Archway marked for preservation crumbles despite demolition contractor’s assurances.
The only part of the historic Cromer Hospital that was going to be preserved in the new £15m building will now be dumped after crumbling during demolition work.
The archway above the main entrance of the old building on Mill Road, inscribed with the words “Cromer & District Hospital”, was to have featured near the entrance to the new complex that has been built at the rear of the same site.
Constructors from Mansell have been demolishing the old complex over the last few weeks since the new hospital opened on March 4, and were tasked with preserving and transferring the arch.
But a spokesman for the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Trust, which owns Cromer Hospital, said it had “crumbled on removal” – despite “careful handling” – and it was not possible to reuse the remains.
Dale Jackson, project manager for Cromer Hospital, said: “We had very much hoped to keep the arch and it was in our plans from the beginning.
“We had expert advice from our demolition contractors who very carefully caged and supported the sandstone arch prior to removal but the results of their efforts were sadly in vain.”
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