The explorer, adventurer and wealthy businessman Frank Linsly James was gored to death by an elephant in Gabon, West Africa, 133 years ago today.
Sadly, 21st April – the day of Frank James’s death – was his 39th birthday. He left £100,000 in his will – a whopping £16.5million in today’s values.
Frank Linsly James was a keen yachtsman. For this reason, his brothers decided to set up the Frank James Memorial Home for Retired Seamen in his memory in 1893. They had originally intended that the hospital be built in Cowes but found it cheaper to purchase land in East Cowes.
In 1903, the Retired Seaman’s Home became a cottage hospital serving the people of Cowes and East Cowes. The James family donated a further £10,000 (£1.5million in today’s values) for its refurbishment. The new cottage hospital was opened by Princess Beatrice.
In 1948, the Frank James Hospital was nationalised and taken over by the National Health Service. It then served the people of Cowes from both sides of the River Medina for 54 years until its closure in 2002.
Sadly, despite attempts at rebuilding, the former hospital subsequently remained derelict and deserted for over 15 years but has now been turned into housing.
Elephants never forget
This was a beautiful hospital and should never have been closed. It is sad what some people call progress.
Interesting piece thank you. Should never have been allowed to close.
Under a LABOUR government.
The lazy nurses wanted a rise and longer fag breaks, SOMEONE had to pay for it.
Well, at least he wasn’t shot in the back like his brother Jesse.
Very interesting. It was a good hospital. I left my tonsils there back in the fifties.
May have been turned into lovable spaces but what an insult to his memory to have neglected it for so many years. Am I right in thinking it was left to the town of e cowes ? Beautiful building..
It’s still derelict in areas, such a shame the NHS decided to sell off at a pittance as we could well do with it now for the “bed blockers” in St Mary’s, same applies to all the cottage hospitals the NHS decided to sell off now we have none and most of us may end up needing to travel to Portsmouth, Southampton or further for treatment. So much for progress.
Anyone else remember when the Legend Norman Wisdom attended an event there back in the 90’s?