Shropshire Routes to Roots

During World War One, soldiers injured in the area had been treated at the Baschurch Convalescent and Surgical Home. This had been set up some years before, by Agnes Hunt and her old nursing friend, Emily Goodford, in a large house in the centre of the village.

The Home was specifically for disabled people, but children had great difficulty in climbing the stairs. To solve this problem, an open-sided shed was built in the grounds, where sunlight and fresh air was intended to aid recovery. No mention was made of the Winter winds, but apparently the children thrived on this open air existence!

Following the war, the Camp hospital was still in use, and attracted the attention of the Agnes Hunt home. Negotiations took place, and in February 1921, all patients were transferred from the Home to the Camp hospital, which then became known as the Shropshire Orthopaedic Hospital. Since that time it has become world renowned for its pioneering work in the treatment of all forms of physical disablement, and is now known as The Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic & District Hospital NHS Trust.