The history of the site can be traced back to 1885, when it was built by merchant William Rathbone V1 who was a prominent philanthropist and social reformer concerned about
the poor health of Liverpool’s working-class population. He was driven to create a
better hospital for the city after witnessing the poor conditions of
existing facilities. The building at the corner of Mill Lane and Binns Road was originally known as the City Hospital East and was used for the treatment of infectious diseases. It provided accommodation for 120 patients and staff, and covered an area of about 4.5 acres. Comprising of two one storey ward pavilions, each for twelve patients, one isolation block for eight patients, and two ward pavilions two stories high, each accommodating 44 patients. The administrative block and the nurses home were connected by a covered corridor. The porters lodge and discharge block were situated at the entrance in Mill Lane and the other buildings within the grounds comprised the laundry, mortuary and laboratory.
The whole of the buildings were lighted by electricity and the wards are heated by double stoves and radiators. The two large pavilions differed in plan, one being of what is known as the 'Brook' type and the other, the 'Edinburgh'. The 'Brook' type consisted of a long ward on each floor 120 feet by 26 feet, the entrance being at one end. At the entrance, the nurses duty room and a small separation ward for two beds were placed, with bathrooms and larders on the opposite side of the corridor.
The sanitary annexes for these wards were placed in the centre and are entered from the ward through a lobby which was disconnected. Accommodation was also provided at the entrance in connection with the staircase to the upper floors for a nurses robing room, lavatory, etc. At the opposite end of the ward a verandah was provided for each floor.
The 'Edinburgh' pavilion consisted of two wards on each floor 64 feet long by 26 feet wide. In the centre of these wards was the entrance, bathrooms, hall and nurses duty room, a small separation ward being placed on either side of the latter room. The sanitary annexes were situated at the other end of the building on each floor. The upper floor was reached by means of a centrally placed outside staircase and in connection with this staircase a lavatory was provided on each floor for nurses. The floors of both the 'Brook' and 'Edinburgh' wards were of pitch pine boards nailed down to breeze concrete, the floors of the sanitary annexes being tiled. The sanitary fittings throughout were of the best glazed whiteware and of the most modern description.
Externally the buildings were faced with red wire cut bricks with terra cotta dressings and the roofs were covered with green Westmoreland slates.
The Rose Public House was at 342 Binns Road on the corner of Hankinson Street and was once the favourite haunt of the nearby Infectious Diseases Hospital and one unconfirmed report tells of the time when a customer was barred out by the pub manager and started a rumour that some of the patients were slipping out of the hospital for a pint in The Rose. Business was quiet for a good few weeks. The Hospital was later renamed Rathbone Hospital.
Rathbone Hospital is now part of Merseycare NHS Foundation Trust and specialises in mental health care as well as operating a low secure mental health unit. Providing mental health rehabilitation for men with severe and enduring mental health problems who are preparing to return to life in the community, Eleanor House is one of the existing buildings within the Rathbone Hospital complex.
see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2025/06/liverpool-hospitals-park-hill.html
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