Does anyone know what the building 'up hill' from the Nursing Home on Westwood Hill is/was used for.
I'm not sure if it is actually still in use, but I used to walk past it every day, and it always puzzled me, as it looked like there were security men on duty at all hours.
Its a relatively new building (the last 15 years or so) and is quite an unusual design.
It has bugged me for years, so any feedback would be great.
Thanks (and Happy New Year, by the way)
Building on Westwood Hill
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Pat Trembath
- Posts: 613
- Joined: 2 Oct 2004 10:54
The building was named "Fountain" and was built by Phoenix House which is/was a charity aiding recovering drug addicts in the 80's/90's.
Phoenix House was housed in a building in Eliot Bank at the junction with Kirkdale and Sydenham Hill and, if I remember correctly, Prince Charles was its patron.
I think it was planned that Fountain would provide accommodation for recovering drug addicts who had contracted AIDS. I'm not sure why the building has never been used for the purpose intended. I'm also not sure about what has happened to Phoenix House the charity - there does not appear to be anything on the internet.
Anyone with information?
Phoenix House was housed in a building in Eliot Bank at the junction with Kirkdale and Sydenham Hill and, if I remember correctly, Prince Charles was its patron.
I think it was planned that Fountain would provide accommodation for recovering drug addicts who had contracted AIDS. I'm not sure why the building has never been used for the purpose intended. I'm also not sure about what has happened to Phoenix House the charity - there does not appear to be anything on the internet.
Anyone with information?
The charity that first ran the unit as a hospital / home for people with HIV and AIDS vacated the building in the early /mid nineties and it was then taken over by a Housing Association. The HA ran the building as an inpatient rehabilitation ward for adults with mental health problems until last Spring when funding and practical issues resulted in its closure. This wasn't such a bad thing - I was briefly on the governance committee and there were recruitment problems and difficulties in finding good staff. I think the HA still own the property but the last I heard they were unsure what it might be used for in the future - it's a very competitive market out there and PCTs are keeping a tight hold of the purse strings.
When the building first opened I understand that a well known pop star had some involvement. Apparently he donated a table to the unit which is still in the garden. It's a large round marble thing - weighs about a ton with some quite ornate decoration. Sadly it's seen better days but it's one of those items that will probably turn up on Antiques Roadshow in fifty years time with a story that will delight the nation.
When the building first opened I understand that a well known pop star had some involvement. Apparently he donated a table to the unit which is still in the garden. It's a large round marble thing - weighs about a ton with some quite ornate decoration. Sadly it's seen better days but it's one of those items that will probably turn up on Antiques Roadshow in fifty years time with a story that will delight the nation.