The King's Canadian Red Cross Convalescent Hospital, Upper Lodge, Bushy Park, Hampton Hill (1916)

A mansion had been vacant for two years and had fallen into decay. In 1915 King George V gave permission to the Canadian Red Cross for Upper Lodge at Hampton Hill to be used as a hospital for Canadian troops stationed in Bushy Park.

The King's Canadian Red Cross Convalescent Hospital opened on 27 December 1915 with 30 beds. By 31 December all were occupied.

On the day the furniture arrived, 22 December, Queen Mary had visited. The beds and bedding and other necessary items had been supplied by the Duchess of Connaught Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Taplow, Bucks. Ward buildings were constructed with asbestos walls on brick foundations.

By June 1916 the Hospital had hutted accommodation for 250 patients. Each hut was a complete unit in itself and independent of the wards in the mansion. The new wards were large, airy and cheerful in appearance. In another part of the grounds, a Billiard Room had been built for the patients. There was also a commodious Recreation-cum-Concert Hall - the gift of Mrs Robert Gooderham of Toronto - where patients could read, write letters, play the piano or listen to music, or play cards and other games. Canadian and British newspapers and periodicals were provided by their publishers and others. Theatrical entertainments and concerts were held in the Hall in the evenings.

Following the end of the war the patients and personnel were gradually evacuated over May, June and July 1919. By 14th July there remained only three officers and six servicemen in residence. The buildings and wards were redecorated in anticipation of handing over the site to the LCC for use as an open-air school for children from the East End with TB and other respiratory disorders.

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