Broomhill Hospital: Lodge, Kilsyth Road, Kirkintilloch

Single storey with partial basement, lozenge-shaped classical lodge building with rectangular-plan rear extension carried on basement. Tooled red sandstone ashlar with advanced polished red sandstone base course, quoins, window and door surrounds. Sandstone boundary wall with red sandstone ashlar piers.

This was originally the lodge building to a large villa called Broomhill. Prominently sited on Kilsyth Road on the outskirts of Kirkintilloch, the villa boasted panoramic views towards the Campsie Hills whilst still being easily accessible to the town. Broomhill was a classical villa set within extensive grounds. This lodge still sits behind the formal entrance gates and leads to a long tree-lined drive running north toward the house. The villa, as well as overlooking the hills, also had a panoramic view of the River Kelvin, wooded policies, pasture area and a walled garden (some of which still survive today).

A local philanthropist, Beatrice Clugston formed the 'Scottish National Institution for the relief of patients with incurable diseases´ in 1874. She pledged to raise money for the purpose of providing a facility for the patients. A bazaar raised in excess of £14,000, which was used to buy the Broomhill Estate (the house and 80 acres) from Robert Bartholomew. Listed as a good example of a complete and interestingly designed gate lodge with original gate piers and walls intact. (Historic Scotland)

Broomhill Hospital was built by the Association for the Relief of Incurables in Glasgow and the West of Scotland and opened in 1876. It catered for patients suffering from tuberculosis, cancer, chronic rheumatism and other incurable conditions. Paupers were excluded. By 1893 Broomhill could accomodate 100 patients. In 1904 the Lanfine Home for tuberculosis sufferers was added. From 1960 the Lanfine Home was used for geriatric patients. In 1948 the hospitals were placed under the Kirkintilloch and Kilsyth Board of Management and in 1974 were transferred to the Northern District of the Greater Glasgow Health Board. Broomhill continued to cater for the young (under 65) chronic sick until it was closed along with Lanfine in 1995. (NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Archives)

August 2007: SCT external inspection reveals property is suffering from neglect and vandalism. Despite all property openings being secured, the boarding at the rear of the lodge appears to have been prised open.

November 2009: External inspection finds the lodge to remain derelict. It is securely boarded up, though the boarding is now ageing. The walls are damp. It appears that basic maintenance, such as clearing the gutters is taking place. There are a few slipped slates but this appears to be little changed from the previous visit. Previously misidentified as an unlisted building, it is a Category B listed lodge.

June 2010: External inspection finds the building is deteriorating. The roof has lost many slates, especially on the rear elevation. The wall on the south elevation is moving: a window section has largely separated.

October 2011: East Dunbartonshire Council report (dated March 2011) on the current Buildings at Risk notes the presence of the building on the Register and recommends monitoring of site marketing & any subsequent applications for development. Should significant progress not emerge, it is noted that action may be required to halt further deterioration of the building. The overall site is reported to have recently been placed on the market.

13 March 2013: A member of the public advises the building remains At Risk and in deteriorating condition.

7 May 2013: External inspection finds no significant change from the previous site visit.

7 October 2013: The listed status of buildings within the Broomhill Hospital site have been reviewed by Historic Scotland. The lodge building is now listed at category C.

25 November 2015: A member of the public notes demolition works are underway at the site. The main hospital complex has been de-listed. A Building Warrant for demolition of the building was secured Jan 2015 ref: ED/BS/14/1037/DEM and the site is now being marketed for sale as a cleared site (with the remainder of clearance works anticipated for completion in January 2016). The former gate lodge remains individually C-listed.

2 March 2018: The property does not appear to remain under marketing at this time.

16 July 2019: Listed Building Consent (TP/ED/19/0429) for the demolition of the single storey section of the building to the eastern footprint of the building is being sought. Supporting documents within the application propose a three-phase approach to works to stabilise and secure the property, and prepare consents for redevelopment into a residential property ahead of marketing the property to a restoring purchaser.

22 April 2020: Listed Building Consent (TP/ED/20/0160) being sought for refurbishment of the existing gatehouse to wind and watertight status including replacement roof, replacement windows, replacement and repairs to stonework.

14 February 2024: Desk-based assessment suggests the wind and water tight works have been undertaken (building warrant ED/BS/20/0772/BSW), condition moved to Fair and Risk to Low. Consent for change of use and extension to form a dwelling have been conditionally approved ( ED/BS/20/0772/BSW).