1 6 A HANDBOOK FOR SOUTHPORT. 



at the comer of the group of municipal buildings mentioned 

 above, and form a strikingly handsome addition to them. 

 One of the most important and interesting of the Southport 

 institutions has still to be mentioned the Convalescent 

 Hospital and Sea-bathing Infirmary. The origin of this very 

 useful and well-conducted establishment is found far back in 

 the local history. In the year 1806 a charitable fund was 

 organised by some benevolent persons, with a view to enabling 

 the poor of the large manufacturing towns in Lancashire and 

 Yorkshire to receive, when invalided, the benefits of sea- 

 air and sea-bathing. This fund, small no doubt at first, was 

 steadily augmented from without as the excellence of the 

 design became apparent. The appellation given to the insti- 

 tution probably the pioneer of its kind was the "Strangers' 

 Charity." In 1853 the present building was erected. In 1862 

 it was considerably enlarged, and the name was at the same 

 time altered to that one now in use. New buildings, of 

 very considerable beauty and extent, are now in progress of 

 erection, these additions being rendered practicable through 

 the liberality of the committee of the " Surplus Cotton 

 Famine Fund," which has contributed for the purpose a sum 

 of no less than ,40,000. The number of beds available for 

 patients is at present 220, and when the extensions shall be 

 completed there will be accommodation for 400. The institu- 

 tion is now the second in the kingdom in point of extent, 

 being surpassed only by the Margate Royal Sea-bathing Infir- 

 mary. To all appearance it will before long stand in advance of 

 all, a blessing to the operative classes especially of the manu- 

 facturing districts which it is impossible to overestimate. 

 Numbered among its active supporters have been many of the 



