1893
Poverty and disease was rife in Southwold - buried in St Edmunds church yard are the seven children of Edward and Louisa Upcraft, only one of whom survived past the age of 8 years.
1898
The vicar of St Edmund’s church proposed to build a cottage hospital on earmarked land opposite the graveyard. Residents of Southwold helped to fund the hospital through donations and annual subscriptions.
1899
A local architect, Thomas Edward Key, was retained to design the new hospital. Raised in Leiston and educated in London, he had an office at No. 1 Market Place in Southwold. He also designed the Station Hotel and Randolph Hotel.
1901
The Countess of Stradbroke laid the foundation stone which commemorated the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
1903
In a special church service attended by a marching band, the Bishop of Ipswich opened the hospital. It contained two 4-patient wards, two single wards and nurses' accommodation.
1933
A much enhanced operating theatre was opened as a memorial to Dr Wilson Mullock, who served as a Doctor and Surgeon at Southwold Hospital during WW1.
1948
After the Second World War, The National Health Service was created and Southwold Hospital was transferred to its ownership.
1987
A new occupational therapy unit was opened by Dr Mullock's son, Dennis Mullock. It's construction was entirely funded by The League of Friends of Southwold Hospital.
2015
After more than 100 years of service, the NHS decided to close the community hospital. The much-loved hospital was nominated as an Asset of Community Value, giving the community the chance to bid for the property.
2016
SouthGen began a two-year David vs. Goliath campaign to retain the hospital for community use, rather than see it demolished and redeveloped as luxury housing.
2018
SouthGen partnered with Hastoe Housing Association, who helped purchase the site and realise their vision. SouthGen made history as the first community group in the UK to buy back a hospital for community use.
2019
To build the community hub, SouthGen raised nearly 1.2 million pounds through substantial grants, generous donations and community shares - £498,000 was invested by local community members.
The complex build took three years to complete. The modern redesign by Modece Architects, who pioneer in environmentally sustainable architecture, restored the Arts and Crafts building in a sympathetic way to it's original character and surroundings.
2022
The Old Hospital was completed in May 2022. It secured an affordable future for Southwold Library, and created The Canteen, a nursery, co-working space and affordable housing. The unanimous verdict was that ‘it is beautiful and what our community needs.'
2024
The Old Hospital has become the community heart of Southwold - now home to The Canteen, Southwold Library, the Geography Fieldwork Academy and The Studio. The hub's ever-expanding community projects support hundreds of local people.
