Rookwood Hospital
History
Rookwood was built for Colonel Sir Edward Hill in 1886; he, and subsequently Lady Hill, lived there until 1917. The name 'Rookwood' was given to the house during its course of construction by Lady Hill. Before her marriage she was brought to see the building construction and was asked to find a suitable name for it. When she came to the property, a number of rooks were flying overhead and she immediately thought of 'Rookwood', and decided that it should be the name.
In 1918 Rookwood was taken over for use as a convalescent home. At the end of the First World War it was purchased by Sir Lawrence Phillips and presented to the ministry as a home for Welsh paraplegic pensioner cases. After that it was used by the University Hospital of Wales. In 1932, after being extended, it became a general hospital. During the 1970s and 1980s Rookwood had eight wards caring for people with spinal injuries, brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease.
The hospital gardens and grounds are Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales.
Services
Rookwood provided specialist neurological and spinal rehabilitation services. The Rookwood Hospital site still hosts the Artificial Limb and Appliance Service.
Hospital radio
Rookwood Hospital was the home to Rookwood Sound Hospital Radio, which broadcasts from the site and to the University Hospital Llandough and is where radio presenter Huw Stephens began his career at 14.
References
- ^ "This is when Cardiff's Rookwood Hospital will close for good". Wales Online. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
- ^ "A year of celebrations for Rookwood Hospital at 100". Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
- ^ Cadw. "Rookwood Hospital (PGW(Gm)28(CDF))". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
- ^ "Initial plans approved to replace Cardiff's Rockwood hospital". ITV News. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
- ^ "Artificial Limb and Appliance Service (ALAS)". Where you stand. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ Seal, Chris (2 March 2015). "New hospital radio station launches at Llandough". Penarth Times. Retrieved 15 January 2016.