General Infirmary

The General Infirmary is a four-story brick building on Fisherton Street with two distinct wings added during the nineteenth century. The structure reflects the expansions needed to accommodate more patients and separate departments for different types of care.

Lord Feversham endowed the hospital in 1763 with a 500-pound bequest, which led to its opening in 1767 using existing buildings. The institution grew through donations over the following decades before finally closing when services moved to a modern facility.

The inscription on the forecourt reading 'General Infirmary Supported by Voluntary Contribution: 1767' reflects how local people once supported medical care through donations. This dedication shows the community's role in founding and maintaining health services.

The building is no longer a functioning hospital since its conversion to residential apartments in the early 1990s. Visitors can still view the exterior, the listing plaque, and the forecourt inscription from the public street.

The 1936 outpatients department features a dedication to T.E. Lawrence, the noted British military officer, reflecting an unusual connection between this local hospital and a figure of national significance. This tribute remains one of the few personal dedications found in medical buildings of that era.

Location: Salisbury

GPS coordinates: 51.06879,-1.79966

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:44