Following my previous project documenting Stockport Union Workhouse, naturally I decided to move on to the northern end or the ‘modern’ side of the site which was built as a result of the conversion of the poor law institution which eventually turned into a fully-fledged hospital. The workhouse ethic in Britain had all but come to an end and the site became Shaw Heath Hospital (Shaw Heath being the area of Stockport that the hospital covered) following the erection of the board-room block at the corner of Flint street at the turn of the last century. Implementation of the NHS in the late 1940’s meant the site expanded yet again and became known as St Thomas Hospital in 1954. The industrial boom in Greater Manchester toward the later part of the century meant that newer, more modern hospitals became a prominent feature across the city, and the hospital was eventually no longer required for service. Research provides very little information regarding the very last uses of the hospital buildings, but by confirming what I found in the rooms as I visited the site, it is clear that Edge Hill University used the north end of the site as a Faculty of Health comprising several functions including teaching. It was also used by Stockport Community Alcohol Team as a drop in centre and needle exchange, and a counselling centre for victims of domestic violence. Eventually the site closed its doors in 2004 after more than 160 years of operation. The two and a half acre site has since been acquired by Stockport college but only the original workhouse offices have been structurally renovated for possible future development. The rest of the site has well and truly been taken over by nature; reeds flow in and out of the windows whilst the decaying wallpaper of the old hospital rooms brings a sort of colourful beauty to certain parts of the hospital. It is safe to say that these buildings have no future, as they are simply too far gone to save. This site being so central and overlooked by places more modern is really quite a unique contrast to many of the places that I visit, which is why I don’t expect it to remain this way for much longer. But at least they get to spend a little more time untouched before they make way for something ultimately more forgetful and the history is gone altogether.
