War Memorial Hospital

The War Memorial Hospital is a public dispensary with attached railings and gate, originally built in 1866 and converted into a cottage hospital in 1924. It was designed by Bellamy & Hardy of Lincoln. The building is constructed of white brick with ashlar and red brick dressings, and has a Welsh slate hipped roof with tall brick stacks to the rear.

The street facade has a projecting central bay topped with a blind attic dormer inscribed with "PUBLIC DISPENSARY, ESTABLISHED 1789 BY EDWARD HARRISON MD, PATRON SIR JOSEPH BANKS KT, THIS BUILDING WAS 1866 IN MEMORY OF SIR HY DYMOKE BART, A GENEROUS SUPPORTER OF THIS INSTITUTION." It is decorated with a carved impost band, ashlar moulded and coped gable, and cast iron finials. The central entrance arch is painted with a round-headed arch inscribed "WAR MEMORIAL HOSPITAL," and also has a carved impost band. Flanking the entrance are single three-light windows, each with round-headed ashlar tops, moulded imposts, and red sandstone mullions. The first floor has a moulded ashlar cill band with a central single window and flanking three-light windows, also with round-headed ashlar tops, carved imposts, and ashlar mullions. Similar single light round-headed windows are present to the returns. To the left is a slightly set-back later addition with plain sash windows to each floor and a pedimented gable.

The forecourt is bounded by a low white brick wall topped with ashlar coping and cast iron spearhead railings and a central gate.

The interior retains the original windows and doors, a wooden staircase with painted turned balusters, and an elaborate cast iron newel post.

The dispensary was founded on October 28th 1789 by Sir Joseph Banks, Lewis Dymoke, Wm Elmhirst, E Laycock MD, E Harrison MD, and John Chislet Surgeon & Apothecary. The building was constructed in 1866 at a cost of £1,026.10s.11d, including fixtures and fittings.