Inventory Site Record

The former Annie McCall Hospital has been converted as a residential development, completed in 2014. The hospital originated as Clapham Maternity Hospital, which was founded in 1889, the third hospital in Britain to be founded and run by women, and the first maternity hospital. The purpose-built wing was designed by architects Hart and Waterhouse and opened in 1915, with an extension of 1938 designed by Gertrude Leverkus. After the hospital closed in the 1970s, it was used for council offices, and then from c.1987 became an artists' studios complex known as Stockwell Studios, which was based here until 2013. In the hospital's extensive grounds, Stockwell Studios created a wildlife garden and community and arts education centre with a kitchen garden in the walled garden. The hospital site was sold for development by LB Lambeth and what remains of the grounds within the new development are now provided for the private use of residents.

Previous / Other name:

Clapham Maternity Hospital; Annie McCall Hospital; Stockwell Studios

Site location:

McCall Close, off Jeffreys Road, Stockwell

Postcode:

SW4 6QU

What 3 Words:

cases.puppy.waters

Type of site:

Housing/Estate Landscaping

Borough:

Lambeth

Open to public?

No

Opening times:

private, for residents only.
Has taken part in Open Garden Squares Weekend 3 times, most recently in 2012.

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Tube: Stockwell (Victoria). Bus: 50, 88, 155, 345, P5

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

25/08/2021

Last minor changes:

14/07/2022

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. https://henley-homes.co.uk/archives/developments/annie-mccall

The Annie McCall Hospital originated as the Clapham Maternity Hospital, which was founded in 1889 by Dr Annie McCall (1859-1949), one of the pioneering women doctors whose work led to the gradual acceptance of women in the medical profession. At first the maternity hospital was based at No. 74 Jeffreys Road, moving to Nos.41-43 Jeffreys Road in 1892, later expanding into 2 adjacent houses, Nos. 37-39, when a purpose-built wing was built. Designed by architects Hart and Waterhouse and built at a cost of £8,000, the new wing opened in July 1915. It was renamed the Annie McCall Hospital in 1936. Dr McCall remained the hospital's director at least in name until her retirement in 1938. In 1938-9 an extension was built, designed by architect, Gertrude Leverkus, who was one of the first 3 female architects to be accepted as an associate by the RIBA. The hospital's original premises on Jeffreys Road were destroyed in WWII, but Nos.37-39 survived and interconnect with the 1915 wing.

The hospital closed in the 1970s and for a time was used as council offices, but in c.1987 it was taken over by an artists’ collective and became known as Stockwell Studios. In the hospital's extensive grounds, the collective created a wildlife garden and a community and arts education centre, with beehives, a pond, tree house, orchard, bog garden, fern and mushroom area, and a kitchen garden in the walled garden. This was open to visitors on Tuesday afternoons, and regular community events were held. In addition to annual Open Studios events, Stockwell Studios also took part in Open Garden Squares Weekend. Its continuation as an important community resource came under threat after 2010 when the owners, LB Lambeth, proposed to sell the site for redevelopment, which eventually took place despite a campaign by Stockwell Studios. The last event was a communal barbecue on 22 May 2013.

Initially LB Lambeth had offered the collective a lease on the building on condition that it was brought up to Health and Safety standards, but later withdrew this offer although the members had succeeded in investing £52,000 and the equivalent in person-hours to achieve this. The collective also secured a proposal for a 'Not for Profit' Charitable Finance Initiative that would retain the listed landmark architecture and provide affordable artists' studios, community spaces, plus social housing on the adjoining house sites and original plots in the yard whilst retaining the community wildlife garden. This proposal was not accepted by the Council, and the site was sold for development to Henley Homes, whose restoration and refurbishment work was completed in October 2014. The former hospital building now accommodates 13 one- and two-bedroom apartments, many with private terraces or gardens, in addition to external communal space. Within the grounds a new house called The Lodge has been built. The new scheme has brought to an end the benefits and development of the community garden, including destruction of much of its wildlife habitat.

Henley Homes' development of Annie McCall has won a number of awards, including the Evening Standard New Homes Awards 2015, as Best Small Development by a Large Developer.

Sources consulted:

The Builder, 6 March 1914; Listed Building National Register; information on Stockwell Studios: www.stockwellstudios.org.uk

Grid ref:

TQ300763 (530050,176350)

Size in hectares:

Site ownership:

Henley Homes

Site management:

Henley Homes

Date(s):

1915

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

LBII: Annie McCall Hospital

On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens:

No

Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:

No

Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:

No

Local Authority Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

In Conservation Area:

No

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

Other LA designation:

None