Demolition begins at hospital

Work has started on the demolition of an historic Black Country hospital building to make way for a housing estate.

Work to knock down the 300-year-old Corbett Hospital building at Stourbridge, which was formerly known as The Hill, started early today. Workers need to clear the site ready for more than 80 homes to be built.

The demolition process is expected to take up to four days. The building was used as a hospital for more than 100 years after being purchased by salt magnate John Corbett in 1892 for the princely sum of £5,000.

After spending £6,000 on restoring it to its former glory and converting it into a hospital he presented it to a board of trustees the following year as the Corbett Hospital to cater for the people of Stourbridge.

The site has been purchased by David Payne Homes which plans to build 83 homes ranging from a one-bedroomed studio apartment to five-bedroomed houses.

The property developer invited members of Amblecote Historic Society along yesterday to have a last look round the building before it vanishes from the local landscape forever.

Society member Mike Perkins said: "The building died a couple of years ago when it stopped being used as a hospital and today is its funeral.

"Although you can't live in the past, it's still a sad day for Amblecote."

Paul Cranidge, managing director of David Payne Homes, said: "We are very much looking forward to rejuvenating the area with our new development."

Many of the services at the former Corbett Hospital have been transferred to Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, and a new Corbett outpatients' centre has been built next to the original site in Stoubridge.