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GREENOCK POORHOUSE AND ASYLUM
PALACE OF THE KIP VALLEY
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OUR ARCHIVE
Ravenscraig Hospital and Asylum in Greenock has been demolished. We are a group that believes that documenting local history is essential, so this archive is a resource created so that our community can view the fascinating history in our town.
We have photographs, stories, historical articles, and much more on display. Please view our photo galleries and visit the blog for a collection of stories about the Hospital and Asylum.
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TIMELINE
Our story begins here
Come with us on the journey through the life and stories of Ravenscraig Hospital. Scroll down to be taken through the ages of how the hospital started, how it operated and how it came to an end.
After reading our timeline, visit the blog section on our website for more detailed information about specific topics regarding the hospital.
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SMITHSTON POORHOUSE AND ASYLUM
Ravenscraig Hospital was built in 1876 as a Poorhouse and Asylum but was then called Smithston after the land it was built on. Its previous incarnation was a poorhouse with lunatic wards built in Captain Street in 1850. It was not the first institution of its kind in Greenock. In 1831 Fancy Farm, Inverkip Road was leased to the parochial authorities as a lunatic asylum with provision for 18 inmates. In 1840 the inmates were transferred to Hillend and in 1845, after passing of the Poor Law (Scotland) Act, it was used as an experimental poorhouse with room for 40 inmates.
In 1850 a house with accommodation for 300 persons opened in Captain Street at a cost of £5,300 with lunatic wards being added at an outlay of £2,200. The property was later sold to the Glasgow and South-Western Railway Company for £10,000. (1850 articles)
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1857
ROYAL COMMISSION REPORT
“GREENOCK POORHOUSE; Visited 13th July 1855.
This house contains 216 inmates, of whom 18 males and 32 females are under warrant as lunatics. It stands in an airy situation, overlooking the town of Greenock. The lunatic wards occupy a building apart, separated from the ordinary poorhouse by a cofurt. It is a plain two-storied building of recent erection, having been opened for the reception of patients in February 1855, when the insane poor of the parish were transferred to it from Hillend asylum.
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THE SMITHSTON POORHOUSE/RAVENSCRAIG HOSPITAL
The Smithston Poorhouse / Ravenscraig Hospital
Reminiscences of Bob Easton who worked there for 35 years
I started there (Ravenscraig) in '34 - they took two reliefs on for the summer months to give their regulars a holiday, and I was taken on as one of the reliefs. May to September, then after that you were dismissed. Well, we were still in the Depression, and that winter I was idle again. Anyway, I was taken back the second year as a relief, and then a vacancy occurred, for psychiatric nursing, on a probationary period. After a year you had to sit the exam, then after three years you sat exam for the R.M.P.A. Board And then you were a staff nurse. Believe it or not - I went out there as a temporary and lasted thirty-five years, and finished up a Charge Nurse!
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STATEMENT OF SPECIAL INTEREST
Ravenscraig Hospital is a rare survival of an extensive and largely externally unaltered later 19th century poorhouse complex built in the then fashionable Scots Baronial style. Although one of its major wings has been demolished it still retains the majority of its original form, including Ravenscraig Hospital is a rare survival of an extensive and largely externally unaltered later 19th century poorhouse complex built in the then fashionable Scots Baronial style. Although one of its major wings has been demolished it still retains the majority of its original form, including its ancillary structures such as workshops and dining rooms.
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CONSTRUCTION
Due to the increasing state of decay of this property the parochial authorities decided to build a new institution on the lands of Smithston. The foundation stone was laid in September 1876 with full Masonic honours by the Earl of Mar and Kellie, Depute Grand Master of Scotland. The building was officially opened in March 1879 amidst a public outcry at the construction cost of £122,904. The asylum and poorhouse then had accommodation for 750 inmates.
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NURSES' BATHS
The Evening Telegraph and Post, Wednesday, February 01, 1911; NURSES' BATHS.
Running the Gauntlet of a Draughty Corner. Opposing a proposal to provide bathroom accommodation in the hospital department of Smithston Poorhouse for the benefit of the nursing staff, Mr Neal Haughey, at Greenock Parish Council meeting last night expressed the opinion that as the present arrangements had been in existence since the institution was erected 30 years ago no great hardship was inflicted. Many ratepayers, when they indulged in the luxury of a bath (Laughter) had to walk a good deal further than the length of a corridor or so, and pay at the end of their journey. (Laughter.)In seconding, Mr M'Giveran said they should be consistent, and not "throw away a bath," when no desire had been expressed for such facilities during the previous year.Mr Lyon, who supported the proposal, was surprised that there had been no serious complaints made in the past. The time was opportune for effecting the necessary alterations. Some of those who had been opposed to the granting of the desired accommodation had changed their minds when they saw the length that the nurses had to go for a bath.Answering Mr Haughey, Mr Lyon admitted that the existing accommodation was all inside the buildings, but to reach it the nurses had to go down three stairs and along a corridor. There was one part of that corridor, commented Mr Laurie, so draughty that it almost took the hair off one's head. (Laughter.) It was a great mistake to make a song about the matter. The spending of £6 was not likely to "burst them." Nurses nowadays he vbody —he would not say to his own mind—but undoubtedly they were so in their own, and in the opinion of doctors. Therefore, they demanded more to-day and got it. (Laughter.) He would like to remind Mr M'Giveran they were not "throwing a bath away"; they were taking one in. (Laughter.)The motion was carried by a majority of three vote.
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MILITARY HOSPITAL
In March 1915, the normal running of the institution was disrupted when part of the hospital was emptied and handed over to the military authorities as a service hospital to be used for patients wounded in and invalided home from France and Belgium. The military authorities pulled out in April 1919.
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THE BROO
Poorhouse they You cannae force people to work that off at Nicholson Street, the Poorhouse. They weren't allowed to starve! But they got a ticket for nothing. You had to do as you were told.
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HMCS NIOBE
Ravenscraig became a “stone frigate” HMCS Niobe, for the Canadian Navy Records Hospital Military on 15th December 1941 following the relocation from Plymouth due to heavy bombing. Known as Niobe in the Valley, flying the Canadian Royal Navy flag, she was the only Canadian base in Britain. including the provision of a hospital for wounded Canadian Servicemen, and a transit camp for RCN crewmen between postings in the UK, she also maintained listing of ship's crew and next of kin for all RCN personnel based in the UK. Home to 3,000 Canadian sailors and 300 WRENS (100 on loan to the Royal Navy)
Just prior to closing a Canadian rhymed off –
Here’s to Grand Old Niobe
May her name forever stand
In the history of the Navy
Her name spread o’er the land
She’s dirty when it’s raining
She’s dirty when it’s hot
But it’s no use complaining
It’s the only home we’ve got
To accommodate the various tasks set for HMCS Niobe, a large area of mainly Nissen hutted accommodation was constructed in the grounds. At the end of the war, some of the steel bunk beds were commandeered and welded into the hangar deck of HMS Puncher, a lend lease aircraft carrier (formerly USS Willapa), to equip her to carry large numbers of Canadian servicemen back to Canada.
After the war Canadians re-visited Greenock having a “warm spot in their hearts for Greenock”
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CRAIG - THE LAST EMPLOYEE AT THE HOSPITAL
Craig started at the hosptial in 1984 - and was in charge of the alcohol unit for 22 years.
When he first started in Ravenscraig as a student nurse, he was working in a ward the had 130 patients. He worked his way up in the hospital to be the manager, before retiring.
We conducted an interview with Craig to hear his story - please follow this link to hear the interview.
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Welcome to the Greenock Poorhouse and Asylum Archive
This archive will display the history of this Greenock Institution.
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DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL?
If you want to contribute to this community archive, please get in touch with us:
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WISHES GROUP
Women's Community, Arts, and Learning Group in Inverclyde
The Wishes group started due to a lack of services in the local area for Women over 50. We meet to socialise and help each other to combat loneliness and mental health problems.
We have a wide variety of activities that we do, from arts and crafts to community projects such as this archive.
This project started when our local funder Kay Clark approached our group to see if we'd be interested in a Heritage Project for the local community.
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