Lytham Cottage Hospital Becomes Clifton Hospital

On Thursday, August 3rd, 1871, Lytham marked one of the most important milestones in its history — the official opening of Lytham Cottage Hospital and Convalescent Home, the first hospital in the Fylde. At 11 a.m., a procession of fifty gentlemen led by the band of the 29th (Lytham) Rifle Volunteers set out from the Market Square along Clifton Street toward the new building, where a large crowd gathered to celebrate the occasion. The hospital had been the vision of Colonel John Talbot Clifton, Squire of Lytham, who had personally funded the site, construction, and furnishings in response to growing public need. A severe outbreak of fever in 1870 had intensified calls for local medical care, and Clifton’s generosity turned that need into reality.

The foundation stone was laid on 2nd September 1870 by Mrs. John Talbot Clifton, who would also have the honour of formally opening the hospital less than a year later. Designed by Henry Littler, County Architect, from a sketch by Dr. Holland of Prestwich Asylum, the building was constructed of brick and cobbles at a cost of £1,200. The hospital featured two wards on the ground floor (one for men and one for women), each with four beds, and two more wards upstairs, providing a total of sixteen beds. The central section included a matron’s room, committee room, surgery, bathroom, and wash house, along with a mortuary and an operating room for more serious cases.

When Mrs. Clifton handed the building over to the town, she addressed the crowd from a platform at the entrance:

“This building has been erected by Mr. Clifton as a cottage hospital for the benefit of the Town and neighbourhood, in order that relief and comfort may be obtained in cases of serious accident or illness, where such cases could not be so carefully attended to in the cottages of those unable to provide for sickness at home. I hope that the hospital may prove a benefit to the town.”

Over the following century, Lytham Hospital became a cornerstone of healthcare in the area. Despite widespread closures of small community hospitals during the 20th century, it continued to evolve. In 1994, it became part of the Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Community Health Services NHS Trust, continuing to provide modern healthcare close to home. However, in 2007, the historic building was closed and later demolished to make way for a new Primary Care Centre, which now houses local GP practices and NHS services — continuing the original mission “to bring relief and comfort” to the people of Lytham and its neighbours.

Today, that mission lives on at Clifton Hospital, located on Pershore Road, Lytham St Annes, FY8 1PB. Since opening in 2008, Clifton Hospital has provided inpatient rehabilitation services for patients recovering from illness or surgery, many of whom are transferred from Blackpool Victoria Hospital or supported by community health teams. The hospital’s four wards, each with 24 beds, are nurse- and therapy-led, focusing on rehabilitation and independence.

Patients receive tailored care designed to help them return home safely — either independently, with family support, or with assistance from social care providers. The hospital’s ethos remains rooted in the community spirit envisioned by John and Eleanor Clifton more than 150 years ago: compassionate, accessible healthcare for the people of the Fylde Coast.

You can learn more about Lytham’s early medical history and the legacy of its first hospital by visiting the Lytham Heritage Centre.

For information about the current hospital, visit Clifton Hospital NHS page.