Donation saves historic tiles at Havant hospital

Cherished hospital tiles that are a unique part of Havant's history will soon be put in a museum after a charitable donation.

Campaigners have secured the £25,000 needed to remove and restore the nursery rhyme tiles from the walls of the town's old War Memorial Hospital.

Half the money has been put forward by NHS Hampshire's charitable fund — accrued from public donations over many years — after trustees agreed it was a worthy cause.

The remainder will be taken from the money gained from the sale of the building, which closed last autumn and now has an interested buyer.
It means the 75-year-old Royal Doulton tiles can be put on public display in The Spring.

Kate Turner, chairwoman of Havant and Bedhampton Community First, the group which is co-ordinating the campaign, said: 'The news is fantastic and I am delighted the tiles will be able to be placed in a public venue.

'We hope to raise additional funds to support some of the panels being displayed in The Spring and then in other venues across the county.'
Inger Hebden, director of capital planning at NHS Hampshire, said: 'Charitable funds are money that has been kindly donated to the local NHS often from small bequests, and means we can give the tiles to the local community to enjoy.'

Cllr David Guest, Havant's heritage champion, added: 'I hope when visitors see the tiles at The Spring, they will recall the history behind them and the care that many took to preserve and protect them for posterity.'

 
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