The Workhouse and Isolation Hospital (far left) in 1901

On 17th December 1847 Arthur Ashfield of Leighton Buzzard conveyed additional land to the Guardians of the Union for £98. The land  was "situate in Grovebury Field … in the Union Workhouse Furlong containing by admeasurement one acre  and ten perches bounded on the south by the Grovebury Road, on the west and north by an allotment set out on the Inclosure of the open fields of Leighton Buzzard to Edward Ashwell and on the east by an allotment set out on the said inclosure to the said Guardians. This became the site of the workhouse isolation hospital for the workhouse.

Site of the Workhouse Isolation Hospital June 2008

Under the terms of the Rating and Valuation Act 1925 every piece of land and building in the country was assessed to determine the rates to be paid on them. Leighton Buzzard was assessed in 1927 and the valuer visiting the isolation hospital [DV1/R80/63], noted that it had cesspool drainage and contained twenty beds. At the time of the visit (11th July) there were just two cases of scarlet fever present. There were, on average, seven cases per year and the hospital contained three wards - one each for typhoid, diphtheria and scarlet fever. The building was constructed of brick and slate and was "mainly used for patients and matron's rooms".