In sickness and in health in Lancaster

With a second wave of Covid-19 here local historian David Kenyon looks at Lancaster’s infectious diseases hospital
Patients with scarlet fever in the grounds of the Infectious Diseases hospital at Farleton around 1937. Back row from left: Mason France, Margaret France, Frank Stirzaker from Brookhouse. Front row from left: Mrs Shannon from Halton, Bill France, John Dane from Halton, Jim Stirzaker from Brookhouse, Margaret Burrows from Capernwray.Patients with scarlet fever in the grounds of the Infectious Diseases hospital at Farleton around 1937. Back row from left: Mason France, Margaret France, Frank Stirzaker from Brookhouse. Front row from left: Mrs Shannon from Halton, Bill France, John Dane from Halton, Jim Stirzaker from Brookhouse, Margaret Burrows from Capernwray.
Patients with scarlet fever in the grounds of the Infectious Diseases hospital at Farleton around 1937. Back row from left: Mason France, Margaret France, Frank Stirzaker from Brookhouse. Front row from left: Mrs Shannon from Halton, Bill France, John Dane from Halton, Jim Stirzaker from Brookhouse, Margaret Burrows from Capernwray.

nfectious disease hospitals are not only from the era of Covid-19 but were built as early as 1801 to deal with infectious diseases such as scarlet fever and smallpox.

The hospitals became common in England when laws were passed at the end of the 19th century, requiring notification of infectious diseases so public health officers could ensure the patients were isolated.

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During the 20th century, immunisation and antibiotics reduced the impact of these diseases.

This map of Farleton from around 1900 shows the Infectious Diseases Hospital situated just off the road to Manor House Farm.This map of Farleton from around 1900 shows the Infectious Diseases Hospital situated just off the road to Manor House Farm.
This map of Farleton from around 1900 shows the Infectious Diseases Hospital situated just off the road to Manor House Farm.

After the introduction of the National Health Service in 1948, the hospitals were wound down so that, by 1968, there were few left.

The Infectious Diseases Hospital at Farleton, near Hornby, was built around 1900, and it was situated just off the road to Manor House Farm in Farleton.

The hospital site was sold in 1938 when the Hornby Castle estate was sold by auction at the Priory Hall, China Street, Lancaster. The hospital site was lot 12 with an area of two roods and 28 poles. Lunesdale District Council paid a rent of £1.10s per year. The site was purchased by Edmond and Dora Morse for £37.10s, they then had the hospital demolished as they considered it an eyesore.

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The Morse family in 1932-35 had moved Claughton Hall, stone-by-stone from its position adjoining Claughton Hall Farm, and rebuilt it high on the moor above the village. The Smiths at Manor House Farm bought the hospital from the Morse family in September 1951. Alice Smith remembers the site was walled and was accessed by a gate, it was considered a handy place to keep horses. The Infectious Diseases Hospital was a timber clad building clad in corrugated iron, on the inside it was lined with wood. The building was built on short brick piers with the space underneath covered with ash.

The Isolation Hospital which later became Beaumont Hospital in Lancaster.The Isolation Hospital which later became Beaumont Hospital in Lancaster.
The Isolation Hospital which later became Beaumont Hospital in Lancaster.

In 1935 there was an oubreak of diptheria in the district. Dr B J Achesonthe, medical officer of health, stated that 46 cases of infectious diseases were reported during the year, there were 33 cases of diptheria, 27 of which were treated in the council’s isolation hospital at Farleton, six at home and there was one fatality.

It was stated that the epidemic was general throughout the north of England, but locally Wray was the centre of the outbreak, with 19 cases being reported from that village.

The outbreak at Wray occurred near the river where a cesspool was situated, this was found to be in an unusually foul condition and was discharging crude sewage into the river.

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In March the sympathy of the entire village went out to Mr and Mrs Walter Shaw in their sudden sad bereavement caused by the death of their son Richard Thomas aged six years. The little boy was taken ill and a few days later his symptoms were diagnosed as diptheria.

He was immediately removed to the Farleton Isolation Hospital where, in spite of every care, he died.

It was recorded that when the outbreak of diptheria occurred the Lancaster and District Hospital Board tried to persuade the Lunesdale Rural District Council to close their infectious diseases hospital at Farleton and send patients to the Beaumont Hospital in Lancaster. At a meeting to discuss the issue, Lunesdale Rural Council declined terms offered them by the Lancaster and District Hospital Board for the accommodation of patients from their area, and decided to inform the Lancashire County Council that they preferred to retain their own hospital at Farleton.

The council’s action followed a visit to their meeting two months before by a member of the county medical staff who suggested they should enter into negotiations with the Hospital Board and close down their own institution. It was stated that their own hospital at Farleton was closed from time-to-time and the medical officer was certain there was always a risk when it had to be opened and a patient rushed in.

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At Lancaster the hospital was always open every day of the year.

The Lancaster Guardian is fortunate to have a photograph of probably the last children to stay in the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Farleton (see right).

The following are the memories of Mason France who was aged seven in 1937 when he was in the hospital with scarlet fever as were all of the other children in the photograph.

Mason is now aged 90 years and is in good health. He remembers being taken to the Farleton Hospital by Dr Acheson, from Hornby, although he can’t remember how he got there just that they went together.

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While he was in hospital his parents were called as he was so ill with bad tonsils that Dr Acheson told his parents that they had better come to visit their little boy, although the doctor didn’t think he was going to die.

Mason can remember his dad and mother telling him his sheep had lambed although they could only stand at the end of the room and shout in.

Two siblings left at home also had Scarlet Fever but their mother decided not to let on as it would mean all five children would be away from the home at the same time.

The children had to spend time in the bath every morning to peel the skin off their feet. Mason did not know why they had to be in the hospital for such a long time.

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He thinks that the France children were in the hospital for around a month in June 1937, he remembers they all played out in the fields with the other children and had lots of fun, they then went home around the start of the school holidays.

The children were looked after by Nurse Kirkpatrick who had a separate room in the hospital. The Preece children Lawrence, Dorothy, George and their mother Nellie from Thornbush Farm in Roeburndale had Scarlet Fever in 1941. They were taken to Beaumont Infectious Diseases Hospital at Lancaster.

After a two week stay Lawrence, George and their mother Nellie were much better and returned home. Dorothy who had complications from the fever remembers her mother saying, “Be a good girl and we will see you when you come home.”

Poor Dorothy did not see her mother and brothers again for more than a month, when she was able to return home. It seems then that the Lancaster and District Hospital Board had managed to persuade Lunesdale District Council to close their Infectious Diseases Hospital at Farleton and send patients to Lancaster.

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