With the end of the Napoleonic Wars in sight, the officers of
the Peterborough Yeomanry Cavalry formally agreed that their
surplus funds should be used towards the establishment of a public
dispensary. This came into being in May 1816 in a rented house in
Cowgate, and was augmented by a Lodging House built in New Town in
1819 to accommodate rural patients who needed longer treatment. The
Lodging House eventually became referred to as The Infirmary. About
1845 it was demolished and replaced by a combined 'Dispensary &
Infirmary'. Twelve years later this was exchanged for a larger
building in Priestgate (now the City Museum). The Infirmary was
housed here until March 1928, when patients and equipment were
moved to the new, purpose-built, Memorial Hospital in Midland
Road.
The Memorial Hospital was transferred to the National Health
Service in 1948, coming under No 12 Group (Peterborough &
Stamford Hospitals Management Committee) of the East Anglian
Regional Hospitals Board. Also transferred in 1948 were several
other hospitals: Thorpe Hall (Maternity 1943-1970), The Gables
(Maternity 1947-1970), Smallpox Hospital (1884-1970), Isolation
Hospital (1901-1981), and St John's Close (Mentally Ill,
c1930-1971).
The Memorial Hospital was enlarged by the massive addition of
Peterborough District Hospital, built in continuous phases between
1960 and 1968.
Various records of hospitals and health authorities in or
associated with Peterborough are known to exist:
- Huntingdon Health Authority: Notifications of Births - (covers
the Peterborough City and Rural District Council area).
Held at Huntingdon Record Office.
- North West Anglia Community Health Council (National Register
of Archives)
- (1989-2003) Reference: ACC 2003/137, 148).
Held by Norfolk Record Office.
- Peterborough Area Hospital Management Committee (National
Register of Archives)
- 1949-1974: minutes.
Held at Northamptonshire Record Office.
- Peterborough and District Memorial Hospital (National Register
of Archives)
- 1928-1948 : records, including management committee
minutes.
Held at Northamptonshire Record Office.
Held by Huntingdon Record Office.
- Peterborough Infirmary (National Register of Archives)
- 1919-1925: casualty book.
Held at Northamptonshire Record Office.
Peterborough Central Library holds a variety of annual reports,
plans and other published documents relating to local hospitals and
health authorities [including a souvenir programme of the
ceremonial opening of the Peterborough & District Memorial
Hospital, 14 June 1928]. See under 'Local Health
Services/Hospitals' in the 'List of non-book stock in Local Studies
Collection'. This list is available for consultation in the Local
Studies and Archives Room at Peterborough Central Library.
Printed sources:
Peterborough and District War Memorial Hospital 1928-1968' by
Gwen Beatty, in, Peterborough's Past 3, 1988, pp45-56.
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