Builth Cottage Hospital, A Centenary History 1897-1997, by Gwen Davies
Foreword | Acknowledgements | Prologue Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6
Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 |
Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Epilogue
The League of Hospital Friends, by Betts Pugh
Builth, Queen of the Wye, by Jim Davies
Chapter One - The Early
History
Margaret and Elizabeth’s first action was to call together
a group of John’s friends to discuss the matter of the hospital
and so it was that on the 28th may 1894. ten prominent local men
met at No 1, Wye Terrace, at the request of the Misses Powell. These
men were:
Rev William
Williams, Rector of Maesmynis
Rev H A Crosbie,
Vicar of Builth
Dr Hugh
Bennett, Medical Practitioner
Messrs A Gwynne
Vaughan, John Hotchkiss (Magistrate)
Mr T Luther
Jones (Manager N P Bank)
Mr David Thomas
(Manager London Prov. Bank)
Mr Evan Owen
and Mr H V Vaughan (Solicitors)
Mr Walter
G Price (Solicitor)
After thanking those present for responding to their invitation
, Margaret and Elizabeth outlined the reason for the meeting and
said that, as friends of the late John Davies, they would be aware
of his often expressed opinion that there was a great need for
Builth and District to have its own Cottage Hospital for the benefit
of all its residents. In order to comply with his wishes
it was their intention to put aside the sum of £6,000 out
of the money John had left them, to erect and endow such a building
and it was their hope that the gentlemen present at the meeting
would form a committee to carry out such a scheme that would fully
meet with the requirements of the local people of the area.
All the gentlemen were deeply impressed with what the ladies had
told them and gladly agreed to formulate a working committee and
to carry out the wishes of their late friend, John Davies.
The Rev William Williams was appointed Chairman and Mr Walter
G Price was appointed Secretary.
The first job was to find a suitable site, which had to be with
a southern aspect and free from river fog. After much searching
they decided on the site which we now know, with a commanding view
of the town, on what was then known as Nantyrarian Road. At
the foot of the hill was the newly erected Wesleyan Methodist Chapel
and opposite the Chapel was a Toll House. In 1894 there were
no houses between the chapel and the small hamlet of Nantyrarian,
this meant that the hospital would be build in splendid isolation,
in a rural setting and surrounded by trees.
The land chosen was owned by Capt. Harcourt Wood, who was
later to build Caerberis Manor House. Negotiations took place over
the price and when Capt. Harcourt Wood learned of the charitable
use for which the land was intended, he reduced the price to £200
for one acre of ground. The committee was pleased to accept
what they considered to be a most generous offer,
and invited Capt. Harcourt Wood to become a member of their working
party together with Mr C W Woosnam.
The second meeting was called on 25th May 1895, and the Secretary
reported that, looking back on the previous twelve months, and
the progress made, it would appear that the project would take
some years to be carried through. However, by the time the
next meeting was called, some five months later, a great deal of
work had been done, including the conveyancing of the land, the
deed of the endowment and the drawing up of Rule and Management
of the hospital. Local architect, Mr Telfer Smith, was to
be asked to be the architect and clerk of works. For the
sum of sixty pound, Mr Telfer Smith agreed to draw up plans and
specifications, supervise the erection of the building and carry
out all the duties of the architect and clerk of works. His
terms were accepted and he was asked to proceed with the work immediately. In
the meantime members of the committee were exceedingly busy visiting
other hospitals to obtain the best information possible. They
expressed their great gratitude to Dr Bowen Davies of Llandrindod
for the help and advice he had given them and whose opinion was
that “every small town and village should have a Cottage
Hospital”.
At the next meeting, Mr Telfer Smith produced sketches of the
hospital building which were carefully studied by the committee
members; as a result he was instructed to prepare plans for a two
storied hospital and submit them to the Misses Powell for their
approval. A Building Sub-Committee was appointed to oversee
the works progress – these proposed were: - Rev Wm. Williams,
Mr T L Jones, Mr Evans Owen and the Secretary, Mr alter G Price.
Meanwhile, Margaret and Elizabeth had made it known that they
wished to leave everything in the hands of the committee, with
only two stipulations, namely that a substantial, worthwhile building
be erected using the best materials, to be obtained locally wherever
possible, and that local workmen were to be employed.
The
meeting following took place on November 6th 1895 with a full attendance
of members being present. The plans were again examined
in great detail and all questions clearly answered by the Architect. A
previously made decision to have bay windows in the day wards only
and flat, casement windows in the night wards, was rescinded, and
an agreement made to have bay windows in all wards.
On the 23rd December 1895 the committee met at Wye Bridge House,
by permission of the Secretary, when the main business was to receive
an estimation of the cost of the project; Mr Telfer Smith estimated
the total cost of the building would be £1,630.0.0d. The
committee thought the estimate required some modification. After
discussion and a small reduction being made, the future met with
their approval, and they instructed that the work should proceed.,
with the provision that more light be provided in the corridor
on the first floor.
Seemingly, the committee did not wish to the
grass to grow under its feet, as the next meeting was called on
1st January 1896, but owing to the vast amount of work which they
had instructed the architect to do, they allowed him a few extra
days and postponed the meeting until 6th January. By that
date, ha had produced the altered plans which were then approved
by the committee. It would appear that the Building Sub-committee
members were in daily contact with the progress being made and
seemed to be satisfied that everything was proceeding according
to plan.
A special meeting was called later in January 1896, which was
attended for the first time by Mr C W Woosnam of Cefnllysgwynne. The
architect, had by this time, marked out the frontage line and the
exact site of the building, after most careful consideration both
were approved. Excitement was no mounting as they realised
that the long awaited dream would shortly become a reality.
One month later, in February 1896, the committee was in a position
to advertise for tenders; this was done through the medium of the
Western Mail and 16th March was the date given for the opening
of the replies of which five were received. Four of the
tenders were from local builders, varying in amounts form £1,500
to £2,008. The lowest tender of £1,500 was received
from Mr A Meredith, Newbridge-on-Wye, this was the once accepted,
with the proviso that he would “make a reasonable allowance
should the Trustees decide to omit the hot water heating apparatus
chambers”. White why the decision was made is not clear.
The
Secretary informed the members that he had received a further cheque
from the Misses Powell, for the sum of £1,8000, which together
with the £200 they had already paid for the ground, brought
their contribution, to date, up to £2,000. The Treasures
was instructed to open accounts in both the National Provincial
Bank and the London Provincial Bank and place £900 in each,
as an acknowledgment of the service which the Managers of both
banks had given to the committee.
On the following day, 17th March 1895, another urgent meeting
was called, as they ad been informed that the Misses Powell were
greatly opposed to any suggestion that the hot water system be
omitted from the plans. It was unanimously decided that the
tender submitted by Mr Meredith be accepted unconditionally.
Everything seemed to be proceeding satisfactorily, until a few
days later, on 20th March, a letter was received from Mr Meredith
withdrawing his formed tender and wishing to substitute the offer
to “build in Yorkshire Stone for £1,500 or with patent
Victoria Stone, as per the specification, for £1,570”.
After much discussion and a great deal of thought it was resolved
on the proposition of Mr H V Vaughan, seconded by Mr Evans Owen
and unanimously agreed, that the withdrawal of Mr Meredith’s
original tender be accepted. It was further proposed by Mr
W G Price and seconded by Mr Evan Owen, that the tender submitted
by Mr Thomas Jones, Builder of Builth, for the sum of £1,659
be accepted. Mr Jones was informed of the decision and agree
to proceed with the work of building the hospital as soon as the
agreement was signed by himself and the chairman of the committee.
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