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James Cook Teaching Hospital, Middlesbrough North Riding Infirmary and Middlesbrough General – Two Hospitals Become One
Project Scope


Two heritage murals, each approx 9.6m x 2.4m

Artefacts including cast iron drainpipe and overmounted plaques feature strongly.

 

 

 

 

Two murals charting the histories of the North Riding Infirmary and the Middlesbrough General Hospital adorn the walls of the main mall at the James Cook University Hospital. Both hospitals were well loved and respected in the community, and it was determined that their memories would never be forgotten. The murals were commissioned as part of the hospitals highly acclaimed Healing Arts Project, and will benefit patients, visitors and hospital staff for generations to come.
     

 

 

  

North Riding Infirmary History Mural

 

Over time the North Riding Infirmary became noted as specialists in the treatment of eye, ear, nose and throat and this is a key strand running through our mural design. Background images are big, bright and colourful; starting with an illustration of a silhouetted steelworker with a turbulent fiery background to illustrate the town's industrial heritage, for which the hospital was originally founded.

 

The colours gradually merge through to purple, bisected half way along with a drainpipe saved from the original building. Life-size photos of staff members in various guises and other imagery such as a large stylised eye, are dramatic attention getters. The mural ends with a beautiful sunset photo of the Transporter Bridge over the River Tees.

 

Middlesbrough General Hospital History Mural

 

In the beginning the hospital was a workhouse, a place for the town's poor and homeless. The sombre backdrop to this first section helps to convey the austerity of the institution. Shades of turquoise and blue are colour-washed to subsequent background images, to create a brighter more positive feel. Lifesize photos of staff members and other large imagery including a famous 1930's footballer, giant hands with test tubes, and an enormous, fearsome looking syringe, are dramatic attention getters. The footballer just had to be included as the hospital had a fantastic view of Middlesbrough Football Club before it was demolished. The Club and its famous footballers have always done their bit to help fundraising for the hospital.

 

Photos, newspaper cuttings and all the other features that illustrate the history overlay the background, or blend into each other to form a multi-layered effect. These images have never just been simply cropped and placed, frames have been added, colour-washes and painterly effects have been carefully combined. Without these visual enhancements the first part of the mural would have been very monotone, as all the images were of course black and white.

Feedback

 

"Patients, visitors and staff are being given the opportunity to take a step back in time on the new hospital mall. Two life-size murals charting the histories of Middlesbrough General Hospital and North Riding Infirmary now adorn the walls and feature a historical timeline, photographs of staff – past and present – and buildings, equipment and original plaques.

 

"We hold a great deal of affection for these hospitals and were determined they would not be forgotten. 'Tony and Karen's brief was to create two murals that would be informative, stimulating and entertaining and they've certainly achieved that. 'Every time I go down the corridor someone is looking at them and there's so much in them you find something different every time. We'd also like to thank everyone who sent in their treasured photographs and memorabilia – they've really helped to bring the murals to life."

 

Margaret Baily, Commissioning and Healing Arts Coordinator

 
© 2012 Hospital Art Studio part of Woodgate Studios Limited