Although the provision of a hospital had been discussed for many years in the Stourbridge area, it wasn’t until 1893 that the town finally gained such an institution. This was created within the Amblecote mansion known as The Hill, standing in an estate just off Vicarage Road opposite Holy Trinity Church, and was re-named Corbett Hospital in honour of Brierley Hill born John Corbett. Known as the ‘Salt King’ of Droitwich, Corbett bought The Hill for £6,500 in 1892, and spent almost as much again on converting it into an 18 bed hospital. Corbett continued to support the hospital, building an impressive house in the grounds for the resident surgeon, and adding a children’s ward.

‘The Corbett’ remained a much loved institution in and around Stourbridge, supported by benefactors large and small, its annual fête being a notable local event.

The creation of the Dudley Area Health Authority as part of the local government authority reorganisations of 1974 spelled the beginning of a lingering end for the hospital, with closure scheduled before 2005, and the site earmarked for housing. Even so, it has taken the bureaucrats twenty five years to circumvent the terms of John Corbett’s gift; that the people of Stourbridge and Amblecote should have their own local hospital.