Local historian: The history of Exmouth hospital

Exmouth's hospital can in some ways trace its origins right back to 1868, when a dispensary was established at Manchester House which later moved to Church Street.

In 1884, the Maud Hospital was founded by Mrs Charlotte Hume Long, using her own funds, in Clarence Road in memory of her daughter Maud. Mrs Hume Long acted as the matron and was ably assisted by Dr Geoffrey Willoughby.

Two years later, it moved to Belmont House at the top of Bicton Street. In 1898, Mrs Hume Long died and two years after that the town took over the running of the hospital.

By 1902, the demands of the hospital were such that a public appeal was launched for a new hospital, and on 3 September 1902 Lady Gertrude Rolle laid the foundation stone on the site that the hospital still occupies. It was opened on 27 June 1903, and was renamed Exmouth Cottage Hospital.

In 1925, a committee set out their plans for the remodelling of the building so it could cater for more patients.

This was for a new extension comprising a new operating theatre as per the above picture, which, although it might look a little primitive now, in its day was a state-of-the-art operating theatre!

There was, in addition, a children's ward, an X-ray department and extra bedrooms.

These plans were duly adopted, and in May 1932 the new extension was formally opened by Lord Exmouth and the hospital renamed as Exmouth Hospital.

In 1928, a huge bazaar had been organised by Fred Farleigh to raise funds for the alterations and the staggering sum of £3,800 was raised!

1930 had also seen the birth of the Exmouth and District Hospital League, which was a scheme to assist with people's hospital bills as this was pre NHS days when medical care still had to be paid for. 1934 saw the kitchens enlarged and a cold-storage larder installed.

The Second World War saw the hospital protected by blast walls and many extra staff were recruited. This enabled the hospital to keep offering a service to the community with minimum disruption.

1906 had seen the gas lighting in the hospital and theatre (can you imagine operating today under gas lighting!) replaced by electricity, and more modern X-ray equipment was installed in 1912.

In 1916, further alterations were made to the building for additional rooms upstairs.

Since 1948, when the National Health Service was formed, the hospital has been part of it. 1952 saw the formation of The League of Friends of Exmouth Hospital, which was set up to raise funds for the hospital. Since then it has raised over £2.2 million for the hospital with the annual fete being its biggest money-raiser.

The 1960s saw disagreement with the NHS, who wanted to change the status of the hospital to geriatric from acute, but after much pressure the NHS relented and it still maintains that acute status to this day.

Various people who have raised funds for the hospital and in recognition of the work they have done there have had parts of the hospital named after them as follows:

Dewdney Reablement Unit named after Claude Dewdney;
The Doris Heard Ward;
Dr Geoffrey Willoughby.

Today, the hospital is part of The Royal Devon and Exeter University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. The hospital carries out X-rays, ultrasound procedures, has a minor injuries unit and a mobile anaesthetic unit.

Adjacent to the hospital is the Health Centre with two GP practices. All this provides a modern-day service to the ever-expanding population of Exmouth and district.

Why not pay a visit to Exmouth Museum to find out more? You can also e-mail your historian at [email protected].

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Ed: This article is from Mike Menhenitt's Walking Through Exmouth History series. Use the links below to read previous articles:

Part One: The beginnings of Exmouth, from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age

Part Two: Exmouth in the Iron Age - and the arrival of the Celts

Part Three: Roman coins and Viking raids

Part Four: The impact of the Norman conquest, and how places in Exmouth got their names

Part Five: How Exmouth became a fashionable seaside resort in the 18th century

Part Six: How the docks brought prosperity to Exmouth - and then became the marina

Part Seven: The coming of the railway

Part Eight: Turnpikes, toll houses and inns in Exmouth

Part Nine: Jobs your ancestors had in the town through the ages