Woolmanhill Hospital: Archive Block, Spa Street, Aberdeen

W & J Smith and Kelly (H Saxon Snell acting as consultant), 1887-97. 5-storey, compact, yet tall, irregular-plan, chamfered, former laundry block with continuous glazing in distinctive timber-framing and bracketed eaves, part of a significant nineteenth century hospital complex in Aberdeen city centre. Coursed granite. Segmental-arched openings at ground floor. Tall windows at 1st floor to north side with 24-pane glazing in timber frames.

Predominantly 12-pane glazing in timber sash and case frames. Slate roof. Wallhead stacks with scrolled buttresses.

The interior was seen in 2013 and has a stone cantilevered staircase with a single room to each floor, supported on iron columns and beams.

Statement of Special Interest
The laundry block is an important ancillary component of the former Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, which is a rare example of a hospital that has not been significantly altered externally since the late nineteenth century. The scale and plan form of the building is unusual for a building of its type and the building adds significantly to the streetscape of its city location. The timber and glazed detailing to the fifth floor is an unusual architectural detail and is of particular interest.

The former Royal Infirmary complex consists of a 1833-40 neo-classical building by Archibald Simpson with later nineteenth century buildings to the rear, on a confined gusset site in Aberdeen city centre. This hospital replaced the earlier Aberdeen Infirmary by William Christall, which opened in 1742, and was demolished on completion of the Simpson Pavilion.

In 1887 a major extension and reconstruction scheme commenced at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary site. Known as the Jubilee Extension Scheme (as the Queen's Jubilee provided an opportunity to raise funds), the new blocks were erected to the north part of the site and opened in 1897, providing a new surgical block (now known as the Victoria Pavilion), medical and pathology block and laundry block. These buildings were designed by W. & J. Smith & Kelly, an Aberdeen architectural practice; however H. Saxon Snell, a prolific hospital architect in London, was consulted on the design. Richardson states that Snell recommended that the W & J Smith's separate fever block of 1871 should be part of the new surgical block.

The rise of the ground-breaking pavilion plan form from the 1860s, resulted in the separating of patients and diseases to reduce the spread of infection, based on the reforms by Florence Nightingale. Although the late nineteenth century buildings at the former Royal Infirmary are not the pavilion plan form they do represent this move towards the separating out of medical functions. The laundry block is an important functional building.

After the First World War there was urgent need to increase the facilities of the Infirmary. The confined nature of the Woolmanhill site did not lend itself to expansion and in 1923 a site at Forresterhill was acquired with the foundation stone of the new hospital laid in 1928. Although the future of the Woolmanhill site was uncertain from this date, it has remained in operation until 2013. In 1946, J A O Allan, Ross and Allan prepared drawings for the adaptation of a large proportion of the Victoria Pavilion for use as an Emergency Physical Training Centre for the National Committee for the Training of Teachers.

W & J Smith and Kelly was an Aberdeen based architectural practice of William Smith II and his pupil William Kelly who was taken into partnership on the death of John Smith II (William Smith II son) in April 1887. The practice and its forerunners designed buildings in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, including domestic, educational and public commissions. Their other hospitals include Alexander Scott's Hospital, Huntly (listed at category A) and additions and alteration at Aberdeen Lunatic Asylum (now demolished).

Henry Saxon Snell (1830-1904) made his name in the later 1860s with innovative designs for workhouses and quickly extended his practice to hospitals and infirmaries in which he became one of the leading specialists in the 1890s and early 1900s, his main clients being the London guardians.

Previously listed as part of "Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Woolmanhill".
(Historic Environment Scotland List Entry)

11 April 2013: STV News reports on the decision to close Woolmanhill Hospital, potentially by the end of 2013. No mention is made of a plan for the A-listed building complex, but potentially the NHS Trust may commence marketing of the site for sale later in the year. For Investigation.

5 March 2019: External inspection finds the building vacant and disused but in overall Fair condition. There are some broken and boarded windows. Rainwater goods and timber elements are in need of repair and maintenance. There are some high level vegetation growths. Consent is being sought for the conversion including demolitions, alterations and extensions etc, of the hospital to create residential apartments and hotel accommodation, ref: 160801. Move to At Risk.

December 2019: Member of public has advised that listed building consent (160801) for redevelopment of the hospital site has now been conditionally approved.

12 May 2021: Buildings at Risk understand that redevelopment of former hospital site has been on hold as consequence of COVID-19 pandemic.

13 October 2021: Press and Journal report (06/10/2021) that hotel plans for Woolmanhill will be reviewed at the end of 2022.

19 November 2021: The Press and Journal report (17/11/2021) that concerns have been raised of rat infestation at the hospital and that a vermin specialist has been appointed to help with the problem.

30 June 2022: External inspection finds the building remains disused. Limited inspection of the roof pitches was possible due to the height of the building but from what could be viewed ridge appears to remain intact but pitches are mossy suggesting dampness is an issue. The timber soffits have deteriorated, dampness is a general issue but notably to the NW elevations where sections are rotting. Gutters are heavily rusted and chocked with vegetation, again more pronounced to the NW elevations, downpipes are in better condition but rusting in places. Chimneys and walls remain plumb but there are some damp patches beneath defective rainwater goods. Windows are generally boarded externally at lower level and mostly internally to upper. Windows to the distinctive timber lookout at top floor level are intact but dampness is gathering and decay commencing. Condition moved from Fair to Poor. As noted previously Listed Building Consent was conditionally approved in 2019 to convert the building to form affordable flats as part of a wider redevelopment of the former hospital site.