28/04/2026
A Community Group is calling for a Memorial Garden at the former Storthes Hall Hospital Site.
The Memories of Storthes Hall Hospital Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/418787018232700' is calling on the public, former staff, families, local residents and heritage supporters to help persuade the site’s developers to include a memorial garden in the redevelopment plans for the former hospital.
The group represents people with long-standing ties to Storthes Hall, including former employees, relatives of patients, and members of the surrounding community who are concerned that the history of the site risks being lost as redevelopment progresses.
Storthes Hall Hospital opened in 1904 and, at its peak, more than two thousand patients lived within its grounds. Many stayed for years; some spent their entire lives there.
The hospital also employed hundreds of staff from Yorkshire, Ireland, the Caribbean, Africa, Mauritius and Malaysia, forming a diverse workforce whose care, humour and dedication shaped the community for decades.
“For many families, Storthes Hall was a place of deep emotion,” said Paul Hartley, speaking on behalf of the group. “People visited loved ones for years. Some found comfort knowing their relatives were safe and cared for. For others, the hospital grounds were the last place they saw a parent, a brother, a sister or a child. These memories are still very real.”
The group believes a memorial garden would provide a quiet, respectful space to honour the patients, staff and families connected to the hospital. It would also help new residents understand the history of the land they are joining.
“As the site changes, people fear that this history will simply disappear,” Hartley added. “A memorial garden is a modest, achievable request, a way to link the past with the future and ensure that the stories of those who lived and worked at Storthes Hall are not forgotten.”
The group is now appealing for public support to strengthen their case to the developers. They are also hopeful of securing backing from local history groups and local politicians who recognise the cultural and emotional importance of the site.
The group is asking anyone with an interest in the history of Storthes Hall — or in preserving local heritage more broadly — to contact them, share their experiences, or express support for the proposal.
For further information, statements of support, or to get involved, please contact: Memories of Storthes Hall Hospital Group Facebook site.
We hope that they are successful in their plans to ensure Storthes Hall is remembered in this way.
