I wasn't going to bother with this, but as I got the chance to see it I thought it would be rude not to share. I know there are some hospital enthusiasts out there, so enjoy the staircase are if nothing else.
Wool Merchant John Goodman built Roundhay Hall in the 1820's. Here is a painting of it. (Not done by me)
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In fact it wasn't called Roundhay Hall then, it was called Allerton Hall. It changed his name when Sir Edard Allen Brotherton, a chemical manufacturer, MP (Wakefield), Mayor of Wakie and Lord Mayor of Leeds bought it during the Great War.
This is Brotherton, pictured on a medal he gave to his staff in 1914 to his employees. The message on the back reads PRESENTED BY E.A. BROTHERTON, CHAIRMAN OF BROTHERTON & Co. Ltd.AND LORD MAYOR OF LEEDS 1914 TO HIS EMPLOYEES, THE HALL, ROUNDHAY,3 JULY 1914.
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Today it is a private Spire Hospital.
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I work with a character called Chris. He kindly merged the two photographs using a computer program called Photoshop. It took him about a minute. Perhaps you have heard of it?
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During the Second World War the hall became a 62 bed Annexe to Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) It must have been a grand place to stay during difficult times.
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Even though it is now a private hospital, it still retains much of the elegance that it had. Beautiful moldings in can be seen behind the beds.
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Impressive ceiling lights.
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Even though this room is used for physio now, the details are still there.
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The hallway to the Hall was once very impressive, with its statues and wonderful doorway.
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Alas today it isn't used as an entrance, just an office. :( (Eagle eyed readers may just spot picture one of the report, the old painting on the left hand wall. Getting it to fit in my scanner at home was murder.)
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Without doubt, the most impressive feature of this building is it's central staircase. Here it is in the early twentieth century. I spy a dead animal at the bottom of the stairs.
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And today.
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And another.
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Yet more.
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Old snap at the top of the stairs.
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And modern day
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Maybe not scrubbing around in some rat infested hell hole, but a chance to see a place not normally on show.
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Apparently this place was largely derelict in the 1980's. How cool would that have been?
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Here is a picture of a plastic skull that was attached to a plastic skeleton in one of the rooms. Enjoy.
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Black and White snaps from Leeds University Brotherton Library, picture of medal from Ebay. I thank you.
