How good to see that someone has at least taken pictures before the building is done away with. I do hope somebody will also do the same for the interior and all the building at the Brighton General, before that two is radically altered and some blocks demolished for housing. The local council actually own the General site not the NHS, so once they get their hands on it who knows what will be done. The way ward closurers are going it will not be to far in the futrue before the whole site will close.

Kenneth I believe that the NHS took a comprehensive set of pictures themselves. Hopefully they are doing the same at the General.
The NHS Trust were most unhelpful and obstructive towards me. I photographed what I could anyway driven by feeling that it was an important set of pictures to make.
The general opinion around the Dials where I live is that the developers plans are uninspired, unimaginative and unwanted. Knocking the building down as with the equally characterful old Ear Nose and Throat Hospital around the corner would be a great loss. Once these buildings are gone thats it. Shortsighted? The swell of local feeling is that the main fascade should at least be retained. I suspect many people would rather live in a converted building with character than in a non descript "anywheresville" lego apartment block, like that proposed.
Most of Wimpey's support comes from a local surgery that will get a nice new practise out of the demolition. The retiring doctor can then cash in his freehold on the old surgery. The proposed new pharmacy on the site will challenge the two fine chemists already nearby, we need local shops and shouldn't be sacrificing them too a developers trade off. The policy in Brighton with developers seems to be to re-submit re-submit and re-submit until permission is granted.
The big boys and girls can afford to bide their time, they can afford costly appeals and to push the council's officers into submission. I have no doubt if you or I had bought the site there would be no way the Council would let us knock it down. It will be a sad day when the wreckers move in, my photo essay is far from over.

Dear JJ - Please excuse the salutation as there is no christian name given. May I suggest you have a look at a site I set up for nurses trained at the General who were there when it was a separate training school for nurses. It contains many many, and I do mean many, photographs of the activities and some parts of the hospital. It is:
www.communigate.co.uk/sussex/brightongeneralsrn I Hope you enjoy a visit to it and I would be please to have your comments.

What happened to the foundation stone plaque?

I believe the plaque has been erected on the new childrens block at the RSCH. Very sad to see the 'old alex' go. The atmosphere was great in the old days working there. I don't suppose the new block has the same feel.

Yes, the plaque is outside the new hospital, the photos brought back loads of memories, I was at the farewell party. I often drive by to see if demolition has begun, and see what is happening to the old coach house and Powis Villas, happy times at the nurses home!

I trained at the Alex in 1975 group 3/75. I am now a practice nurse. The Alex was a special place and it was so lovely to see your photos.