Cottage Hospital

In 1884 George Courtauld of Cut Hedge, Gosfield and head of the Courtaulds textile factory founded, at his own expense, built a cottage hospital in the Hedingham Road for the benefit of the poorer inhabitants of the town, and to serve as a memorial to his late wife, Susannah Elizabeth. A proviso was that the people of the area should furnish, maintain and run the hospital thereafter and this was done through the formation of a Hospital Commitee who, on a purely voluntary basis, worked untiringly for a number of years to provide fixtures, furnishings and equipment and administer the hospital. Later there was formed a joint Black Notley and Halstead League of Friends but after 1968 the sole League of Friends of Halstead Hospital has continued to supply additional facilities and amenities for patients and staff. In 1948 the hospital became controlled by the state under the provisions of the National Health Act 1946. The hospital building has been extended several times since this photograph was taken in 1906.

To see another view of the hospital click here