Woolmanhill Hospital: Boiler House, Spa Street, Aberdeen

Probably W & J Smith and Kelly (H Saxon Snell acting as consultant), 1887-97. Tall single storey, 4-bay rectangular plan boiler house and lower, rectangular-plan outbuilding, part of a significant nineteenth century hospital complex in Aberdeen city centre. Aberdeen bond, cherry-cocked granite. Tall round-arched windows. Lower section to left of boiler house with pair of segmental-arched openings. Outbuilding to right of boiler house with segmental arched entrance to street elevation. Pitched slate roof to outbuilding with raised glazed section. Tall red-brick stack on granite base to north-east corner of boiler house.

Statement of Special Interest
The boiler house and outbuilding is an important ancillary component of the former Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, which is a rare example of a hospital that has not been significantly altered externally since the late nineteenth century. The design of these functional buildings are in keeping with the style of the wider hospital site, by the use of granite and classical details.

The former Royal Infirmary complex consists of a 1833-40 neo-classical building by Archibald Simpson with later nineteenth century buildings to the rear, on a confined gusset site in Aberdeen city centre. This hospital replaced the earlier Aberdeen Infirmary by William Christall, which opened in 1742, and was demolished on completion of the Simpson Pavilion.

In 1887 a major extension and reconstruction scheme commenced at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary site. Known as the Jubilee Extension Scheme (as the Queen's Jubilee provided an opportunity to raise funds) new building were erected to the north part of the site to increase medical facilities at the hospital. The boiler house is first evident on the 2nd edition Ordnance Survey map and therefore it is likely to have been constructed as part of the Jubilee scheme designed by W & J Smith and Kelly, with Henry Saxon Snell as consultant.

After the First World War there was urgent need to increase the facilities of the Infirmary. The confined nature of the Woolmanhill site did not lend itself to expansion and in 1923 a site at Forresterhill was acquired with the foundation stone of the new hospital laid in 1928. Although the future of the Woolmanhill site was uncertain from this date, it has remained in operation until 2013.

Previously listed as part of "Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Woolmanhill".
(Historic Environment Scotland List Entry)

11 April 2013: STV News reports on the decision to close Woolmanhill Hospital, potentially by the end of 2013. No mention is made of a plan for the A-listed building complex, but potentially the NHS Trust may commence marketing of the site for sale later in the year. For Investigation.

5 March 2019: External inspection finds the building vacant and disused but in overall Fair condition. There are some broken and boarded windows. Rainwater goods and timber elements are in need of repair and maintenance. There are some high level vegetation growths. Consent is being sought for the conversion including demolitions, alterations and extensions etc, of the hospital to create residential apartments and hotel accommodation, ref: 160801. Move to At Risk.

30 June 2019: External inspection finds the building remains disused. The brick with granite base chimney stack appears to be plumb and in fair condition. The pitched-roof outbuilding is in poorer condition. The ridge is intact but there are slipping and chipped roof slates evident. One of the roof lantern's slates is slipping from its housing. There are misaligned hoppers and downpipes. The gutter is chocked with vegetation. Walls are plumb but with damp patches beneath defective rainwater goods. Timber elements are in need of maintenance - parts of the roof lantern are rotten. As noted previously Listed Building Consent was conditionally approved in 2019 for partial demolition of the boiler house complex, retaining the chimney and part of the facade for re-use within the wider redevelopment of the former hospital.

December 2019: Member of public has advised that listed building consent (160801) for redevelopment of the hospital site has now been conditionally approved.

12 May 2021: Buildings at Risk understand that redevelopment of former hospital site has been on hold as consequence of COVID-19 pandemic.

13 October 2021: Press and Journal report (06/10/2021) that hotel plans for Woolmanhill will be reviewed at the end of 2022.

19 November 2021: The Press and Journal report (17/11/2021) that concerns have been raised of rat infestation at the hospital and that a vermin specialist has been appointed to help with the problem.