Monument record 1796/3/1 - Princess Marina Hospital Buildings

The former hospital buildings were constructed between 1964 and 1972 and were designed by Stillman and Eastwick-Field Partnership for what was the first psychiatric hospital to be purpose-built for patients with acute disorders. Four main blocks of hospital buildings, as well as an area of staff accommodation in the south-east corner of the site. Now demolished.

{1} In effect the construction of Princess Marina between 1964-1972 created an extension to the existing St. Crispin's site. The buildings were designed by Stillman and Eastwick-Field, and it was the first hospital in the county to be designed especially for psychiatric patients with acute disorders. The buildings are arranged in four clusters, each group catering for patients with different needs. A community centre with a shop was also included within the scheme. A separate cluster of staff housing was provided in the south eastern corner of the site, with distinctive pitched roofs. A water tower is situated in the northern extreme of the site.
A strong link was proposed between the design of building 'clusters' and evolving therapeutic methods, with the design and layout of the buildings though to have a direct bearing on the possibilities of cure.

{3} The former hospital buildings were constructed between 1964 and 1972 and were designed by Stillman and Eastwick-Field Partnership for what was the first psychiatric hospital to be purpose-built for patients with acute disorders. The buildings are ordered in four main units, which are further made up of interconnecting blocks. They are predominantly of low single storey construction with an emphasis on the horizontal line and rectangular in form, in a brutalist style of architecture which is displayed in many designs originating from Stillman and Eastwick-Field.
Up to the present development the site has become semi-derelict subsequent to having fallen out of use as a public health facility. Two areas of the complex are currently still in use, having been retained by the local health authority.
The hospital in is four blocks set into the hillside, the blocks were further subdivided into smaller units or wards. It became clear whilst undertaking the survey that the separate blocks may have catered for patients of differing levels of psychiatric disorders, with the southern block being for high security patients with the others being for progressively lower risk patients. This was demonstrated by the height of the wall surrounding each block, the southern block having a high wall surmounted by a fence. The wall around each of the remaining blocks becoming progressively lower northwards. The northernmost block had no enclosing wall at all.
The central block had a row of shops, a chapel, the main reception area, estates office, post-graduate medical centre, gym and physiotherapy along with wards.
More details of each block is given with photographs p.9-16.

<1> Morton R., 2002, Princess Marina Hospital, Northampton: Desk-based Assessment, p.16 (checked) (Report). SNN107443.

<2> 1965, Architectural Review, p.479 (unchecked) (Article). SNN107449.

<3> Leigh D.J.; Upson-Smith T., 2012, A Programme of Archaeological Work at the Former Princess Marina Hospital, Kent Road, Northampton February 2012, p.3-8; https://doi.org/10.5284/1104232 (Report). SNN109187.

<4> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 487 (Book). SNN111989.

Record last edited

Oct 24 2024 3:22PM