Catalogue description HERBERT CONVALESCENT HOME, BOURNEMOUTH

Opening of the Home, reports, drawing and patients' admission.

Herbert Convalescent Home, Bournemouth, Dorset

The Herbert Convalescent Home was built in the memory of Lord Herbert. A Committee was established in 1861 with the purpose to build a statue of Herbert by the Council Chambers in Salisbury and a Convalescent Home near to Bournemouth. The Statue was erected in 1863.In 1865 land was purchased and the Home was built [at 49 Alumhurst Road]. It was to be run by the Salisbury Infirmary, Herbert having been their president. By 1947 it had been renamed the Herbert Sanatorium and was run by Bournemouth Borough. In 1948 the Bournemouth and Poole Sanatoria Hospital Management Committee took over control. [For minutes and sub-committee minutes 1948-1956 see NG/NHS/HM 1 which includes references to the Hospital.] It later became part of the Dorset NHS Trust and known as Herbert Hospital.

Sidney, 1st Baron Herbert of Lea was born in 1810. He was the second son of George Augustus, 11 Earl of Pembroke. He was educated at Harrow and Oriel College Oxford. In 1832 he was returned as the Conservative MP for South Wiltshire, continuing until he was created a peer in 1860. He was an eminent politician and statesman; Secretary to the Board of Control 1834-5, Secretary to the Admiralty 1841-5, War Secretary under Peel 1845-6, Aberdeen 1852-5 (during the Crimean) and Palmerston 1859-60. He led the movement in favour of medical reform in the army and was primarily responsible for Florence Nightingale going to the Crimea. He was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Lt. Gen. Charles Ashe a Court-Repingham in 1846. They had seven children including George 13th Earl and Sidney 14th Earl of Pembroke. He died 2 August 1861.

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