Design and Construction

At a time of national crisis, from conception to construction of the hospital took mere months over the course of 1917.

The grounds of Frognal house were chosen in part because the site would provide a quiet and spacious rural setting with “good air”. This would facilitate the multi stage procedures, and healing times between each stage, which facial reconstruction required at the time.  The estate was also available for sale and conveniently near the railway connecting London to the Channel Ports. 

The first part of the project, known as the Central Hospital, was designed by Mr DC Maynard of architects Hayward and Maynard.  Gillies contributed heavily towards the unique design. Key to it was a central location for the Plastic and Septic operating theatres, the hutted wards being arranged around them in a semicircle and linked by covered walkways. Development and construction costs were subsidised by nationwide appeals with articles appearing in newspapers across the country. A number of benefactors contributed large sums but the state did not supply any direct funding.

The wards were constructed in timber and asbestos sheet, using an existing template employed on several sites.  The surrounding buildings provided clinical facilities for x-ray, pathology, medical illustration, and dental technicians’ workshop. The YMCA funded a canteen, whilst the Church of England Missionary Society and the Soldiers and Sailors Institute gave £200 towards the cost of a chapel.  There was even a cinema. A separate workshop building was also erected.  

It was appreciated that the multi stage procedures, and healing times between each stage, which facial reconstruction required at the time, would require long inpatient stays between procedures. However, the first phase of the hospital, although much larger than the original Aldershot facility, was inadequate to house the growing numbers of patients.  Additions were made. On a motor car outing Gillies and Kelsey Fry found Parkwood, a large mental illness home in Swanley, to be significantly underoccupied. They organised its requisition to become a convalescent facility. Postoperative patients could be moved there until ready for the next stage in their surgical journey.