IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Aspen Road, MANCHESTER, M9 7GT

The path from Bailey's Wood as it nears Grange Park Road has some old cast iron fencing from the Booth Hall estate that became a children's hospital site and is now a housing estate.

Perhaps it looks more appealing when it is open!

Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Blackley. Facing north from the main entrance on Charlestown Road. SD86560304

This has closed following mergers, and is replaced by a site near the University which is infinitely harder to get to and to park at. I don't know what the current plans are for this site. Off the record, both of my children have received treatment here.

On 28th October 1908 the opening ceremony of the Prestwich Union Workhouse Infirmary was held. During the First World War it helped to care for wounded soldiers. When this was no longer required, the new Manchester Union Guardians decided to create an infirmary specifically for children. By 1924 it was a recognised training school for children’s nurses. By 1929 it was the third largest children’s hospital in the UK. It was the home of many innovations: the first infant diet kitchen, a burns and plastic surgery unit, a children’s dialysis unit; provision of overnight accommodation for the parents of seriously ill children. In 1990 it was proposed to close it but massive protests ensued and it remained open. However, closure did finally come a few years later, and it was sold for re-development. Buildings were demolished, except for the administration block, which everyone was told would be turned into flats. But somewhere along the way that idea was dropped and it was demolished earlier this year. Now only the gatehouse remains.

Postbox set in wall of Booth Hall Children's Hospital. SD865030.

A useful facility which is open for ordinary people to run on.

Looking north from Charlestown Road.

The Booth Hall housing development.