The Maternity Block (Completed c1967-Demolished 2003)

The Maternity Block was a 10 storey towerblock at the former Norfolk & Norwich Hospital, built c1966-1968 and opened in June 1968. Over 100'000 births took place there inbetween 1968 and 2001. The Maternity Block was near the junction of Wessex Street and Union Street. The A&E department was in the low rise building next to the Maternity Block.

Planning
In about 1963 or 1964 the Norwich Health Authority realised the N&N needed expansion so proposed a 10 storey Maternity Block and a 12 floor Main Ward Block. In about 1965, planning was approved for the new 10 floor Maternity Block.

Construction c1966-1967
Construction of the 10 storey Maternity Block started in around 1966. The construction took around 2 years. By early 1968 the new block was almost fully complete. A foreman was killed during construction when he fell off some scaffolding.

The completion of the building was in late 1967 or early 1968, after around 2 years of construction.

Usage 1968-2001
The first wards opened in April 1968 which took in expectant mothers ready to give birth. The Maternity Block was officially opened by The Queen Mother on the 28th June 1968. The milk kitchen was on the ground floor.

In 1989 the Maternity Block was seen as too clinical. In early 1993 two locals abseiled down the Maternity Block.

In December 1993, the 25 year old Maternity Block was deemed as not very adequate for hospital usage, thus making the planned move to a new hospital site viable. However the Maternity Block was to remain in use for several years to come.

The last birth took place at the Maternity Block in November 2001, once the new hospital at Colney opened. From November 2001 to September 2003, the Maternity Block stood empty and unused, ready for its demolition. Several locals photographed the building before demolition, and one even was allowed inside to take photos to ensure the building will never be forgotten.

Demolition 2003
The Maternity Block was demolished in September 2003. Housing now stands on the site. A plaque was erected in memory of the 100'000 births that took place there inbetween April 1968 and November 2001.

Legacy of the Maternity Block

 * The said plaque stands where the Maternity Block once stood. Also my Google SketchUp model of the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital in February 1988 will ensure the legacy of the Maternity Block will remain, the same as the Main Ward Block next to it.
 * The Maternity Block at Ipswich Hospital in Ipswich, Suffolk, is the exact same design as the former Maternity Block at the old Norfolk & Norwich Hospital. Both blocks must have been built using the same architect plans. Also, the Ipswich Maternity Block was completed circa 1969, and opened in 1970, so is just 2 to 3 years younger than the identical Norwich block. A similar thing happened when 6 hospitals were built using the same design, a Best Buy design from the 1960s. However the old N&N never had any Best Buy builds, however the old A&E block next to the Maternity Block had internal courtyards, as the Best Buy Hospitals did.
 * Here is a link to Google Street View image of the Ipswich Maternity Block, the identical twin to the Norwich one, sadly the Norwich twin block is no longer extant,. So, seeing double? No dont worry. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.0572535,1.1998741,3a,22.5y,294.35h,95.84t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sMaE8DXhvmr39BXk1r_OaLw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656