Pictured above is a Hoylake property that was once used as a Red Cross hospital.
The property in St Margaret’s Road, called The Chalet, was I gather used a hospital during WW1. It wasn’t the only Red Cross hospital on Wirral as there was one in Wallasey and and another in Neston (see here) among others. Sister Annie Walker was given a nursing award in 1918 (see here). I wonder if there were other local properties used by the Red Cross?
Obviously the building has changed somewhat over the years (see below) but you can see what’s left of the chimney breast and the two main bays remain.
The property, now a care home, is still called The Chalet:
Sad to see that this lovely old house has been stripped of so much architectural detail – clay roof tiles, ridges, chimney stacks, window frames and leaded glazing – and unsympathetically adorned with side extensions and a conservatory at seaward elevation. The gardens are also poorly maintained. Why do care homes so often look so tatty? Low quality signage, poor maintenance, uncared for gardens are the norm e.g. Dunluce in Barton road and The Heys in Curzon Road are both lovely properties but they have a negative impact on this lovely Conservation Area.
The Red Rocks Nursing Home at the end of Stanley Road, on the other hand, has always been maintained to the very highest standards and The Paddock on Meols Drive has recently been exceptionally well restored. If they can do it why not these other care homes?
Dear Mr Wilson
I would like to extend an invitation to you to visit our ‘tatty’ care home and see how lovely it really is. I agree that at times the grounds can appear unkempt due to the weather conditions and our beach front position, but we do have a permanent gardener.
We have had to modernise the building in line with current regulations, to keep the building safe for our residents. It is not always possible to keep the original features when trying to keep on the right side of our regulators!
Please drop in anytime during the day and you will find a warm welcome and you will see how much use the unsympathetic conservatory is utilised by our residents.
Kind regards
The Manager
Hilbre House
The Chalet
St Margaret’s Road
Hoylake