Bignold Cottage Hospital

**marionq** · 08-Mar-06, 16:46

One of my relatives died in this hospital in 1921 and I note that the records have a 100 year closure on them. Does anyone know the history of this place, when it closed and perhaps have a postcard or photo of it.

Thanks Marion

**tenabowla** · 08-Mar-06, 19:31

The Bignold hospital, I would think closed about15-20 years ago, it was ultimately replaced by Caithness general hospital, it was on North side of Wick as you leave the town heading out past the now closed down Caithness glass factory on the road to John o Groats. On the site of the hospital is now private houses also called Bignold court. Hope this helps a little.

Jim

**dirdyweeker** · 26-Aug-06, 01:24

I worked in the Bignold Hospital until the day they closed the doors.I have some snaps taken of the building on its last day. Can pm them to you if wanted.?

**girnigoe** · 26-Aug-06, 19:27

Or you could post them on here if you wished

I would love to see them!!

**rs 2k** · 27-Aug-06, 10:13

i was a patient in the hospitial when it was closing down,last fracture case they dealt with(tree stump fell on me and broke my leg)

while they were resetting my leg on the operating table, the joiners were in boarding up the windows. its possible some of the staff at the time might read this thread and if so a big thanks

**dirdyweeker** · 03-Sep-06, 21:45

Originally Posted by girnigoe

Or you could post them on here if you wished

I would love to see them!!

Would do so but haven't got a clue HOW to

**johno** · 01-Jan-07, 11:24

Originally Posted by dirdyweeker

Would do so but haven't got a clue HOW to

scan them then post em to bill fernie & he will put them in the photo section

I pass the Bignold every day. Often wonder why it was sold to local enterprise as i believe it was gifted to the town by Sir Arthur Bignold.
same goe,s for the Henderson nursing home that to was gifted to the people of Wick, ok we needed a new hospital ,but to knock down a lovely historic building like that was just criminal. they surely could have built the cgh elsewhere

**trinkie** · 02-Jan-07, 14:22

You will find this interesting.
I quote from ''Times gone By'' John O' Groat Journal. c.1927

quote ---

''ROSEBANK HOUSE, WICK, LEFT AS A NURSING HOME.

Miss Adelaine Florence Henderson of Rosebank, Wick, the last surviving member of the family of the late James Henderson Esq of Bilbster, died on 24th Oct last ( 1927 ? ) By her Will she left, among other bequests -

To the Wick and Pulteneytown District Nursing Association her House and Grounds of Rosebank, with the buildings thereon, along with a legacy of £15,000 for the purpose of establishing, equipping and particulary endowing a Nursing Home in Wick to be known as The Henderson Memorial Nursing Home
in memory of her sisters and herself.

Miss Henderson expressed the desire that the Nursing Home be established for the treatment of patients usually resident within the county of Caithness who are willing to pay such charges for nursing and board as would, coupled with the help given by her, produce a revenue sufficient to meet the expenditure of the Nursing Home.

Shortly before her death, Miss Henderson gifted to the Police Department of the County of Caithness a beautifully equipped motor ambulance, and by her will she left £2000, the revenue from which she desired should be applied toward the running expenses of the car.

She expressed her wish that the car should continue to be housed in the garage she built for it at Rosebank.''

**dirdyweeker** · 08-Oct-08, 12:08

Took me a wee while to learn how to post photos but better late than never. Also have an Orger showing an interest in the photos which reminded me of my post, albeit a couple of years ago.
Have also some history of the Bignold Hospital for you.

Sometime in the 1880's a Mr Alexander Sinclair, corn merchant, Wick built a substantial stone house for himself and his family in an area north-west of the town called Gallowhill. He named his house Nethercote House and lived there 'til hisd death ion 24th Aopril, 1901.
His widow Mrs Janet Sinclair sold it to Arthur Bignold for £1,850 not long after her husband's death.
Mr Arthur Bignold gifted the house to the town of Wick and it was opened on 13th July 1903 as a Cottage Hospital, known thereafter as the Bignold Hospital.
Miss Janet Sinclair, (one of Alexander and Janets 2 daughters) became the 1st Matron of the hospital that had originally been her home!

Below is the Outpatient Department on the last day.

Main entrance and vans ready to transfer to new CGH 1986. Unfortunately, quality is not good.

**girnigoe** · 08-Oct-08, 18:15

Great Photos!! Thanks for taking me down memory lane!!

**Fran** · 09-Oct-08, 02:05

I live near the old Bignold hospital, it is good that it wasnt knocked down, just converted to flats/houses, so it still looks the same.
I always thought the Henderson Nursing home was in northcote street and is used by nhs for offices.

**Tighsonas4** · 09-Oct-08, 10:36

there was a time when after an operation you were sent over to the town and county to recuperate
the home mentioned in norcote st was a residence where nurses stayed during the war i think the bignold moved to lybster as it was too near to the airport nevertheless it was the town and county that had a mishap and local fatalities occured tony

**Tighsonas4** · 09-Oct-08, 10:45

the old hendersons nurshing home was quite a prominent building and stood on the brae behind the war memorial in its latter days it catered for the elderly in one section and births upstairs all these things took place without all the planning and plaver of the present age tony

**dirdyweeker** · 09-Oct-08, 14:46

Originally Posted by Fran

I live near the old Bignold hospital, it is good that it wasnt knocked down, just converted to flats/houses, so it still looks the same.
I always thought the Henderson Nursing home was in northcote street and is used by nhs for offices.

Fran I think you are talking about the 'nurses Home' that was in Northcote Street. Now privately owned.

**domino** · 09-Nov-08, 23:37

Originally Posted by Fran

I live near the old Bignold hospital, it is good that it wasnt knocked down, just converted to flats/houses, so it still looks the same.
I always thought the Henderson Nursing home was in northcote street and is used by nhs for offices.

Fran, I may be wrong but it runs in my mind that the house in Northcote St was where the District Nurses lived. i believe that there was a bungalow just down from the Bignold that had a similar purpose. At my age I could be be wrong!!!

**Fran** · 09-Oct-08, 17:11

I remember when I was at a meeting of the planned new hospital years ago (the present Caithness General Hospital) when they were proposing the new ward names after the BIGNOLD Hospital,HENDERSON , and ROSEBANK. I asked that there be a hospital radio, but they hadnt planned for this. So, after discussion they agreed a radio room could be in the old pharmacy of the central hospital, next to the morgue, and I was the first presenter. Memories........................

**dirdyweeker** · 10-Oct-08, 14:56

Originally Posted by Fran

I remember when I was at a meeting of the planned new hospital years ago (the present Caithness General Hospital) when they were proposing the new ward names after the BIGNOLD Hospital,HENDERSON , and ROSEBANK. I asked that there be a hospital radio, but they hadnt planned for this. So, after discussion they agreed a radio room could be in the old pharmacy of the central hospital, next to the morgue, and I was the first presenter. Memories........................

Well Fran, it is still on the go and they are appealling for more presenters. There you go.....you have experience!