In 1924, the MOH report notes that the smallpox hospital has been in almost constant occupation since November 1923, during which time, 45 cases were treated. The Rural District Council are promoting the combining of neighbouring districts so they can all use a common Fever Hospital; and they suggest the combination in this way of the following district councils: Alnwick Rural, Morpeth Urban and Rural, Ashington, Urban Newbiggin-by-the-Sea Urban and Castle Ward Rural.
By 1931, the MOH report states that the Chevington (Smallpox) Hospital is the only hospital in the district, which is ready for use and in excellent condition. Other diseases aside of smallpox are treated in neighbouring hospitals at fixed charges. This way of working is said to be much more economical than building new hospitals due to the improved transport – patients belonging to the Morpeth Rural district were able to seek treatment at Walkergate Isolation Hospital, Wooley Sanatorium, Stannington Sanatorium, and Preston Hospital at North Shields, due to the improved transport links.
In 1934, the MOH points out that no case of smallpox has been notified in Britain since the first few months of the year, and that the country seems completely free of the disease. The smallpox hospital at Chevington remained unopen during 1934, but was ready to use should the occasion arise. Patients were still being transported to other hospitals, and the cost of doing this 1933-1934 was £275 – about £15,000 in today’s money.
The next significant notes come from the 1936 MOH report, where the hospital has remained unused since 1927, with most infectious cases being transferred to the Newcastle Infectious Diseases Hospital at Walkergate. By 1937, the hospital is reported as being run down – the water supply is unsatisfactory and needs to be tested; 12 beds would have to be renewed as the mattresses are either too rusty to clean or too broken to repair. The building itself is in fairly good condition, and could be made into a serviceable state within a day or two.
We need to go back to the Morpeth Herald for more news of the hospital, jumping to 1940, when the MOH requests the Chairman of the Morpeth Rural District Council to sanction the removal of nursing equipment, screens and bed rests from West Chevington Hospital to the hospitals at Ashington and Bedlington, to help them with the influx of paratyphoid fever patients. When the hospital is inspected a few months later, it is found to be in splendid condition, and the Council no longer want to ‘dispose’ of it, and decide to retain it in case of emergency, and in case it needs to be used as accommodation – especially as there are some years to run on the lease. It is noted that the farmer near the property has been using the ambulance shed as a lambing shed due to a misunderstanding involving taking part of the garden back!
Jumping in time again, to 1943, Morpeth Rural District Council approve a plan submitted by the County War Agricultural Executive Committee to use the hospital as an agricultural hostel, whilst improving the drainage system. In September that year, the District Council received a letter of acceptance from Mr. T.W. Bell of West Chevington Farm of their terms for the relinquishment of their lease of the land and premises at Chevington Isolation Hospital. In April 1947, the Herald reports that the Northumberland War Agricultural Executive Committee are prepared to make a cash settlement of £52 3s 6d – against Morpeth Rural District Council’s claim of £70 13s 6d – in respect of dilapidations at the Isolation hospital, during the period it had been requisitioned, and that the District Council were going to accept the offer.
The last information I could find relating to the Chevington Isolation Hospital, was in an article about the opening of Elliot Community Centre (the Stobhill Town Hall) in December 1947. The building that was chosen for the Community Centre had been part of the hospital at Chevington.
The records that we have within the Archives are limited to what people and organisations decide to deposit with us. It would be wonderful to add to what we know about Chevington Isolation Hospital – does anyone have any photographs of the site, relatives that worked there, paperwork relating to the site and buildings, reminiscences of the area? If you do, please contact us at archives@northumberland.gov.uk