Building record 1160/441/12 - Laundry

{1} This building, on the west side of the hospital site, was constructed as play sheds and washing facilities accompanying the adjacent school building. As in the school building and intervening yard, facilities were segregated. The north and south wings housed the boys and girls play sheds, with toilets between. The east wing contained the washing facilities. With the conversion of the scholl to a Women's infirmary, this building was converted to a laundry and drying facilities. Between 1938 and 1962 the cross-wing at the south end of the building was added: for what purpose remains unclear.
When the building was converted to a laundry, the interior walls of the north and south wings were lined with white glazed bricks and tiles. This lining extends above roof level, suggesting that the present roof, supported on steel joists, was replaced in the conversion. The east wing, in which the drying facilities were apparently located, was not lined. However, the conversion appears to have obliterated all trace of the original functions of the building. Subsequent removal of the laundry equipment, and the use of the building as a store, has occasioned further structural changes, involving the creation and blocking of door and window apertures, insertion of partitions etc.

<1> Zeepvat B., 2004, Historic Building Survey: St Edmund's Hospital, Wellingborough Road, Northampton, P. 28 (checked) (Report). SNN104796.

Record last edited

Jun 16 2008 10:23AM