Sutton Hospital opened as a cottage hospital in 1899, split across two semi-detached houses with just 6 beds between them. Just 3 years later it was moved to a new site with 12 beds across 4 wards and in 1930 moved again to its current location, which was named Sutton and Cheam District Hospital. As of the Second World War the hospital had 130 beds with 10 emergency beds for war casualties.
The actual part of the hospital we explored was originally built as the South Metropolitan District School for Girls, established in 1884, with the main accommodation accommodated in six two-storey H-shaped blocks – three of which survive in the area we explored. The school closed in 1902, and was purchased by the Metropolitan Asylums Board, who reopened it as the Downs School for Children. The hospital continued until 1948 when it was incorporated into the St Helier Group with the NHS’ emergence.
As of 2008 the hospital had 32 beds and was mainly used as an outpatients department with many of the old blocks derelict and the hospital in a poor condition. Instead of building a new hospital on the site, it was decided to pump money into improving the St Helier Hospital and 8 years later Sutton Hospital was put on the market.
In 2017 the new wing at St Helier hospital opened, resulting in the closure of Sutton. The site was purchased by Sutton Council for £8 million with plans to convert part of it into a new school and the remaining land to be used by the Royal Marsden Hospital.
Exterior Photos
A Block
B Block
Chapel
Sources: https://ezitis.myzen.co.uk/, https://moderngov.sutton.gov.uk/documents/s44240/Appendix%20B%20-%20Draft%20London%20Cancer%20Hub%20Dev%20Frame.pdf
