<rss version="2.0" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">
			<channel>
				<title>Blackburn Royal</title>
				<link>http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/</link>
				<description>4 rows</description>
				<language>en-gb</language>
				<ttl>60</ttl><item>
					<title>July 2009 Update</title>
					<link>http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/c1725144.html</link>
					<description>Demolition is complete leaving the War Memorial Wing intact externally, however internally the former hospital wing is now home to vandals who have smashed everything in sight.

A David Wilson Homes sign is placed on the edge of the site stating their intention to build at some point.</description>
					<content:encoded xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
						<![CDATA[ <p><b>Thursday  1 January 1970</b>: Demolition is complete leaving the War Memorial Wing intact externally, however internally the former hospital wing is now home to vandals who have smashed everything in sight.

A David Wilson Homes sign is placed on the edge of the site stating their intention to build at some point.</p><div><a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p59523553.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/553059000523.jpg" width="120" height="81" alt="July 2009 Update" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p59523569.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/569059000523.jpg" width="120" height="81" alt="July 2009 Update" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p59523567.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/567059000523.jpg" width="120" height="77" alt="July 2009 Update" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p59523556.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/556059000523.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="July 2009 Update" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p59523568.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/568059000523.jpg" width="120" height="81" alt="July 2009 Update" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p59523555.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/555059000523.jpg" width="120" height="81" alt="July 2009 Update" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p59523554.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/554059000523.jpg" width="120" height="79" alt="July 2009 Update" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p59523557.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/557059000523.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="July 2009 Update" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p59523558.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/558059000523.jpg" width="119" height="120" alt="July 2009 Update" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p59523560.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/560059000523.jpg" width="120" height="81" alt="July 2009 Update" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p59523565.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/565059000523.jpg" width="120" height="82" alt="July 2009 Update" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p59523559.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/559059000523.jpg" width="120" height="81" alt="July 2009 Update" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p59523561.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/561059000523.jpg" width="120" height="81" alt="July 2009 Update" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p59523563.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/563059000523.jpg" width="120" height="81" alt="July 2009 Update" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p59523564.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/564059000523.jpg" width="120" height="81" alt="July 2009 Update" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p59523562.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/562059000523.jpg" width="120" height="81" alt="July 2009 Update" /></a>
</div><p>Published in <a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/">Blackburn Royal</a></p> ]]>
					</content:encoded>
					<pubDate>Thu Jan 1 1970</pubDate>
					<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				</item><item>
					<title>The Archive Collection</title>
					<link>http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/c1514757.html</link>
					<description>Here we have a superb collection of archive images courtesy of the Cotton Town Digitisation Project.

They have a very informative website worth a visit at cottontown.org



The Memorial Plaque Photograph - provided by Raymond Smith 

The Blackburn and East Lancashire Royal Infirmary Memorial wing. These buildings were erected as a memorial to the men from Blackburn and East Lancashire who fell in the Great War 1914-1918. The foundation stone was laid by Mrs. R. A. Yerburgh on May 24th, 1924, and the opening ceremony was performed by her on June 16th 1928.


</description>
					<content:encoded xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
						<![CDATA[ <p><b>Thursday  1 January 1970</b>: Here we have a superb collection of archive images courtesy of the Cotton Town Digitisation Project.

They have a very informative website worth a visit at cottontown.org



The Memorial Plaque Photograph - provided by Raymond Smith 

The Blackburn and East Lancashire Royal Infirmary Memorial wing. These buildings were erected as a memorial to the men from Blackburn and East Lancashire who fell in the Great War 1914-1918. The foundation stone was laid by Mrs. R. A. Yerburgh on May 24th, 1924, and the opening ceremony was performed by her on June 16th 1928.


</p><div><a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p59590585.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/585059000590.jpg" width="120" height="74" alt="Archive Image, Blackburn Royal" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p59590584.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/584059000590.jpg" width="120" height="73" alt="Archive Image, Blackburn Royal" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50620860.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/860050000620.jpg" width="120" height="96" alt="Building Work - Courtesy LET" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50620857.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/857050000620.jpg" width="64" height="107" alt="War Memorial Plaque _ Courtesy BwD" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50620872.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/872050000620.jpg" width="120" height="74" alt="Postcard - Courtesy BwD" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50620870.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/870050000620.jpg" width="120" height="81" alt="Courtesy BwD" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50620866.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/866050000620.jpg" width="93" height="120" alt="Infirmary Chimney - Courtesy LET" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50620862.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/862050000620.jpg" width="120" height="72" alt="Infirmary BwD" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50620855.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/855050000620.jpg" width="120" height="96" alt="Courtesy LET " /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50620869.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/869050000620.jpg" width="111" height="120" alt="New Wing - Courtesy LET" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50620861.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/861050000620.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Princess Anne - Courtesy LET" /></a>
</div><p>Published in <a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/">Blackburn Royal</a></p> ]]>
					</content:encoded>
					<pubDate>Thu Jan 1 1970</pubDate>
					<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				</item><item>
					<title>Return Trip May 08</title>
					<link>http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/c1513925.html</link>
					<description>Barratt gets go ahead for Blackburn Royal Infirmary  
Wednesday, 02 January 2008  


Plans for a major new housing development on the site of the former Blackburn Royal Infirmary have been approved. 
Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning and highways committee has approved an application by Barratt Homes for 253 new homes to be built. 

Under the proposal, the landmark Edwardian war memorial building, which commemorates those who died in the First World War, will be refurbished to provide 53 apartments. 
Other parts of the hospital, which are in poor condition, will be replaced with 188 homes, while the car park off Pritchard Street will have one three storey block of 12 two-bed apartments. 

The scheme will also include creation of open space, highway improvements and landscaping. 

The infirmary has been empty since the opening of the new £113 million Royal Blackburn Hospital at Queen's Park last year. 

The Barratt development is expected to take three years to complete. 
 
</description>
					<content:encoded xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
						<![CDATA[ <p><b>Thursday  1 January 1970</b>: Barratt gets go ahead for Blackburn Royal Infirmary  
Wednesday, 02 January 2008  


Plans for a major new housing development on the site of the former Blackburn Royal Infirmary have been approved. 
Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning and highways committee has approved an application by Barratt Homes for 253 new homes to be built. 

Under the proposal, the landmark Edwardian war memorial building, which commemorates those who died in the First World War, will be refurbished to provide 53 apartments. 
Other parts of the hospital, which are in poor condition, will be replaced with 188 homes, while the car park off Pritchard Street will have one three storey block of 12 two-bed apartments. 

The scheme will also include creation of open space, highway improvements and landscaping. 

The infirmary has been empty since the opening of the new _113 million Royal Blackburn Hospital at Queen's Park last year. 

The Barratt development is expected to take three years to complete. 
 
</p><div><a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584091.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/091050000584.jpg" width="120" height="79" alt="Elevated" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584098.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/098050000584.jpg" width="120" height="85" alt="Demo" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584086.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/086050000584.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Demolition" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584097.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/097050000584.jpg" width="82" height="120" alt="Light" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584068.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/068050000584.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Hydro" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584092.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/092050000584.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Double doors" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584082.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/082050000584.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Gym" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584071.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/071050000584.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Gym Wider" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584099.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/099050000584.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Manuals" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584083.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/083050000584.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584089.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/089050000584.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Plan" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584072.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/072050000584.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Infirmary Road" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584077.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/077050000584.jpg" width="120" height="89" alt="Mortuary Plan" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584096.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/096050000584.jpg" width="75" height="120" alt="Cornered" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584084.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/084050000584.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Stretchered" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584094.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/094050000584.jpg" width="75" height="120" alt="A & E Entrance" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584106.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/106050000584.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Consultation" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584088.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/088050000584.jpg" width="120" height="82" alt="Chubb" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584073.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/073050000584.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Ribble Valley" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584090.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/090050000584.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Non Operational" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584064.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/064050000584.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Cyrtained" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584065.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/065050000584.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Access" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584074.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/074050000584.jpg" width="78" height="120" alt="No Entry" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584066.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/066050000584.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Roof light" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584062.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/062050000584.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Out Buildings" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584087.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/087050000584.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="A & E" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584080.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/080050000584.jpg" width="120" height="86" alt="Echoes" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584105.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/105050000584.jpg" width="120" height="78" alt="Reflected" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584070.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/070050000584.jpg" width="75" height="120" alt="Central" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584102.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/102050000584.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Theatre" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584081.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/081050000584.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Theatre" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584107.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/107050000584.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Theatre Wide" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584058.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/058050000584.jpg" width="73" height="120" alt="Demise" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584061.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/061050000584.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Check in" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584095.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/095050000584.jpg" width="94" height="120" alt="Brain Scan" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584085.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/085050000584.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Xray" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584059.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/059050000584.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Time Warp" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584079.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/079050000584.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Neglect" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584103.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/103050000584.jpg" width="77" height="120" alt="The Divide" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584075.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/075050000584.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Old And New" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584076.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/076050000584.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Jacobs Ladder" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584078.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/078050000584.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Hidden Corridor" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584063.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/063050000584.jpg" width="79" height="120" alt="Grey" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584093.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/093050000584.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Dome" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584104.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/104050000584.jpg" width="120" height="77" alt="Epic" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584067.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/067050000584.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Contained" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584069.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/069050000584.jpg" width="79" height="120" alt="Memorial Wing" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p50584100.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/100050000584.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Hiding Place" /></a>
</div><p>Published in <a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/">Blackburn Royal</a></p> ]]>
					</content:encoded>
					<pubDate>Thu Jan 1 1970</pubDate>
					<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				</item><item>
					<title>Blackburn Royal Infirmary</title>
					<link>http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/c1434475.html</link>
					<description>A collection of images from The now closed Blackburn Royal Infirmary.  The lights are on, no one is home.  Water leaked everywhere making this explore surreal.

A Totally beautiful building with many fine period features, sadly on the route to decline.  


The History 

On Hollin Bank Bolton Road. The site of 8 acres was purchased from J Feilden for £3,200 of which he returned £1,600. The foundation stone was laid on 24th May 1858 by William Pilkington Esq. who gave £2,000 towards the building costs of £25,000 and £100 per year in perpetuity for the support of the institution. 

Opened in 1865. In 1884 a new wing was added at a cost of £4,000 and a further addition was made in 1901 costing £1,100 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

 A nurses’ home was built in 1893 at a cost of £6,000. In 1904 a children’s Ward was added and in 1908 extensions were made costing £5,000. The foundation stone for the War Memorial Wing was laid by Mrs Elma Yerburgh in 1924 and opened by her on 16 June 1928, this costing £90,000. Became a NHS hospital in 1948.

 A new multi-storey block was opened adjacent to Bolton Road in October 1965.  Office: 15 Richmond Terrace, secretary: R Spencer and J Procter (1870); Joseph Eastwood (1878-89); N A Smith (1915-30); Tom Dewhurst (1935-51); matron: Miss Whitton (1870); Miss L C Gibbon (1930); Miss E Townsend (1935-48).      Cottontown.org





Wonderful Recollections of Blackburn Royal Infirmary


WARTIME MEMORIES OF AN OCTOGENERIAN,
As soon as war was declared all the windows were given &quot;blackout&quot;,and all electric light bulbs were replaced by blue ones which gave an eerie light along all the corridors.Nurses had to learn to quickly turn down the patients from their beds to UNDERNEATH the beds incase of an air raid.Imagine the grumbles!

Soon we were given heavy gasmasks and told to wear them while at work &quot;to get used to it&quot; but still no airraid sirens were heard.After a time all the patients were either sent home or evacuated to Calderstones(Whalley) and we nurses spent our days preparing plaster bandages,splints of every kind and sterile dressings whilst the wards were silent and full of empty beds.

In the nurses home we saw some changes as ration books were introduced,each nurse was given a small tin for tea,a jar for sugar and a dish for what was an ersatz &quot;butter&quot;,these were refilled at weekly intervals and were of very small amounts so I remember giving away my sugar to pals because I had never taken it.

There were then some stranger items that appeared in the dining room,dried eggs,dried milk powder,spam and whale meat which looked a bit like liver but didnt taste too bad when your hungry.We got no casualties so eventually the patients returned and we got back to routine.

My friend and I both had bicycles(no modern gears then just a three speed)but when we got our holidays we literally &quot;got on our bikes&quot; and set off for our homes mine in North Norfolk and hers in Kent.One year to my home the next year to hers.We always arrived and returned safely but the time we were going to Kent the Battle of Briton was at its hieght and the Spitfires were always in dogfights over the Channel and coast.We had travelled through London and down the Old Kent Road and were heading for Tumbridge Wells when we came to the very steep hill that leads down to Sevenoaks.Tall trees overhung each side of the road and as we sped down a hail of bullets met us as a Spitfire flew low firing at a German plane in front.We couldnt stop as we were traveling too fast and how we missed those bullets is still a miracle in my memory.
We got to Paddock Wood and my friends home by 4pm and they told us the German had been brought down close by.

My hospital training days were very happy ones in Blackburn, and when I got my final exam we both joined the Army Nursing Service and left for a Military Hospital,where I was Sister in charge of a Medical Ward and my friend was Sister of a Surgical Ward.

I retired from nursing in 1973 after 31 years service and now aged 85 still attend Blackburn Royal Infirmary as an out patient.Many changes have taken place but some of the old features remain like the main entrance and ground floor,and to me its full of memories of faces I knew so well in a happy comradeship and gratitude to Matron,Sister Tutor and all the Ward and Theatre Sisters who made us able to accept responsibility.

Contributed by  Researcher 230408 
Article ID:  A1073062 Miss Anne Wrigley  For WW2 Peoples War
</description>
					<content:encoded xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
						<![CDATA[ <p><b>Thursday  1 January 1970</b>: A collection of images from The now closed Blackburn Royal Infirmary.  The lights are on, no one is home.  Water leaked everywhere making this explore surreal.

A Totally beautiful building with many fine period features, sadly on the route to decline.  


The History 

On Hollin Bank Bolton Road. The site of 8 acres was purchased from J Feilden for _3,200 of which he returned _1,600. The foundation stone was laid on 24th May 1858 by William Pilkington Esq. who gave _2,000 towards the building costs of _25,000 and _100 per year in perpetuity for the support of the institution. 

Opened in 1865. In 1884 a new wing was added at a cost of _4,000 and a further addition was made in 1901 costing _1,100 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

 A nurses_ home was built in 1893 at a cost of _6,000. In 1904 a children_s Ward was added and in 1908 extensions were made costing _5,000. The foundation stone for the War Memorial Wing was laid by Mrs Elma Yerburgh in 1924 and opened by her on 16 June 1928, this costing _90,000. Became a NHS hospital in 1948.

 A new multi-storey block was opened adjacent to Bolton Road in October 1965.  Office: 15 Richmond Terrace, secretary: R Spencer and J Procter (1870); Joseph Eastwood (1878-89); N A Smith (1915-30); Tom Dewhurst (1935-51); matron: Miss Whitton (1870); Miss L C Gibbon (1930); Miss E Townsend (1935-48).      Cottontown.org





Wonderful Recollections of Blackburn Royal Infirmary


WARTIME MEMORIES OF AN OCTOGENERIAN,
As soon as war was declared all the windows were given &quot;blackout&quot;,and all electric light bulbs were replaced by blue ones which gave an eerie light along all the corridors.Nurses had to learn to quickly turn down the patients from their beds to UNDERNEATH the beds incase of an air raid.Imagine the grumbles!

Soon we were given heavy gasmasks and told to wear them while at work &quot;to get used to it&quot; but still no airraid sirens were heard.After a time all the patients were either sent home or evacuated to Calderstones(Whalley) and we nurses spent our days preparing plaster bandages,splints of every kind and sterile dressings whilst the wards were silent and full of empty beds.

In the nurses home we saw some changes as ration books were introduced,each nurse was given a small tin for tea,a jar for sugar and a dish for what was an ersatz &quot;butter&quot;,these were refilled at weekly intervals and were of very small amounts so I remember giving away my sugar to pals because I had never taken it.

There were then some stranger items that appeared in the dining room,dried eggs,dried milk powder,spam and whale meat which looked a bit like liver but didnt taste too bad when your hungry.We got no casualties so eventually the patients returned and we got back to routine.

My friend and I both had bicycles(no modern gears then just a three speed)but when we got our holidays we literally &quot;got on our bikes&quot; and set off for our homes mine in North Norfolk and hers in Kent.One year to my home the next year to hers.We always arrived and returned safely but the time we were going to Kent the Battle of Briton was at its hieght and the Spitfires were always in dogfights over the Channel and coast.We had travelled through London and down the Old Kent Road and were heading for Tumbridge Wells when we came to the very steep hill that leads down to Sevenoaks.Tall trees overhung each side of the road and as we sped down a hail of bullets met us as a Spitfire flew low firing at a German plane in front.We couldnt stop as we were traveling too fast and how we missed those bullets is still a miracle in my memory.
We got to Paddock Wood and my friends home by 4pm and they told us the German had been brought down close by.

My hospital training days were very happy ones in Blackburn, and when I got my final exam we both joined the Army Nursing Service and left for a Military Hospital,where I was Sister in charge of a Medical Ward and my friend was Sister of a Surgical Ward.

I retired from nursing in 1973 after 31 years service and now aged 85 still attend Blackburn Royal Infirmary as an out patient.Many changes have taken place but some of the old features remain like the main entrance and ground floor,and to me its full of memories of faces I knew so well in a happy comradeship and gratitude to Matron,Sister Tutor and all the Ward and Theatre Sisters who made us able to accept responsibility.

Contributed by  Researcher 230408 
Article ID:  A1073062 Miss Anne Wrigley  For WW2 Peoples War
</p><div><a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591031.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/031047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Stairwell" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591059.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/059047000591.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Macro Life line" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591026.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/026047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="The Roofline" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591050.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/050047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Roofline" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591054.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/054047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Mosaic Detail 1" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591044.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/044047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Mosaic Detail" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591034.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/034047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Stained Glass" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591033.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/033047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Industry" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591025.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/025047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="A snapshot Border" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591047.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/047047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Buttons" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591035.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/035047000591.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Life Lines" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591056.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/056047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Lift Gear" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591024.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/024047000591.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Lovely Mosaic" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591053.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/053047000591.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Xray" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591057.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/057047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Lit Corridors" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591048.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/048047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Ward 10" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591037.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/037047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Corridor Doors" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591062.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/062047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Xray Machine" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591046.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/046047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Open Door" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591029.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/029047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Etched Window" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591043.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/043047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Long Mile" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591045.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/045047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Water Leak" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591060.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/060047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Water Logged" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591061.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/061047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Lights are on, no one is home." /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591036.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/036047000591.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Blackburn Royal Infirmary" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591032.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/032047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Operating Theatre" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591038.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/038047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Memorial Arch" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591058.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/058047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Memorial Centre View" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591030.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/030047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Memorial Roof" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591055.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/055047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Memorial Corridor" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591028.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/028047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Memorial Detail" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591051.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/051047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Wide Angle" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591040.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/040047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Ashtray Effect" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591042.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/042047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Memorial Roof" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591041.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/041047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Central Mosaic" /></a>
<a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/p47591049.html"><img src="http://thumbs.fotopic.net/049047000591.jpg" width="80" height="120" alt="Reception" /></a>
</div><p>Published in <a href="http://blackburnroyalinfirmary.fotopic.net/">Blackburn Royal</a></p> ]]>
					</content:encoded>
					<pubDate>Thu Jan 1 1970</pubDate>
					<dc:creator></dc:creator>
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