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The Downs Sanatorium, Belmont, Sutton
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The Downs Sanatorium, Belmont, Sutton
A uniformed porter stands at the entrance to the Downs Sanatorium, at Belmont, near Sutton, Surrey. The former childrens institution was converted for use as a tuberculosis sanatorium in 1912. Date: circa 1913
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Media ID 23265202
© Mary Evans/Peter Higginbotham Collection
Belmont Converted Downs Institution Poor Porter Sanatorium Stands Surrey Sutton Tuberculosis Uniformed Welfare Workhouse Workhouses Childrens
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This evocative photograph captures the entrance to The Downs Sanatorium in Belmont, near Sutton, Surrey, circa 1913. The imposing building, which once served as a children's institution, had been converted for use as a tuberculosis sanatorium in 1912. The uniformed porter, standing rigidly at attention, serves as a solemn reminder of the institutional nature of the facility. The Downs Sanatorium was one of several institutions established in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to house and care for those suffering from tuberculosis, a disease that was then a leading cause of death. At the time, tuberculosis was often associated with poverty and social welfare, and those diagnosed with the disease were often stigmatized and isolated from their communities. The conversion of The Downs Children's Institution into a tuberculosis sanatorium reflects the changing understanding of the disease and the evolving social welfare systems of the time. Workhouses, like The Downs, were increasingly being replaced by more specialized institutions, such as sanatoriums, asylums, and hospitals. The porter's uniform, with its crisp collar and neatly pressed buttons, speaks to the formal structure and regimented routine of life inside the sanatorium. The high walls and barbed wire fence surrounding the property suggest a level of security and control, reflecting the medical community's belief that isolation was essential to preventing the spread of tuberculosis. Despite the advances in medical care and understanding of tuberculosis, the image of the porter standing guard at the entrance to The Downs Sanatorium is a poignant reminder of the isolation and stigma that those suffering from the disease faced during this period.
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