Geograph - photograph every grid square

The building, standing opposite the almshouses, is dated 1909, and is now a private house. It was originally built by John Spencer, son of the founder of the local steel works, as a Wesleyan Sunday School for his work force and local people. It was later converted into a cottage hospital and would have been staffed by district nurses and a few full-time sisters under the charge of a matron. The local General Practitioner would be responsible for medical supervision with simple operations undergone by visiting surgeons from Newcastle.