Heavitree isolation hospital

The Heavitree isolation hospital, also for a time known as the Exeter Corporation Tuberculosis Sanatorium,[1] was a small pulmonary tuberculosis sanatorium located on Hollow Lane, Exeter, United Kingdom. The site is a few hundred metres to the west of the Whipton Hospital (formerly the Whipton Isolation Hospital).

This article is about the small tuberculosis isolation hospital. For the general hospital formerly known as Exeter City Hospital, see Heavitree Hospital.
Heavitree isolation hospital
Heavitree isolation hospital is located in Devon
Heavitree isolation hospital
Shown in Devon
Geography
LocationExeter, Devon, England, United Kingdom
Coordinates50.7310°N 3.47203°W / 50.7310; -3.47203
Organisation
Care systemPublic NHS
Typespecialist
Services
SpecialityTuberculosis
History
Opened1903
Closed1947
Links
ListsHospitals in England

History
1932 OS map showing the three sanatoria located in the Whipton area of Exeter, with Heavitree isolation hospital to the right (East) of the map marked "Tuberculosis Sanatorium (Exeter Corp.)", Whipton Hospital in the centre, and Honeylands children's sanatorium to the West (left)

Foundation as an isolation hospital

Despite its name, the sanatorium is in the Pinhoe/Monkerton area of Exeter, and is not to be confused with the Heavitree Hospital, also known as the Royal Devon and Exeter (Heavitree). This is because the building was erected by the Heavitree parish, but in the neighbouring parish of Pinhoe, against strenuous objection by the locals and council of that area.[2]

The Heavitree council had been trying to find a site, considering and rejecting other sites as early as 1899.[3]

The building was built in around 1903,[4] some time before the larger Whipton Hospital, which was built following the tuberculosis acts of parliament in 1912.[5]

In 1913, the Exeter City Council took over the sanatorium from Heavitree Council, as part of the response to the passage of the new tuberculosis regulations.[6][7]

Residents and the parish council of Pinhoe continued to complain that patients from the sanatorium were visiting the village and spitting. The council responded that there was no danger of infection, and that patients were required to only spit in the flask they are provided with, or risk expulsion from the facility.[8]

Remand school

In 1947, the premises was converted for use as remand school, the Pinhoe Remand Home for Girls, under the control of the Devon County Education Committee.[9]

There were 10 'cases' in the home in 1952,[10] but by 1953, there was only one girl resident in the home, with five staff to care for her, and the closure of the home was announced.[11]

The inspection report of the remand home will be unsealed from the National Archives on 1 January 2028.[12]

Learning disability school
Entrance to the Ellen Tinkham School

Following the closure, in 1954 the council changed the use again, this time for use for children with learning disabilities, under the Mental Deficiency Act 1913.[13]

The site has continued in this role ever since, and is now known as the Ellen Tinkham School.

References
  1. "Devon". Historic Hospitals. 5 October 2018.
  2. "Heavitree Isolation Hospital: The Pinhoe Site - Strong Opposition". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 1902-12-06.
  3. "The Heavitree Isolation Hospital". Express and Echo. 1899-03-16.
  4. "St Thomas Rural Council: Alleged Breach of the Public Health Act". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 1903-01-31.
  5. "HOSPITAL in the Parish of Exeter". Heritage Gateway.
  6. "Sanatorium Proposals". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 1913-07-23.
  7. "Sanatoria Treatment". Western Times. 1913-10-29.
  8. "Pinhoe and the Sanatorium Patients". Western Times. 1914-03-21.
  9. "Devon County Education Committee". Western Daily Press. 1947-12-20.
  10. Davies, L Meredith (1952). Annual Report of the School Medical Officer for the year 1952. Devon County Council Medical Department. pp. 26–27.
  11. "£10,000 to care for family of three to age of 18". Torbay Express and South Devon Echo. 1953-07-01.
  12. "Pinhoe Remand Home for Girls Exeter: full inspection". National Archives. 1952.
  13. Irvine, ED (1953). Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health for 1953. City and County of the City of Exeter. pp. 93–95.
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