Ruchill Hospital

2 Aug 2011

For every shiny new hospital getting built in Glasgow, and there have been many, there is sure to lurk a crumbling pre-war edifice which languish unloved, unwanted and forgotten. To remedy the latter of these travails Urban Realm paid a visit to the mouldering remains of the once grand edifice to document that which remains.

Of all such hospitals there are none more impressive, nor in poorer shape, than Ruchill Hospital.  Built by the city engineer Alexander B. McDonald the neo-Jacobean edifice has towered over the north of Glasgow for the past 111 years

Recently the crumbling estates future had become subject to bickering amongst prospective Glaswegian candidates for the Scottish Parliament election, who took the opportunity to denounce Scottish Enterprise for its “reprehensible” plans to demolish listed buildings on the former Ruchill Hospital site.

The government quango had been keen to take the wrecking ball to a string of mouldering C listed ward blocks on the abandoned site after pleading poverty when presented with a £1.4m repair bill. It had been hoped to sell the land on to a house builder but none has come forward since Gladedale and Bellway homes pulled the plug in October 2008.

Scottish Enterprise contend that it is worth sacrificing the C listed outbuildings in order to focus their maintenance pot on the A listed water tower. Some £4m has been expended by the agency since acquiring the site in 1999, equating to a bill of around £333k per annum just to secure and maintain the site.

They had been backed Gerry Gormal, GCC’s chief planning officer, said demolition was regrettable but justified as repair is not “economically viable.” However Patricia Ferguson, Labour candidate for Maryhill/Springburn called Scottish Enterprise’s demolition plan “reprehensible”, adding that it was “the wrong decision for the wrong reasons.”

That view was ultimately rejected by councillors however, despite ongoing problems with vandalism and lack of maintenance which have made the buildings dangerous to enter (Urban Realm’s photographer Mark Seager nearly lost a leg when a rotten floorboard gave way.)

Concerns remain that will be nothing but a pyric victory for campaigners as with no sight of an estimated £16.5m needed for refurbishment the buildings are likely to save the council the bother and collapse of their own accord.

Such is the concern for the area now that Finance Secretary John Swinney is investigating whether or not to designate the area as one of four Enterprise Zones in Scotland, a measure which will offer planning assistance, keen business rates and infrastructure to encourage development.

With the likelihood of further deterioration still high we present a summary of key interior spaces which may soon be lost forever.