This week we continue our look at the history of healthcare in the Wycombe area, picking up from where we were in the last article on July 20.

When the first world war ended, what had been the VAD Hospital in Benjamin Road closed and the Girls High School resumed occupation of the buildings. 

This meant that the only hospital in the town was the Cottage Hospital in Priory Road. The need to expand this had been considered during the later years of the war, and the decision taken that the site was too small to allow the necessary enlargement. 

In 1918 for example patients had been treated at the hospital not only from Wycombe district but also the towns of Amersham, Beaconsfield, Marlow and Henley.

A site on the northern side of Barracks Road off Marlow Hill, between the road down the hill and Loakes Park (then the home of Wycombe Wanderers) was identified as being suitable for a new hospital.

This was owned by local landowner Lord Carrington, the Marquess of Lincolnshire.

When the war ended the town’s authorities, like every other town and village in the country, were considering the best way to remember those local men and women who had paid the ultimate sacrifice.

It was decided that an appeal for funds should be made in the town and surrounding villages, with the first use of those funds to be to build a War Memorial Hospital. 

After that, the remaining element of the fund would be used to erect more conventional memorials in the town and villages. 

This appeal was launched in December 1918 with an advertisement in the Bucks Free Press under the heading “High Wycombe War Memorial Hospital – To the Memory of the Men of the District who have fallen in the War”.

The Marquess of Lincolnshire and his brother had already agreed to donate the land, and one thousand guineas was given by Lady Lincolnshire. 

Another thousand guineas was subscribed by the townspeople at a public meeting, when unanimous approval was given to the scheme.

The advertisement went on “It is hoped that these generous examples will be emulated by the Inhabitants of all degrees in accordance with their means”.

Lord and Lady Lincolnshire also donated a handsome trophy to be presented annually to the winner of a new cup competition.

This was to be called the Wycombe & District War Memorial Hospital Challenge Cup and was to be played between Wycombe Wanderers and another local team. 

This match continued at the end of every football season for over 50 years until 1976, with the proceeds being donated every year to the hospital.

A competition was introduced for the design of the hospital, which was to “have a capacity of about 30 beds, with room for expansion”.

This was won by the London-based practice of local architect Horace Cubitt. The fund-raising efforts continued throughout 1919 and into 1920.

Among the major contributions were £12,000 donated from the surplus funds of the Joint War Committee of the British Red Cross and the Order of St John and £3,000 from a Mrs Hicks-Tempest of Bradenham Manor in memory of her husband John.

Being Wycombe, with its self-help ethos at that time, the working men of the town were also encouraged to participate in the fund-raising.

The Bucks Free Press on June 7, 1919, reported: “In the various workshops and factories they voluntarily contribute 2d. each week per week. This scheme has only been in force some two months and the satisfactory sum of £61.7s.10d. has been collected from some 2,680 men.

“Also one must not forget the example set by the employees of the Birch firm, who raised during the winter a large sum by means of concerts etc.” 

Over £800 was also contributed by the parish of Hughenden.
The contract for the buildings was put out for tender in September 1919.

It was awarded to Messrs Biggs & Sons of Hughenden “for something over £32,000 [it was actually £32,315] and the organising committee hoped they might have the benefit of any fall there might be in prices”! 

As further fund-raising efforts were required the completion date “was hoped for mid-Summer 1923”.

The foundation stone was laid by the Marquess of Lincolnshire on March 15,1922. At the ceremony all the local dignitaries were present, as well as leading manufacturers, tradesmen, and local residents.

Major Coningsby Disraeli, Chairman of the Hospital Committee, presided at the event. 

In his speech he stated: “There was next the question of furnishings and equipment, which they would ask the district and neighbourhood to take upon themselves. 

“As time went on, we would hope to see factories and firms, and groups of manufacturers, especially in a town like Wycombe, undertaking the equipment and making special gifts of furniture etc in memory of the fallen men.”

In a moving speech the Marquess of Lincolnshire, who had lost his only son very early in the war, said “six thousand young men had left the ancient borough of High Wycombe and fought for King and country, and nearly 600 gave their lives and never returned.”

The hospital was formally opened on December 9, 1923, and the following week the Cottage Hospital was closed (but put to other health care uses, as will be explained in a later article).

As had been hoped the furniture and equipment was donated by local manufacturers and traders.

A contributory scheme was introduced, which provided free treatment for married people for 2 pence a week. People could obtain a bed in private wards for 75p a day.

The first annual report of the Hospital revealed that 440 in-patients had been treated, 333 surgical and 107 medical cases. 315 operations had been performed, of which about 25 per cent were classed as major operations. 32 deaths had occurred, with 11 of those occurring on the day of admission.

The total income of the hospital was nearly £8,000, of which £3,469.5s.8d came from the contributory scheme. 

Legacies had been received from the wills of residents of the town, including £100 from Mr Daniel Clarke and £25 from Mr F.W.Thurlow. Just over £1,700 had been received from various fund-raising activities.

The first extension to the hospital took place in 1932. The two general wards were enlarged from 14 to 20 beds, and a new block was added which provided 7 single rooms and a 4-bed children’s ward. The total cost was £14,000 over budget.

In the 1930s the Hospital Challenge Cup match generally raised around £80 each year, the game in 1932 being between Wycombe Wanderers and Chesham, who were the holders.

In 1936 it was agreed that service provision needed to be doubled at the hospital. A building extension fund was created, but in 1939 WWII broke out which imposed a huge strain on the hospital. An extra 34 beds were provided by the Ministry of Health.

To be continued...

We would be very pleased to hear from any readers who have had personal experience of receiving treatment at the hospital before 1939, please contact Mike Dewey on 01494 755070 or email him at deweymiked@aol.com