SouthGen Press Release:
Builders have found coins over 120 years old under floorboards at the old community hospital in Southwold. Wellington Construction Ltd, who are redeveloping the Victorian building for a community hub and affordable housing, say the coins were laid by builders of the original hospital at the turn of the twentieth century. This exciting discovery is not the first surprise the builders have encountered since starting the project six months ago. In an ambitious attempt to preserve as much of the original structure as possible, the construction team have been faced with a series of unique challenges.
Coins found under the old hosptial floorboards
Jamie Tennant, Site Manager, says the team had no idea what was in store for them when they started demolition work on the old hospital in June this year. However, it soon became apparent that the age and history of the building would make the renovation very complicated. Firstly, foundations from the old Town Farm, which stood on the site through the eighteen hundreds, prevented the builders from laying normal footings. After removing huge quantities of rubble from the site, pile foundations had to be constructed. This process involves driving several vertical steel columns deep into the ground to give enough support to the new building which will sit on top. ‘It’s a very interesting project’ says Mr Tennant, ‘but every day is scary to a certain extent, as things can go wrong rapidly. Then you have to find an instant solution’.
More problems have arisen as the team have tried to save some of the original features of the historic building. Unfortunately, the chimney stacks and some of the old walls were too unstable to retain, and the builders have had to carefully remove many of the old bricks by hand. Site Supervisor, Steve Summons, explains ‘It’s difficult working on something so out of the norm, and it’s got to be done safely’. However he stresses that ‘Whilst there are lots of challenges, there’s none that can’t be overcome’. The team’s dynamic and optimistic approach has ensured that the entire front facade of the old hospital will be preserved, with steel structures now being put in place to support the frontage while construction of the new walls continues.
It’s not only the old walls that are historically significant, but also what lay beneath them. Mr Tennant and his team made the fascinating discovery of two half-pennies, dated 1887 and 1901. It’s believed the coins were placed under the build as part of a ‘builder’s rites’ ceremony, a tradition where money or newspapers are placed below flooring. This practice has largely died out, but was once customary during the construction of public buildings. A mysterious brick structure has also been uncovered about four meters underground. It is suspected that this was a WW1 air raid shelter built for the protection of hospital staff and patients.
A birds eye view of the old hospital site taken from St Edmunds Church Tower by Marcus Knight
The architects behind the design of the new community hub have been intentionally mindful of the building’s history. Matthew Bell of Modece Architects Ltd describes how the brickwork of the facade has been restored using lime mortar, as was used in the original build. Mr Bell says that ‘Lime mortar is good for the historic fabric of the building, due to its flexible and breathable qualities and it is also highly sustainable in comparison to cement based mortars’. Although the building’s past has shaped the current remodelling, the architects have also considered its future use and environmental impact. The new build includes several environmentally friendly features, such as solar panels to provide electricity and air source heat pumps supplying hot water and heating.
The Old Hospital Hub, which is due to open in 2020, will provide a co-working space, a nursery and a farm to fork cafe, as well as a new home for Southwold library. The hub will be managed by SouthGen, a charitable community benefit society who partnered with Hastoe Housing to buy back the old community hospital last year. The design for the renovated building includes 9 affordable homes to be built by Hastoe.
