Description

SHREWSBURY

SJ41SE WELSHPOOL ROAD, Shelton
653-1/4/777 (South side (off))
06/04/93 Shelton Hospital

II

Mental hospital. The original building of 1843 by George
Gilbert Scott and WB Moffat. Extensions made in 1848 possibly
by Thomas Haycock, and 1884. Brick with stone dressings and
Welsh slate roof. Tudor style.
PLAN: the original hospital buildings comprise a 2-storeyed
H-plan complex, with additional central wings comprising
entrance block and hall-wing to rear. It was designed to be
strictly symmetrical, for male and female wards each side of
central entrance and hall.
EXTERIOR: central entrance wing brought forward 1884, a
3-window range with central round-arched doorway and flanking
3-light mullioned and transomed windows with continuous hood
mould over. Segmental oriel over the door, dated 1843, and
with strapwork cornice, also flanked by 3-light mullioned and
transomed windows. Windows throughout are cast-iron with small
panes, and small opening lights. 2-light mullions in gabled
dormers, and central cupola.
4-window gabled return with truncated stacks at gable apexes,
then flanking corridors linking to cross wings housing wards
at each side.
Each corridor range has central projecting squared bay with
octagonal finial over, flanked by 2-light mullioned and
transomed windows each side of a projecting chimney with
truncated flue.
Ward wings have 2-light mullioned and transomed windows in
coped gable ends, and 3-window return.
INTERIOR: much of the original planning has survived
successive alterations, and some original constructional
detail is also still visible: the ward blocks have paired
chamfered timber transverse beams, bolted together, and with
cast-iron members bolted to the undersides as tension bracing.
The rear hall and kitchen block are of 1884 and the wing
behind of 1848. The hall has pilasters to the wall and a coved
ceiling, the kitchens have open trusses to the roofs, and the
wing has original skirtings, doorways and staircases.
HISTORY: the hospital is one of the oldest of the county
asylums, originally built for Shropshire, but serving
Montgomery also after 1846. The original building was intended
to house 60 inmates but was successfully enlarged and its
capacity increased.
The wings extending to the sides (1884) and to the rear (1854)
are not of special architectural or historic interest
(The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Shropshire:
Oxford: 1979-: 160-162).

Listing NGR: SJ4606013054

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26560580

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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