LOST HOSPITALS OF LONDON

Green Gable Auxiliary Hospital
23 Middle Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA2 0HW
Medical dates:

Medical character:
1914 - 1916

Convalescent (military)
During WW1, because of the huge number of casualties, many large houses and buildings became auxiliary military hospitals.

Once of the first such hospitals to be established in 1914 under the auspices of a Voluntary Aid Detachment (V.A.D.) of the British Red Cross was in a large room attached to a private house, Green Gable in Middle Road, Harrow, lent by Mr and Mrs M.F. Coventry.  Opening on 15th December 1914 as a Class B auxiliary hospital, it had 6 beds and received wounded soldiers from the Battle of Mons via an arrangement with Charing Cross Hospital.  The nursing staff consisted of 1 trained nurse and 13 members of the local /168 V.A.D.

On 31st March 1915 the Commandant was offered Holmleigh, a large house in College Road with double bay windows and an extensive garden, for use as a hospital and, on 30th May, the Hospital moved there.  

Green Gable
continued to operate as a hospital with 10 beds auxiliary to Fulham Military Hospital, staffed by the L/234 V.A.D. with Mrs Coventry as Commandant.  During 1915 it received 125 admissions.

It closed in 10th November 1916.

Present status (June 2011)

The house burned down during the 1980s.  The site remained vacant until planning permission was finally granted for new housing.  The site is now occupied by four townhouses, built in 1997.

Middle Road  Middle Road
No. 23 Middle Road has now been replaced by Nos. 23, 23a, 23b and 23c Middle Road.

23 Middle Road  
The house on the right bears the number 23 now.
References
(Author unstated) 1917 List of the various hospitals treating military cases in the United Kingdom.  London, H.M.S.O.

(Author unstated) 1925 The British Red Cross Society.  County of London Branch Annual Reports 1914-1924.  London, Harrison & Sons.

The Commander (undated) The Story of 'Holmleigh' Auxiliary Military Hospital 1914-1919, Harrow-on-the-Hill.  London, John Bale, Sons, & Danielsson.
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