Aberdeen, Woolmanhill Hospital, Former Porter's Lodge
Hospital Building (19th Century)
Site Name Aberdeen, Woolmanhill Hospital, Former Porter's Lodge
Classification Hospital Building (19th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Canmore ID 362354
Site Number NJ90NW 185.04
NGR NJ 93724 06490
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/362354
- Council Aberdeen, City Of
- Parish Aberdeen
- Former Region Grampian
- Former District City Of Aberdeen
- Former County Aberdeenshire
Probably W & J Smith and Kelly (H Saxon Snell acting as consultant), 1887-97. Single storey, square plan neo-classical former porter's lodge, part of a significant nineteenth century hospital complex in Aberdeen city centre. Channelled granite. Base course, moulded eaves course with blocking course above. Entrance to north elevation with 2-leaf timber and glazed doors and 4-pane rectangular fanlight. Some blocks openings. 6-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows.
Statement of Special Interest
The Porter's Lodge 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 good neo-classical detailing of the building has been directly inspired by the earlier Simpson Pavilion, to which the lodge is immediately adjacent.
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) new building were erected to the north part of the site to increase medical facilities at the hospital. The lodge is first evident on the 2nd edition Ordnance Survey map and therefore it is likely to have been constructed as part of the Jubilee scheme designed by W & J Smith and Kelly, with Henry Saxon Snell as consultant.
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.
Previously listed as part of "Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Woolmanhill".
(Historic Environment Scotland List Entry)
