Description:An early postcard view of the Accident Home at Littleworth, Hednesford. The site is now occupied by Hewston Croft.
Prior to opening as the Accident Home in 1897, it was a private dwelling named Ford House. It was rented out by Richard Owen initially rented out with an option to purchase later. Ford House was the creeper-clad two-storey two-bay house in this photograph. In 1896 a single-storey extension, which can just be seen on the right of the photograph, was added as a Consulting Room at the front with a toilet and bathroom behind. In 1899 a ward building and linking conservatory was added, seen here on the left. The two front rooms of Ford House had previously been converted to two wards and the new extension added a third ward, providing five beds plus another toilet and bathroom.
The Accident Home was funded by the local workforce's subscriptions and donations from local trade and industry: coal mines, foundries, tileries, and so on. The Home's purpose was to avoid the long journey to the hospital at Wolverhampton for those less seriously injured. The nurses also made home visits. In 1951 it was a GP's Hospital for local doctors with an on demand consultancy service provided by Stafford and Wolverhampton Hospitals. It closed in 1963 having been affected by mining subsidence and considered beyond economical repair and updating.