The History
The hospital was first built in 1889 as an extension to the Birmingham Union Workhouse (whose entrance building, though derelict, survived until September 2017).
It originally comprised of a single corridor stretching for a quarter of a mile with nine Nightingale ward blocks radiating from it along its length. The original design was by an architect called W. H. Ward and was designed around a configuration recommended by Florence Nightingale.
The first matron was Anne Campbell Gibson, still commemorated with the Ann Gibson meeting rooms in the City Hospital.
It was originally known as the Birmingham Union Infirmary, later Dudley Road Infirmary, before becoming Dudley Road Hospital. One of its notable surgeons, Hamilton Bailey, took the photos for the first edition of his famous textbook while at Dudley Road.
The Birmingham Treatment Centre opened on the City Hospital site in November 2005. This diagnosis and treatment centre replaces the existing Outpatient Department.
The hospital's last inpatients were transferred to Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in 11 November 2024 the same day the hospital's accident and emergency unit was closed.
The Explore
What with @GRONK & @Bikin Glynn both putting up great reports on the nurses home, myself and @KPUrban_ got chatting about when the rest of the hospital would be shutting, and it turned out that date wasn’t too far away…..
@GRONK's & @Bikin Glynn's reports on the gorgeous nurse’s blocks can be found here
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/city-hospital-birmingham-january-2024.136953/
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/birmingham-city-hospital-sept-22.136877/
So one rainy Saturday morning I left home at an ungodly hour and headed toward the dull grey metropolis that is Birmingham, I collected @KPUrban_ on the way and we made our way oop norf.
The hospital I located between a rough arse housing estate and a main road full of roadworks, so once we eventually located somewhere “safe” to leave the car we circumnavigated the hospital and found a way into the grounds.
The hospital is huge and the grounds it sits in are equally as impressive, but also shared with the small part of the hospital that remains live and the new multi-storey carpark.
Finding a way into the hospital wasn’t overly hard, but remaining unseen was a little harder. Security are based in a little tent out front and make regular patrols inside the hospital. Let’s just say we had a few close moments.
Here’s some pics to whet your appetite
Service tunnels
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