Pictures from the past: 7 images of Southend Hospital through the ages

But the hospital was only a fraction of its current size when a crowd of about 4,000 people gathered to celebrate its grand opening in 1932.

Southend’s first hospital, in Warrior Square, arose from the desire to mark Queen Victoria’s Jubilee in 1887.

A public fund was started and a site, where the swimming pool now stands, was bought for £350.

Building work was swift and Southend Victoria Hospital opened in May 1888.

But with only 64 beds and cots, it was quickly realised the hospital was inadequate for the town’s growing population.

Southend had 12,000 inhabitants in 1891, but this had ballooned to 62,000 by 1911 and 106,000 in 1923.

In their 1986 book on the history of Southend’s hospitals, Malcolm Jefferies and J Alfred Lee wrote: “The truth of the matter was that Southend was outgrowing its hospital service, and peversely enough, the great majority of people seemed to accept this fact quite calmly.

“The Southend Victoria Hospital struggled on bravely despite its slender resources.”

The need for a new hospital site became in urgent in 1924, when a Government report pointed to the “gross inadequacy” of provision for the town.

The possibility of extending the Warrior Square site was considered, but instead it was decided to find a new site large enough to build a hospital of up to 400 beds.

Public donations had raised £120,000 and building work started in 1930, but there was still a shortfall of £50,000 until Lord Iveagh, businessman and former MP for Southend, paid the remainder himself.

Construction work on Southend Hospital in early 1930s

A vast audience gathered outside the hospital on July 26, 1932, for the grand opening, seated across the entrance court and greeted by music from the Corps of Signals Band.

Speaking to the gathered thousand, Lord Iveagh said: “I made up my mind that I would see the hospital through as far as the building was concerned.

“This morning, I have carried out that deed in the presence of the mayor.”

The Second World War halted planned building work at the hospital, but significant expansion took place in the 1960s and 1970s, including a new accident and emergency department, intensive care unit and children’s unit.

A diabetes centre and a £1million eye clinic followed in the 1990s.

Building work in the new millennium included the £3.4million A&E department, opened in 2001 and £4.75million radiology centre, completed in 2006.

Princess Anne opens a new extension at Southend Hospital, December 1971

Lord Iveagh presses the button to open the main doors of Southend Hospital for the first time. July 26, 1932

Outpatient waiting hall at Southend Hospital in the 1930s

Southend Hospital preparing for the Second World War, 1939