Historic Fenwick hospital site in Lyndhurst to be sold at auction, NHS confirms

THE site of the former Fenwick hospital in Lyndhurst, which has more recently been used as a health and wellbeing centre, is to be sold at auction.

As reported in the A&T last April, concerns were raised about the future of the Pikes Hill site after Social Care in Action (SCiA) announced it would no longer be managing the Fenwick Health and Wellbeing Centre from July.

The site is owned by the NHS and through SCiA, which took over in 2008, had hosted activities from third-party providers ranging from sessions for people with dementia or frailty to nail-cutting clinics and “laughter yoga”

An NHS spokesperson told the A&T: “The site has not been used as an NHS hospital since 2005 and NHS England, in its role as landlord, will be putting the building up for auction in the spring.”

The Fenwick building is more than 100 years old and was once home to the district’s community hospitals.

Built in 1908 by George John Fenwick, throughout the years it has been used as a maternity hospital, minor injuries unit and respite day centre, as well as for outpatient clinics.

Chairman of the parish council, Cllr Chris Willsher, told the A&T: “It is a matter of great disappointment to the residents of Lyndhurst and to the parish council that the former Fenwick Hospital site will be sold.

“The hospital in its various guises has been part of Lyndhurst for over 100 years and we had hoped that it would be retained in some form to deliver services to the community.

“The Fenwick has been a familiar part of the lives of local people and their families since 1908 and it is with a heavy heart that we will say farewell to a much-loved friend.”