EAW044652 ENGLAND (1952). J. Wells and Sons Ltd Joyce Green Lane Firework Factory, Dartford Marshes, 1952. This image was marked by Aerofilms Ltd for photo editing.

Route of the horse-drawn tramway to convey patients from the pier head at Long Reach to Orchard or Joyce Green hospitals. The tramway ceased to be used in 1936. See: http://dartfordhospitalhistories.org.uk/joyce-green/joyce-green-tramway/

From 1883 to 1903 three connected hospital ships were moored off here to provide for the care in isolation of smallpox victims from London. The ships were HMS Atlas, (male wards), HMS Endymion (support services) and the failed cross channel ferry Castalia, which had five female wards built on its deck. For details and photographs, see http://dartfordhospitalhistories.org.uk/hospital-ships/hospital-ships-introduction/

Entrance to the pier, removed by the date of this image, by which patients from London were brought by ambulance ship.

Long Reach isolation hospital. Built in 1901 as a temporary 300 bed hospital as the three hospital ships, then moored adjacent to here, had insufficient beds to cope with smallpox epidemic in London. In 1910, Long Reach hospital was made permanent. It was rebuilt in 1928 and continued to be kept ready to be opened within hours should the need arise. In March 1973, it was reopened for one patient, its last. Source: http://dartfordhospitalhistories.org.uk/long-reach/long-reach-introduction/