This vintage postcard comes from the collection of my Great Uncle, Fowler Beanland. In the early years of the twentieth century, Fowler had moved to Longtown in Cumbria to find work in the bobbin making industry there. He was an avid collector of postcards and many of his friends and relatives from the Keighley area of West Yorkshire would send him cards of that area to add to his collection.
This card of the Victoria Hospital in Keighley was one such card. Originally built as a "cottage hospital" in the 1870s, it was later extended to become the towns' main hospital until the new Airedale Hospital was built in the 1970s and the old Victoria Hospital was demolished.
L.P. sent the card to Fowler, but I have no idea who L.P. was and therefore I can't tell you whether friendship did abide for long.
Cottage Hospitals, almost extinct now. We have one in our nearest market town, that's stubbornly resistant.
ReplyDeleteWith the way the NHS is being run by the current Government we might all be getting used to cottage hospitals again!
DeleteI tell everyone that people in Europe never tear down their buildings. You just shut that idea down. The building reminds me of some of our older hotels over here in the 30s.
ReplyDeleteFowler Beanland is a name worthy of Charles Dickens or Damon Runyon!
ReplyDeleteIt's true. Fowler Beanland is a great name. I often think so when reading Alan's posts.
DeleteI think he should be a character in an American novel set in the deep South?