1931 it became a general hospital and was renamed the Dulwich Hospital. The ground floor wards were converted to an Out-Patient Department, offices and laboratories, thus reducing the number of beds to 423. Additional facilities were also built, including a new operating theatre, pharmacy, and a new boiler house with a chimney stack. During WW2 the Hospital treated local civilian air-raid casualties and, although bombs exploded nearby, its buildings did not receive a direct hit.

East Dulwich Stream Laundry. No 116 Lordship Lane corner of Bassano Street, the East Dulwich Steam Laundry was built much to the anger of the owner of the houses on the other corner No?s 106 to 114 Lordship Lane,, these were some of the very first houses to have been built in the Lordship Lane, it was thought that a factory was out of place so close to their four story Building. These Houses were used as a temporary Morque during the war. The two story Steam Laundry extended along Bassano Street, with double doors that the dirty Bagwash, Blankets, Sheets Uniforms and Carpets were delivered, to be cleaned in the boiling tanks of water, the windows to the road were always open with steam coming out. further along was the doors where the cleaned and dried and ironed washing was brought out and loaded onto the company vans. Next doors were to the boiler house, where the boiler was fed with coal that had been dumped onto the pavement, by the end of the working day the remaining coal was shovelled into the coal store. The children going to the school opposite kicked the odd piece of coal up the road. This building is now ESPH Mot Centre. Next to this is Saint Thomas More Hall, this was called St Johns School Hall. How many worked there? I guess thirty. Next to this the shop at 118 was the Affiliated Insurance Agents run by Mr Bunce, I bought my Motor bike and later Cars Insurance there. Now the Irish shop. There were other Laundries but they did not have shops, they collected either from a house or agents, they were Dutch Boy , Maxwell, Hatcham Cleaner these were clothing cleaning and pressing Suits and Dresses. There was a yellow fronted cleaners shop opposite The Plough Public House corner of Barry Road named Achillie Serre. Now called Country Spray.

Public Baths on East Dulwich Road. Public baths and wash houses, now converted to leisure centre. Built 1890-1892. By Spalding and Cross. Red brick with stone dressings. Panel with lettering "Dulwich Public Baths. Inside is a hall staircase with cast-iron supports, elaborate cast-iron newel post and mahogany handrail. The large bath is now a sports hall. Warm baths survive with original fittings. Second World War preparations in 1938?39 before Second War 11 included laying floors over both swimming pools for use as First Aid Posts and Medical stores and equipment were brought in. The fuel shortage in late 1939 lead to the pool being closed over winter. In 1940 the pools were again planned to close for the winter but the Auxiliary Fire Service asked for the pool to be kept full for use when dealing with air raid damage. The Council decided to keep the pools open as a result and adapted the pools for Fire Brigade pumps. The original sign of "Dulwich Public Baths" is on the front of the building though there has been significant, if sympathetic, redevelopment inside. There are two original entrances on the front separating men and women. The entrance is raised using steps up to the main doors in order to provide a high basement where a laundry was originally in operation. The hall was latter used for entertainment such as Wrestling, Concerts and Sports, the pool having been covered by a temporary timber frame and flooring sections, the wrestling bouts held on the portable raised Ring would vibrate by the falls of the contestants shaking the seating giving more involvement of the patrons. There has always been a large staff there when the personal baths were in use, and the pools and laundry. Part was taken over by the Southwark Borough Council as offices, I used it to pay my rent for my Garage in Milo Road. A part is now accessed from Crystal Palace Road, that was only used years ago as the Emergency exits. How many people actually work there I don't know. Pictures of the front of the Baths and the Old Coate of Alms of Camberwell Borough Council

I might be able to make a book of my piotures

The places remain in my memory so I put them together.

East Dulwich Station. The station was named Champion Hill when it first opened in 1868. It stands where Grove Vale meets Dog Kennel Hill. It was later changed to East Dulwich Station as it got confused with Denmark Hill Station. The Station Staff of about twenty included Station Master, Porters, Booking Office Clerks, Signalmen, and many workers in the goods siding, unloading Coal, Sand,, Cement Bags, Timber, Bricks, Corrugated Iron sheets that formed Anderson Shelters. This branch of line into the sidings was used to bring wounded soldiers from World War Two to Dulwich Hospital as the line had passed near Dulwich Hospital to have the casualties taken back along the short distance. I understand that during the night trains did not run, so the train carrying the wounded could stop outside the back of Dulwich Hospital. There is a high embankment just here but a ramp had been made. The Coal wagons were unloaded by the local coal merchants by filling and weighing the large canvas sacks, and dragging them into the backed up horse drawn carts that were about the same height, when the cart was loaded the coalman toured the streets to sell the coal, but had to avoid trying to climb up Lordship Lane by going up Barry Road. A lot of the goods were collected by Companies on their own transport, or most used the local Building Merchants Lorries and Tippers that were painted Red bearing the name of HALL & CO, who had a large depot and material stockyard where the fleet of lorries would be parked at night. Their depot was in Grove Vale near Oglander Road . They might have employed forty men.

My father used to go to the front gate in Lordship Lane, he always put on his flat cap, and raised it to all the women that passed, he knew most of them but always called them as Mrs SO & SO, the men he used their name, the children were spoken to as young Morgan, or young Smiffy. They usually rersponded a little quip or by raising their hand or nodded. My encounters now are to say " Alriight " they if they know me answer by " Alright ". Not to speak to a near passing person seems to me that I cant be bothered. If they dont know me, I might expect a visit from a man in a white coat.

The Saint Francis Hospital in Saint Francis Road was long ago known as; The Constance Road workhouse of the Camberwell Union opened in 1895 with 898 inmates. It became the Constance Road Institution, caring for unmarried mothers, the handicapped, the elderly and the mentally ill. In 1930 the LCC took control of the administration and, in 1937, the Institution was renamed St Francis' Hospital. During WW2, on the evening of 12th July 1944 a V1 flying bomb impacted on the west side of the Hospital. The boiler house was demolished and several Hospital buildings were damaged. In 1948 it was incorporated into the NHS under the control of the Camberwell Hospital Management Committee, which also ran St Giles Hospital and Dulwich Hospitals. St Francis' Hospital joined the King's College Teaching Group in 1966 and, following yet another reorganisation in 1974, became part of the Camberwell Health Authority. In 1984 it became the north wing of the Dulwich Hospital, It closed in 1991 and services moved to Dulwich Hospital or King's College Hospital. Present status (January 2008) The site was sold for redevelopment and the Hospital buildings were demolished in 1993. There is now a housing estate. The 898 Inmates or Patients had to have a very large staff to look after all of those would be about 500 people, including Doctors Nurses, Porters, Boiler and heating staff, the Cooks who prepared the meals, the Laundry staff washed all the soiled linen and bedding, and uniforms. The Picture att. is taken from near the Dulwich Hamlet Ground is now, showing East Dulwich Hospital in the Background. There was a Tunnel under the Railway track joining the two Hospitals, this saved time going by road, the stretchers on wheels had large pnumatic tyres to cushion to ride on the uneven pathway.

1945 was the year I left school aged 14 to join the East Dulwich workers that managed to find work close at hand and stay in East Dulwich, within walking distance or use bicycle or by tram or bus for just a few pence. It is just a memory now of the large factories, and places where we all worked, since then 67 years later now they have all gone without a trace. I can list hundreds of thousands of those workers in the places named. My own place of work was dictated by my employer Greenaway & Son Building Contractor, although only the office staff worked from Lordship Lane, we once sent to a bombed building would work there until told to go to a new site, so there could be as many as two hundred men based from Lordship Lane. The former East Dulwich Depot of the Camberwell Borough Council before being amalgamated with Southwark, was at Grove End opposite East Dulwich Station, although a small entrance near the bridge over the road, it opened up to use the space of the length of Coplestone Road, here were buildings that was used to store the many items used in the district, road signs, granite curb stones, sandstone paving slabs, sand, cement, New galvanised Dust bins, railing gates, road tar and chipping. There were many workshops such as the Blacksmiths, Joinery, Paint Shop, Vehicle repair & Maintenance buildings. There were the many vehicles that were deployed daily from the Depot, the Refuse vehicles not as those used today, but low walk in ones just a foot from the ground, the dust man would go into the dust cart tip his bin behind a steel moveable divider, then as it got filled it would be adjusted forward to take more refuse, the crew had a small compartment behind the drivers cabin., once these carts were filled they went to the depot at Glengall Road Peckham and were tipped in to Barges on the Surrey Canal that were towed to Creek Road Deptford then down the Thames to be dumped out at sea. There were the smaller dust carts with curved covers that collected the leaves from the roads, and collected the sweepings from the various points where road sweepers waited with their bins. Early morning a procession of Road Sweepers emerged from the Depot pushing their double dust bin mounted pushcarts, with the set of broad bass brooms hanging at the side. The Road repair gangs left to do repairs in the vehicles loaded with sand or granite chippings, a Steam Roller towing a Tar Boiler with a tall metal chimney smoking from the fire below the boiler. Another Steam Roller towing the Men?s Caravan that served as a shelter and toilet. A lorry carrying the guard trestles and poles that had to be placed around every open hole. The lorry towing pneumatic compressor, with the air pipes and hammers. A lorry that serviced the road name plates washed them or changed them for a newer one, all the street furniture such as poles with signs keep left island illuminated Bollards had a regular wash. Many of the staff worked away from the Depot and many worked there, I am not sure of the numbers but it must have been 250. Att pcture of Dust cart but not Camberwell Council

Roll call on the first day back at school in Peckham Manor School. The teacher began calling out the names of the pupils: "Mustafa Al Eih Zeri?" "Here." "Achmed El Kabul?" "Here." "Fatima Al Hayek? " "Here." "Ali Abdul Olmi?" "Here." "Mohammed Bin Kadir?" "Here." "Ali Son al Len?? Silence in the classroom. "Ali Son al Len?" Continued silence as everyone looked around the room. She repeated, "Is this the name of any child here?" A girl stood and said, "I think that's me. It's pronounced Alison Allen!"

The folly was built in about 1880 at the highest point of the garden of Tewkesbury Lodge, a large house on Honor Oak Road, obviously to take advantage of the spectacular views. The folly is now in the back garden of a house at 23 Liphook Crescent, and listed grade II. Tewkesbury Lodge was built in the early 1850s and demolished in about 1930. Charles Bayer (1846-1930), who made a fortune out of ladies? underwear, lived in Tewkesbury Lodge from about 1890. A little known fact is that Bayer intended to leave his house and grounds to the LCC so that they could incorporate it into Horniman Gardens. The legal details had not been finalised by the time of his death and, not surprisingly, his beneficiaries decided to abandon these plans and sell the land to developers.

Just one post from robmolyneux. Who has shot himself in the foot. 4th Dan, dont you mean Thug? I agree with you, you are a complete and utter bastard. The Bird on your arm must be a Vulture. Lets hope she leaves you a skeleton.

Not far from Brenchly Gardens LIPHOOK CRESCENT SE23 Folly Tower in back garden TQ 3573 23/190 Circa 1880. Octagonal 3 storey tower of ironstone random rubble with freestone dressings, ie quoins, drip mould at lst floor level, bowtell moulding at 2nd floor and corbel table to low parapet (damaged). Octagonal staircase turret. Small, empty windows, with hollow chamfered elliptical stone arches, in chamfered square frames, 2 light on ground floor. Square doorway with hoodmould. Curiosity value.

So many have chosen E.Dulwich as their home. It might be on a hill or in the valley. But in their eyes is their Castle. They will protect it as it is theirs.

A very old picture. The new Hut.

The Lake in Dulwich Park has now a new booking hut, and after being drained and cleaned open for your enjoyment.

My Vauxhall Astra Merit 1300 was not made in England but, production began at Opel's West German plant at Bochum as car awarded as the best produced that year. Then it got hit from behind.

Vauxhall is an overground station in London. It's namesake is the Moscow Metro.

Friern Road School facing the Rye was a boys School when I attended in 1945. It still had the Brick walls covering the front ground floor windows that was used as Air Raid Shelters. A long way to walk from Lordship Lane / Goodrich Road juntion, through the back roads, no direct bus route, no time for going home for dinner. There was a small sweet shop in Crebor Street.

Is it a man in a suit case? I'd invite you back to my place It's only mine because it holds my suitcase It looks like home to me alright But it's a hundred miles from yesterday night Must I be the man in a suitcase Is it me, the man with the stranger's face Must I be the man in a suitcase Is it me, the man with the stranger's face Another key for my collection For security I race for my connection Bird in a flying cage you'll never get to know me well The world's my oyster, a hotel room's a prison cell

My Chickens take themselves into their shed just before dusk, I then lock them in till morning. Sadly my last hen has just died aged seventeen, I still have the Cock but he needs a few Hens to keep him company, I have tried from various places for two from Battery Hens but they are all up north, or a long way from me. All our pets get on well together,see picture.

Sung to the tune of "Polly Wolly Doodle." Version I Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, Guess I'll go eat worms, Long, thin, slimy ones; Short, fat, juicy ones, Itsy, bitsy, fuzzy wuzzy worms. Down goes the first one, down goes the second one, Oh how they wiggle and squirm. Up comes the first one, up comes the second one, Oh how they wiggle and squirm. Version II Nobody loves me, everybody hates me Think I'll go and eat worms Long ones, short ones, fat ones, thin ones See how they wriggle and squirm I bite off the heads, and suck out the juice And throw the skins away Nobody knows how fat I grow On worms three times a day Ohh...nobody loves me.

Now have to tap on the cats head.

Hi. Can you send your Paypal Account Number? Is Twenty pounds enough?

Only found the Number Plate. They must have thrown it away after reading the small print.