General plan of the infirmary ground, and adjacent streets with the new building as proposed

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General plan of the infirmary ground, and adjacent streets with the new building as proposed

A cloth architectural plan showing the proposed layout of a new infirmary at Woolmanhill, including grounds, in relation to nearby streets and geographical features. This new general hospital was designed by Archibald Simpson and constructed between 1833 and 1840.

The handwritten inscription in the bottom right reads as follows:

"Aberdeen 3rd April 1832. Plan referred to in Minutes of the Infirmary Meeting of this date."

This is accompanied by the signature of James Hadden (1758-1845), who was provost of Aberdeen numerous times, including between 1830 and 1832.

The plan identifies a number of features of the proposed building: a court, two porticos, two terraces, a garden, a drying yard, a wash house and brew house, and shrubbery around its border. A lodge can also be seen to its south east.

Identified nearby features include Woolman Hill, Black's Buildings, the Denburn, Skene Street and Spaw Street (Spa Street).

The shown building, which became known as the Simpson Pavilion, replaced an earlier general infirmary at the Woolmanhill site. Aberdeen City Council's Historic Environment Record states that construction of the original hospital started in 1740 to the design of William Christall, and it opened in 1742 with 20 beds. This earlier infirmary was demolished following the completion of the Simpson designed replacement.

Historic Environment Scotland (HES), in the building's entry on their listed buildings portal, states that the Simpson Pavilion "is a rare example of an early nineteenth century hospital building, which is largely unaltered to its street elevations and plan-form." The HES provides much detail on the design, history of the building and its architectural significance.

In the later 19th and into the 20th century, various extensions and additions joined the Simpson Pavilion to create a significant hospital complex.

Aberdeen City Council's Historic Environment Record states that though replaced by a new Aberdeen Royal Infirmary at Foresterhill in the 1930s, Woolmanhill remained in use as a hospital until 2017.

Architectural drawing

HO01_10

Hospitals

Aberdeen Local Studies

Yes

Yes

Yes