1896 – Royal National Hospital for Consumption, Newcastle, Co. Wicklow

In 1891, at the instigation of Miss Florence Wynn, a provisional committee meet in Dublin with the aim of founding a national sanatorium to treat tuberculosis. The Royal National Hospital for Consumption was duly established in 1893 by public subscription. It was one of the first hospitals in Ireland devoted to the treatment of what was then one of the most prevalent diseases in Ireland. It was to be constructed on a 12-acre site given by Earl Fitzwilliam. After an architectural competition, T.N. Deane & Son were selected. Other entrants included Millar & Symes.

The hospital was officially opened by Lady Zetland in May 1896, with 24 beds, the numbers rising to 125 by the outbreak of World War One. By the 1930s the narrow terms of the hospitals original aim – the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis only, was changed to allow the hospital to treat all forms of tuberculosis. By the 1950s fewer sanatorium beds were needed, the name was changed to the Newcastle Hospital and the types of patients that could be accepted were reviewed.

Finished in roughcast render with sandstone dressings and brick quoins and window surrounds. This long linear building has projecting gabled bays to the centre. Largely intact, although the balconies were rather crudely replaced during the 1930s. The glazed conservatories linking the blocks have also been replaced with extra accommodation.

Low modernist blocks with verandahs were constructed in front of the original building during the early 1950s to designs by Alfred Phillips (1913-96). A larger 3-storey block was added to the rear of the site. The hospital is now used by mental health units with 46 beds and provides acute adult mental health care, psychiatry of later life, and mental health rehabilitation.