View of Clachan House, from clock tower roof, to S

Description View of Clachan House, from clock tower roof, to S

Date 17/11/1993

Catalogue Number SC 776423

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of C 17860 CN

Scope and Content The Clachan, Hartwood Hospital, Shotts, North Lanarkshire, from the east tower (now closed and mainly demolished) This imposing building, constructed in the late 1930s or early 1940s, was built as a residence for male nurses. It was designed on a U-plan, with a long harled and painted south front, and stone-built end bays with crowstepped gables. Much of the architectural detail mimics that of the main hospital, including the use of cream-coloured sandstone and canted windows. The hospital opened with a staff of 70, consisting of three doctors (including the Medical Superintendent), six administrators, 25 male attendants (nurses), 17 female nurses, 12 servants and seven tradesmen. The nursing staff was initially housed in cottages within the grounds, and was responsible for the supervision of 420 lunatics, a ratio of one nurse to every 10 patients. Male nurses worked exclusively on the male wards, and female nurses on the female wards. They worked 12-hour shifts, and were often expected to do unpaid overtime as well. In 1931 a nurses' home was built to house female nursing staff, and a male residence was later built to house the male attendants. Most of the male nurses were recruited from outside the catchment area of the asylum to reduce the chances of patients and staff being related or even friends. This led to the employment of many male nurses from the Highlands and Islands, and Gaelic became the language of choice in the male staff residence which was appropriately nicknamed 'The Clachan'. Hartwood Hospital, a large Baronial-style building with imposing twin towers, was designed by the architect, John L Murray of Biggar (d.1909), and occupied one of the largest hospital sites in Scotland. It was built as the District Asylum for Lanark and opened in 1895 with accommodation for 500 lunatic patients. Between 1898 and 1916 additions included two large ward blocks, each linked to the rear of the main building by a covered corridor, a sanatorium for the isolation of patients suffering from tuberculosis, and a new admission hospital. In 1931 a new nurses' home, designed by the architect, James Lochhead (1870-1942), opened to the south of the complex, and in c.1935, a new site was developed at nearby Hartwood Hill in response to the growing need for accommodation for mentally handicapped adults. The hospital is now closed and mainly demolished. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

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