Smallwood Hospital, Redditch.

Conveniently located in the town centre.

Still in Redditch, today’s photograph is another historic building. Built in 1894 to provide health care for the town. Following the 1848 Public Health Act, in 1873 a report was produced stating that Redditch was “one of the most unsanitary towns in England”. The response was slow – as it took the best part of 30 years before the Smallwood Hospital, Redditch was opened.It is named after one of the wealthiest families of needlemakers in the town. They not only contributed to this building, but also to Almshouses both in Redditch and Alcester. Of note, as well as the usual carvings in the stonework of the building’s name and date, the weather also incorporates the date in its construction. It is still used by the NHS today.

Main entrance with carved stonework and weathervane.

Photograph Details:

• Taken: 9 Jan 2020
• Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M10 MkIIA
• Lens: Olympus 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6
• Focal Length 14mm
• F/5.6
• 1/100 Sec
• ISO 200