Theydon Towers Red Cross Hospital, Theydon Bois

At the start of World War One VAD Hospitals sprung up throughout Essex to provide support for the Territorial Army training and for injuries to troops following fighting in Belgium and France.

Theydon Towers, Theydon Road, Theydon Bois, a large yellow brick 19th century mansion house was lent to the War Office by the Soper brothers for use as an auxiliary hospital.

The Hospital was opened in November 1914 with 36 beds. It was equipped with an operating theatre and an X-ray apparatus, and was staffed by the Essex/58 Voluntary Aid Detachment. The initial patients were wounded and sick Belgian soldiers. By December 1914 it had 40 beds, all of which were occupied. After one year some 256 patients from the Belgian Army and the British Expeditionary Force had been treated.

In 1917 the Hospital had 45 beds and was affiliated to Colchester Military Hospital.

After WW1 the South West Ham Committee (a branch of the West Ham Relief Committee, later renamed the West Ham Committee of the Charity Organisation Society) presented Theydon Towers to Queen Mary's Hospital for the East End for use as a children's convalescent home.

The Home, with 30 beds, was officially opened by Princess Mary in 1921 and the South West Ham Committee agreed to maintain the property.

An adjacent cottage was redecorated and furnished by Mrs C.E. Leo Lyle (later Lady Lyle), the wife of the Chairman of Queen Mary's Hospital. It became a Home of Rest for the nurses of the Hospital who needed a few days' break.

In 1924 the South West Ham Committee was disbanded and the cost of the upkeep of Theydon Towers became the responsibility of the Hospital.

The Convalescent Home closed in 1927 because of the difficulty in finding the money for its upkeep; there were also insufficient children in need of convalescence.

Later the house was sold and the proceeds invested as a fund for meeting the cost of children's convalescence.

Miss Blanche Emily Buxton, who resided at Birch Hall, Theydon Bois between 1914 to 1919 was the Lady Superintendent and assistant Commandant at Theydon Towers. She was made an Associate of the Royal Red Cross in October 1917 for her services.