Cherry Tree Hospital was erected in 1880, at a cost of £4635 and extensions were added to the hospital in 1914 at a cost of £16,434, and an observation block was completed in October 1917.  Mapping shows that the study area remained unbuilt upon until the late 19th century, when the general lack of buildings in the vicinity led to it being chosen as the location of a new isolation hospital, later to become Cherry Tree Hospital (HER 14745.1.0 in DPA). 

 

There was little change until sometime after 1959 which saw the demolition of the central and northern buildings of the three original intercommunicating blocks.

 

In 2012 a ArleyHomes Ltd instructed J.M Trippier Archaeological and Surveying Consultancy to prepare an Assessment of Heritage Asset Significance Statement to supplement their planning application in respect of the redevelopment of Cherry Tree Hospital. 

 

Although The hospital was a designated heritage asset as it had a local listing on Stockport Council’s Historic Environment database it did not meet the criteria for being Listed. The local listing read: “The hospital consists of a principal administrative range to Dialstone Lane dated 1897, a lodge probably of similar date on Cherry Tree Lane and a number of associated buildings. 

 

It was found that although the main administrative building has interesting architectural details, it does not fulfil any of the criteria which would warrant being considered for listing as a building of ‘special architectural or historical interest’ under the provisions of DOE Circ.8/87.  

 

Source: http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/edrms/onlinemvm/getimage.asp?DocumentNumber=188942

 

Cherry Tree Hospital was known as Stockport Infectious Diseases Hospital until 1948 with patient's with Tuberculosis taking up the vast number of beds. Additionally patient's with Typhoid were housed in a seperate ward.

As photograph no.01 shows the last working day of the hospital was 12th February 2010.

 

The hospital had particular significance for me as my father worked there as a consultant paedeatrician in the 1980's & 1990's and was instrumental in setting up the children's unit called 'Cherry Tops' which was still standing when I visited this site in 2013. 

Ity was sad to walk around the hospital knowing my father had walked through its corridors, and to see it now in an advanced state of decay and parlous state. Security was in the form of infrequent visits from a local security firm meaning for the most part the hospital was wide open to vandals to wreak havoc and destroy its aesthetics with their spray cans. 

 

Demolition was granted in order to redevelop the site. One more beautiful building sadly to disappear.