Comments on: At The London Chest Hospital

By: Julian Coulden

Julian Coulden — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 18:28:25 +0000

The London Chest Hospital was built in the style of a Queen Ann mansion, is glorious and I am very disappointed that English Heritage saw no merit in listing the building, shame on them. The building situated in the midst of Victorian villas in the heart of the east end, is as much a part of the architectural landscape, as any of the beautiful houses and villas, which surround it. The layout of the villas and hospital was conceived as a whole.

Prince Albert was the hospitals patron, indicating its importance as a hospital for chest diseases and tuberculosis which was rife in the east end.

And the grounds of the hospital provided a wonderful green landscape for patients and staff to enjoy. I assume, this will all be lost as part of the redevelopment? The east end looses another architectural gem and no one seems to give it a second thought? What a tragedy.

By: pauline taylor

pauline taylor — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 18:57:39 +0000

My understanding has been that the silkworms did not feed on the mulberry trees imported by minions of James I as they were the wrong kind. Does anyone know any more about this? Nevertheless this is a very precious tree so it is so important that it is not now destroyed after all these years.

By: Juliet Wood

Juliet Wood — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 18:18:17 +0000

I’ve just come back from the “consultation” exhibition.

The first person I spoke to said “What Mulberry Tree?”
The second one said “Oh yes I think there is a Mulberry Tree..but its not specifically shown on our plans.”
This is despite one plan being titled “Developable area considering trees and their Root Protection Areas.”
“Well where is it?” (He points sheepishly to plan, at location under North wing of new building.)
The last spokesperson said “We have been seeking quotations from a specialist to move the Mulberry.”!!!
Somebody did it in Cambridge, once, apparently…

By: gkbowood

gkbowood — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 16:45:23 +0000

Yes, it is time to get cracking on planting the seeds of this oldest tree and the others you have blogged of previously! No time to lose…if history plays out as usual, this fine old specimen is on the chopping block !! (Developers are a wretched incarnation. Feel free to omit this is needed!!)

By: Louella Chesterman

Louella Chesterman — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 15:20:16 +0000

Such happy memories of a lovely hospital and the best 3 years of my working life. I was there in the mid 70s and it had such a wonderful, close-knit, family feel. I worked in the Cardiac Department (which would now be called the Angiography Suite, I suppose). I went back to the pre-closure fun day in 2014 to celebrate its work and history. The people I talked to there were representative of several decades and all agreed on the warm and friendly feel of it. Hope at least the facade is preserved and some of the finer interior features like the old entrance hall, though I’m sure few will regret the loss of the rotting old TB balconies. Also, the grand old mulberry – I have eaten the fruits of it in the past. Surely, it will be allowed to lived out its last years with a bit of dignity.

By: Elaine Napier

Elaine Napier — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 14:41:20 +0000

My grandfather was a patient here and died at the country branch of the London Chest Hospital in Arlesy, Bedforshire. I was a child during his illness and visited him only once. The country branch was a grim place, a line of army-type huts along a concrete path. What a pity that this wonderful East End building will be destroyed, another incredible building vanished. I hope they can (and DO) save the mulberry tree.

By: Rob Smith

Rob Smith — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 12:55:54 +0000

A link, from the government’s own website, to a flowchart explaining how offences against tree preservation orders can be dealt with:

http://planningguidance.communities.gov.uk/blog/guidance/tree-preservation-orders/annex-a-flowcharts/flowchart-6-offences/

By: Sharon Carr

Sharon Carr — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 09:59:39 +0000

Thank you, O Gentle Author, keeping us up to date on the Chest Hospital’s future. Let us hope that Circle Housing will be considerate in its approach to redeveloping the site and let us hope too that the ancient Mulberry survives.

By: Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 09:27:00 +0000

I like looking at london from the topdeck of london buses, one thing intrigues me is the figures on rhodesia house have been smashed , its Zimbabwe now

By: Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 09:20:58 +0000

I wonder if could plant some seeds from the tree somewhere else , in the future it could be called son or daughter of the oldest tree in east london, just a thought