Hartwood Hospital Medical Superintendent's House, Hartwood

Two storey and attic sandstone former dwelling, for the medical superintendent of Hartwood Hospital, with crowstepped gables. Dated 1890.

The hospital was built as the District Asylum for Lanark, originally to accommodate 500 patients. The complex of buildings increased until a new site was developed at nearby Hartwood Hill from circa 1935, with James Lochhead as architect.

Campbell Clark, the first superintendant of Hartwood, believed strongly in the therapeutic value of work with some patients undergoing rehabilitation with industrial therapy prior to discharge but also in the training and welfare of nurses and attendants. (Graeme Yorston/ Sharat Shetty)

February 2008: 1996: The hospital is vacated.

July 1997: External inspection reveals problems with the guttering. Windows on the ground floor are boarded-up, but the threat of vandalism remains.

December 1997: The hospital is now partly occupied on short term lease by a television company. North Lanarkshire Council is investigating the removal of sandstone from the wings.

February 1998: James Lochhead‘s nurses‘ home is soon to be vacated by Bell College, and the building will be marketed.

August 1998: A planning application is submitted for the hospital‘s change of use into Lanarkshire Media Centre.

November 1998: A draft planning brief is completed for Lanarkshire Healthcare NHS Trust by GVA Grimley International Property Advisors. The owners are now to seek the approval of the brief by local planners, allowing marketing to commence.

January 2002: The planning brief is approved.

March 2003: Local planners report that no subsequent discussions have been held.

May 2004: The main towers are gutted by fire.

March 2008: External inspection finds the building a roofless shell. There is substantial and well established trees and bushes growing in the building. The walls appear to be in good condition.

August 2010: Local planners advise they are currently working with NHS Lanarkshire to identify the best way forward for the overall site. Whilst this process is underway, the buildings that make up the site have been removed from the market.

17 December 2014: External inspection finds the building remains in much the same condition as seen previously and is secured. Risk level reduced to High. The listed status of Hartwood Hospital was reviewed by Historic Scotland in 2013 and reduced from category B to category C.

5 May 2016: A member of the public reports unauthorised accessing of the buildings continue.

10 April 2018: NHS Lanarkshire website notes (accessed 10/4/2018) the former hospital site has been sold to the Taylor Group Scotland Limited.

8 November 2018: Local planners note they have had initial discussions with the new owners of the site on a proposed redevelopment of the area. Some clearance is advised to have taken place to remove self-seeded trees within the boundary and improve site security, all with a view to detering unauthorised access of the buildings.

18 March 2020: Listed Building Consent for demolition of flat roofed extension and outbuilding to the general stores complex was conditionally approved in Oct 2019 (19/01139/LBC). Supporting documents within the application note the hospital site has been purchased by a development company committed to the restoration of the former hospital and nurses home in the longer term. They have identified temporary uses for the sites, including use of the nurses home site by Fire and Rescue Scotland, to deter the ongoing vandalism across the site.