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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Wiltshire => Topic started by: dbd29374 on Sunday 24 February 13 00:17 GMT (UK)
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I am seeking information, and hopefully, a 1940's photograph of the Odstock military hospital located in Salisbury,England. My father was assigned to the hospital during WWII from spring 1944-summer 1945. I am rebuilding his military record file as all were destroyed in a fire. I also have several old photos of a very large building, I believe to be in the Salisbury area, that I would like to identify. I had originally thought the photo was of the hospital, but now I am not sure. I would appreciate any help or advice.
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Googled Odstock hospital and found the site Odstock.com and it says that in 1942 on a hill to the north of Odstock Village there was an Emergency Medical Services hospital built.
In 1943 the US 5th Army Medical Corps took over to provide support for the Normany landings.
In 1948 the NHS took over the hospital and in 1993 the name Odstock was dropped from the hospitals name.
I know that in the 1950's there was a hospital in the same area that was there to try and find the cure for the common cold. People used to go there and stay for a few weeks. Get injected with virus to see if they could catch a cold and the doctors tried to find a cure :) There was film comedy film made about this place so perhaps a google to try and find a site for this may provided photo's you could check with the ones you have,
Jean
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Thank you, Jean for the information. I have already searched online for references to the hospital, but haven't found any photos as of yet. I thought the private sector would be more likely to have one.
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Hi, The old Odstock hospital stood on the site of the present day Salisbury hospital, just outside Salisbury its self. Before the new building, it was little more than a collection of prefabricated army type huts. These were used as a military hospital during the war then were used until fairly recently as a maternity unit and a specialist burns unit. They were gradually replaced and a new District hospital built on the site replacing both hospitals in Salisbury. Salisbury general hospital was actually in the town centre and was an old workhouse style building. Perhaps, this is what you have pictures of. If you could post the photos this could maybe confirm this.
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Thank you for the new information. That may explain why I can not find a photograph of the hospital if it is no longer there. I no longer think the photo I have is of the old hospital, but I do think it is a building somewhere around the Salisbury area. I am attaching to see if anyone knows which building it is and the details. The photo was taken around 1944 so it is a little raggedy.
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The original hospital in the City was not known as the general hospital; it was Salisbury Infirmiary - the main building still stands, having been converted into flats, and the exterior has largely been preserved as it was: if I knew how to insert an image I would put it here...however, Google is your friend!
As has been stated, the District Hospital was built on the site of Odstock Hospital in the early 90s - many Salisbury folk still stubbornly refer to it as Odstock Hospital!
The reference to the Common Cold Research Unit being nearby is correct. That was situated at Harvard Hospital, Harnham, about a mile away from Odstock. I think this was also originally an American military hospital. It closed in the 80s I think.
I don't recognise the building in the photo - sorry!
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I know you originally posted this on the deciphering and recognition thread and it was moved by the mods, but it may be worth asking if they could move it back. Or possibly start a new topic in that section posting the photo for identification as this is the mystery you have at the moment. It looks very much like a stately home to me and, if it is still standing, may have been visited by someone on their holidays !
Good luck. I'm sure someone will recognise it.
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As regards the unknown photo origins,its definitely not any where in the Salisbury or South Wiltshire area.
Looks to me more like an asylum or institution type of building,for example, like the cluster of five that housed all of Londons insane in the late 1890s etc in Epsom Surrey.
I was a student nurse at Odstock Hospital late 1950s early 60s,and well remember old American pinup pictures still up in some of the old disused Nissan huts down the far end.Our nurses home still had the original American arm chairs ,tables left by them,also in the wards too of lot of stuff was still in use.
Some of the original US buildings are still in use today.
Brionne.
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As regards the unknown photo origins,its definitely not any where in the Salisbury or South Wiltshire area.
Looks to me more like an asylum or institution type of building,for example, like the cluster of five that housed all of Londons insane in the late 1890s etc in Epsom Surrey.
Brionne.
Were you perhaps thinking of the Holloway Sanatorium at Egham, Surrey?
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Hi Imber,
Yes it could be a part of Holloway Sanatorium ,difficult to be dead accurate on this.So many of these large places have been demolished.Yew trees were planted in church establishments,or perhaps this was used as a wartime hospital/convalescent Home,its certainly interesting.I was originally thinking of Cane Hill etc.
Brionne.
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Hello,
I have no photo's of Odstock Hospital, but I feel sure that the public Library would have some.
Both my children were born there. Some of the old building is still there, the old huts were pulled down in the late 70's and a new Hospital built.
There are not many large buildings in Salisbury, so that could be easily identified.
I'm guessing your father was here during the war.I was born in the old Salisbury Hospital, and grew up between Tidworth and Bulford camps.
More info would be helpful, I'll help if I can.
Regards
Jean