ANYONE who spent any time at the former Worcester Royal Infirmary in Castle Street, either in a bed or on the payroll, will probably remember some of the names of the wards. Maddox, Rushout, Bates medical and surgical, Garlick etc were familiar to thousands of folk.

What they all meant was probably lost on many, but most were the names of people who had been pillars of the establishment over the years. None more so than Bishop Isaac Maddox, who was the inspiration behind the foundation of the hospital in 1746.

 

 Isaac Maddox, from cook’s assistant to bishop and the inspiration behind Worcester Infirmary

Isaac Maddox, from cook’s assistant to bishop and the inspiration behind Worcester Infirmary

 

Maddox began life as a pastry cook’s boy and through his own ability had a remarkable rise to become Bishop of Worcester. He used his position well to appeal for help to aid the poor and sick and his tremendous enthusiasm and personal faith stirred people’s consciences and brought in money. 

As well as his clerical achievements, Maddox was also president of  the Smallpox Hospital in London and he showed great concern for the physical as well as spiritual wellbeing of his flock.

It was opportune that in Worcester he had a group of particularly able medical men with many years service devoted to the care of the sick who could turn his idea into reality.

Among them were Dr John Wall, a skilled physician who also founded Worcester Porcelain Works, Dr James MacKenzie, author of The History of Health, and two outstanding surgeons Henry Vaughan Jeffries and William Russell.

 

A rather splendid field gun once stood guard over Silver Street

A rather splendid field gun once stood guard over Silver Street

 

There were also three members of the Johnstone family, one of whom, James, was to die from a fever caught treating prisoners in Worcester jail.

Among a number of influential laymen who contributed the building fund were Sir John Rushout, MP for Evesham, and Bristol businessman Edward Garlick.

The first Worcester Infirmary was in a half-timbered property at 18-20, Silver Street, bought by Dr Wall and Bishop Maddox for £100. It opened its doors in January 1746.

 

Silver Street in the 1960s, quite a quaint little thoroughfare

Silver Street in the 1960s, quite a quaint little thoroughfare

 

It was a small beginning, but demand grew and within 20 years it became obvious larger premises were needed. Edward Garlick supplied the money for a new site in Castle Street (then known as Salt Lane) and in 1770 the hospital moved to its new home. 

The building in Silver Street was converted into a notable private boys’ school under the title Dr Simpson’s Academy, attracting a well-heeled clientele. By the 1850s, culture and self-improvement became the buzz words of the day and the school was replaced by the Working Men’s Institute.

 

The Plough Inn, Silver Street, on a summer’s day in the 1930s. The 600-year-old pub fell victim to the City Walls Road scheme in the 1970s

The Plough Inn, Silver Street, on a summer’s day in the 1930s. The 600-year-old pub fell victim to the City Walls Road scheme in the 1970s

 

This progressive seat of learning recruited a wide range of tutors from members of Worcester’s “aristocracy” to four socialist refugees from the European revolution of 1848 – a German, a Pole and two Hungarians. A spacious lecture hall was built and a library created under the guidance of the King’s School headmaster.

The success of the Working Men’s Institute showed the need and demand for adult education and led to the building of the much larger Victoria Institute in Foregate Street. It also helped pave the way for public libraries.

 

Should it really have got to this? The original premises of Worcester Royal Infirmary were in a very sorry state until being rescued in 2016

Should it really have got to this? The original premises of Worcester Royal Infirmary were in a very sorry state until being rescued in 2016

 

In the mid-20th century the old Silver Street building fell into decay and stood empty and derelict for decades, even surviving the demolition of most of the street for the 1970s creation of City Walls Road.

 

The premises of HK Brown could probably have erected a monument to the death of Silver Street

The premises of HK Brown could probably have erected a monument to the death of Silver Street

 

However, a stunning restoration in 2016 saw it converted into luxury visitor accommodation with original walls preserved behind glass, allowing the initials of patients carved into the wood to be seen. Sadly Bishop Maddox does not seem to have added his.