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Glossop Creates has paired a group of students from Sheffield School of Architecture with local charity, Reuben’s Retreat, to look at ways to utilise currently undeveloped spaces at the retreat’s HQ on Park Crescent.

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In their 6-week long live project, the students are currently researching and designing plans for two possible future phases of Reuben’s Retreat’s building and grounds - which is based at the old Woods Hospital building, situated at the top of the picturesque Howard Park in Glossop.

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The project aims to provide much-needed, affordable studio space for artists and creatives in Glossop on site at Reuben’s Retreat, as a temporary solution whilst Reuben’s Retreat fundraises for the redevelopment of the spaces, with the aim to transform them into family apartments.

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The brief is that the studio spaces are flexible, transportable, and make successful use of the derelict spaces. The studio design will also seek to support the charity’s fundraising efforts; Reuben’s Retreat supports families of children living with medical complexities, and families dealing with child loss.

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The design for the temporary studios has to be in keeping with the previous renovations and highlights the building’s legacy.  

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The building - a fascinating history

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The old Woods Hospital was opened in 1889, on land donated by Lord Howard, a direct descendent of Catherine Howard - a wife of King Henry 8th.  At the first stone laying ceremony, a few items were buried below including a copper canister containing copies of local newspapers, an architect’s description of the building, a Victoria medal and several silver coins.

The building has some incredible history - world famous painter, L.S Lowry, passed away at Wood’s Hospital on 23 February 1976 from pneumonia, aged 88.

The building was used as a hospital until 2009 until wider developments left the hospital out of step with the trust’s standards for modern services. Reuben’s Retreat bought the magnificent building in 2014, and has since transformed it into the charity’s forever home.

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A toolkit for creative success

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Glossop Creates has also tasked the student team with using the learnings from the studio spaces to form a toolkit for inhabiting other disused buildings and spaces in Glossop - bolstering the facilities aimed at creatives in the area for many years to come.

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The students will be approaching their concepts with consideration and care, envisioning what a meanwhile use of the space could look like, as well as the long-term vision.

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The Sheffield School of Architecture live project programme sees Masters students studying architecture and similar courses work collaboratively with non-profit clients, providing services to the client whilst gaining valuable experience. This programme has been running for 24 years and has seen many successes.

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Steven Dexter from Glossop Creates said: “This is the second Live Project for Glossop Creates, following the successful Glossop Connect project in 2018.  We are so excited to see the unused spaces in this incredible building be transformed into something that can help the town’s creative community while fundraising takes place for the family apartments. The blueprint for these transportable studios may be able to be applied to other buildings in Glossop that can be utilised for the benefit of the wider creative community. We have been incredibly impressed with the students’ passion so far, and we can't wait to see the project come to fruition.

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“In the meantime, we’d love to hear from anyone who can tell us stories, information and facts about the former Woods Hospital.”

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For more information about the live project programme, please visit https://liveprojects.ssoa.info/

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Can you help?

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The group are keen to embrace the history and heritage of Reuben’s Retreat - if you have any knowledge of the former Woods Hospital building, Howard Park or Surrounding area we’d love to hear from you.  Get in touch at hello@glossopcreates.com

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