The United States Military Hospital

Men who assembled the wooden buildings of the US Military Hospital. Photo: S Thorne.

The US. Military Hospital No 204 was constructed in Hursley Park in the latter half of 1917, in the field that lies to the south of Standon Farm, and to the east of Merdon Castle alongside the Romsey Road. The hospital could hold about 450 patients in the wooden wards, with considerable overflow capacity in adjoining tentage to meet that need. Little has come to light about the hospital except for some old photographs, and today there is no other evidence of it ever existing. It was demolished by the end of 1918. The siting of the hospital in Hursley Park was probably influenced by the fact that Lady Cooper was American by birth.

Main entrance to the US. Military Hospital