There is a rather isolated private house in South Oxfordshire which
was originally a farm-house but in 1903 was bought by a group of local
authorities, rather secretively so as not to cause public alarm, for
use as a smallpox hospital. Relatively large sums of money were spent
in adapting and maintaining the building between 1903-1953. It then
became the property of the local health authority who quickly sold it
by auction.
Only 3 cases of smallpox were ever admitted to this primitive hospital
and all survived.
I do not know whether the present occupants of the house are aware of
its history. People who lived in the parish in the 1930s are usually
aware that the hospital existed but the two to whom I mentioned it were
both vague about the exact location.
Brian Read
On 25 May 2005, at 19:50, Peter Higginbotham wrote:
> Can anyone suggest any "buildings with a secret history" that they know
> about, i.e. ones that used to be used for something interesting or
> unusual but which now goes forgotten or unremarked by people who walk
> past them every day, or perhaps even work inside them?
> Thanks
> Petre Higginbotham
>
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