The Royal Halifax Infirmary was a hospital in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England, which opened in 1896 and closed in 2001.[1]
History
Earlier hospitals
The predecessors of the Royal Halifax Hospital were the Halifax Dispensary (1807-c.1836) in Hatters Close, and the Halifax Infirmary or Halifax Infirmary and Dispensary in Blackwall, opposite Holy Trinity Church, from 1838. George Townsend Andrews, best known as a railway architect, designed the 1838 premises, which were demolished after 1896.[2] The West Yorkshire Archive Service holds the records of both of these institutions in addition to those of the infirmary.[1][3]
From 1896
The infirmary's building in Free School Lane, Halifax, was opened on 28 April 1896 by the Duke and Duchess of York (the future George V and Queen Mary), who also opened the town's Borough Market that day.[1] It is said that Queen Victoria had given permission for it to be named the "Halifax Royal Infirmary" but that the duke announced the wrong name, which was then retained.[4]
After closure some of the buildings were converted to residential use and known as "The Royal".[4] Eleven blocks of the buildings, and a lodge and elements of the boundary walls, are Grade II listed buildings.[5][6][7]
Notable people
Euphemia Steele Innes, RRC, DN (1874–1955), Scottish nurse. From 1906 to 1907 she was assistant matron at the Royal Halifax Infirmary; from 1912 to 1913 she was matron there.[8]
References
^ abcd"The Royal Halifax Infirmary". From Weaver to Web: online visual archive of Calderdale history. Calderdale Council. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
^"Halifax Infirmary and Dispensary". From Weaver to Web: Online Visual Archive of Calderdale History. Calderdale Council. Retrieved 26 August 2016. Includes photograph of the building