Fairfield Hospital

TL 23NW 5/120

STOTFOLD HITCHIN ROAD

Fairfield Hospital

II

Lunatic asylum. Originally called the Three Counties Hospital, served the counties of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Huntingdonshire, controlled by a Committee of Visitors. 1856-60 by George Fowler Jones of York, advised by Mr Hill, Medical Superintendant of the North and East Ridings Asylum in Yorkshire. Builder William Webster of Boston, Lincolnshire. Extended 1868-70 and 1877-81 in similar style by the same architect. Yellow brick, with some patterning in red brick. Painted render dressings. Slate roofs. Complex symmetrical plan. Original block, constructed around 2 courtyards, has projecting administrative block to centre of front (S) elevation, projecting blocks at outer angles of front elevation, and chapel block (now kitchens) to centre of rear elevation. 1868-70 works include 2 recreation halls flanking chapel block, and blocks projecting northwards to W and E of these, which replace earlier low service wings. 1877-81 extensions consist of wings to W and E which virtually doubled size of building. Different blocks are generally of 2 and 3 storeys, with variety of gables and projecting canted bays. Punctuated at intervals by towers and turrets, some rising to 4 storeys and attics. Roofline originally more animated, with great number and variety of chimney stacks and an ornate clock tower to central administrative block, now removed. Towers have variety of roofs, some pyramidal, some tall and hipped, with fishscale tiles and wrought iron finials, other with leaded ogival cupulae, giving hospital slightly French appearance. Most windows have mullions and transoms, many are under cambered relieving arches. Central administrative block has segmental-headed doorway flanked by rusticated pilasters and surmounted by ornate first floor window whose scrolled pediment contains Three Counties crest. Interior: ground floor RH room of administrative block, originally Committee Room, retains plasterwork mouldings to ceiling and ornate wood fire surround with carved strapwork, fruit, flowers and Three Counties crest (with B.H.H. worked into design). Latter has plaque: "This carved oak chimney piece was presented to the Asylum and erected in this Committee Room by William Webster, the contractor for the building, September 1859." Both recreation halls to rear of building have apsidal ends to N and clerestories supported by cast iron columns. Ironwork includes some moulded and pierced decoration. Some stained glass decoration to long apsidal windows and to S elevation windows, the latter showing the initials of the members of the original Committee of Visitors. Other interiors very plain (Bedfordshire Record Office: various documents, including LBPlU, accounts and reports relating to original building l856-60; LF65/4, specifications and notes on 1877-81 works; Z50/2/6-18, photographs by Fowler Jones of the hospital at different dates.)

Listing NGR: TL2038035194