The History of Frenchay Hospital

RIP Frenchay Hospital

In spite of  all the optimism shown in the reports of 2013, the only thing that happened to the hospital was that it was totally closed in 2014 with all the facilities transferred mainly to the enlarged Southmead hospital - only the Burden Institute and the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit stayed at Frenchay. The Mansion, a listed building, also remained and is expected to revert to residential accommodation.

In 2016 the site was sold to Redrow Homes for houses, a school and a possible clinic; all the original buildings were demolished, apart from the water tower although, for some reason, the derelict Observation Ward stayed for quite a while. Construction then started on almost five hundred three, four and five bedroomed houses. The architects' redevolpment plans contain  the statement:

"includes plans for a primary school proposes three different character areas. There will be one residential area of formal, Georgian-style houses, another village section with medium density and a third suburban area with fewer homes and plenty of green open spaces"


Redrow Homes' Plan. Phase One of development to the north of the old A&E entrance.

By July 2017 some of the houses were at roof level.

Frenchay Village Museum had been approached for names of people associated with the history of  the land and hospital, these names to be given to the new streets and roads between the houses. My book on the History of Frenchay Hospital proved a source for some of the names. Among those chosen were Sinatra Way (Frank Sinatra visited the hospital during the war, as did Bob Hope) and Briggs Road. Thus, I have achieved a level of immortality!! See to the far right of the plan, above.



James Briggs on the constructed, but not yet finished, Briggs Road .                          Summer 2018. A temporary road sign.                                                        Briggs Road October 2019
September 2017. The road was the first completed of the proposed
new ones.
Two of the other roads. Mustoe Road, named after Bill Mustoe, Head Gardner and Wilson Road, named after Vera Wilson, Matron
Pictures by Alan Freke of the Frenchay Village Museum.

James Briggs, now aged 86. Retired since May 1993 and living in Rhos-on-Sea, North Wales since January 2016.
Updated October 2019.

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