Eryri Hospital - View location map

Before 1834, in Caernarfon's Twthill area, The Parish House afforded shelter to the parish destitute, tramps and those people considered "socially unacceptable". This shelter was only available to Caernarfon unfortunates but later a commission was appointed which resulted in a committee known as the Poor Law Board. The Poor Law Board widened the catchment area to the parishes surrounding Caernarfon. Consequently The Parish House found itself unable to cope with the increased demand for shelter. The Board then decided to erect a building large enough to accommodate all in need. This building, named Bodfan, was completed in 1845 and included tramp wards and an infirmary. An authority known as the Board of Guardians later took over from the Poor Law Board, controlling the day to day running of Bodfan, reclaiming a pro rata amount from each parish in proportion to the use of the facility. In 1910 the Board decided that the Infirmary building had become outdated and laid plans to erect a new, larger, modern building to cater for the sick. This building known as Eryri was completed in 1913 providing 70 beds including a maternity section where the staff dining room is currently located.

At the outbreak of The Great War the Eryri was commandeered by the authorities to be used as a military hospital. A scroll recalling this episode is still on display in Eryri Hospital. In 1930 the Board of Guardians transferred the functions to the County Council and with the formation of the National Health Service in 1948, control was passed on to the Minister of Health, although for some time after the County Council continued the administration of the hospital on behalf of the Management Committee. At this time the hospital section dealt with the chronic sick, whilst Bodfan continued to house the needy and destitute and the Infirmary was occupied by mentally defective children, having been opened for this purpose around 1939.

Due to overcrowded wards at Bangor in 1950, the Management Committee decided to transfer the chronic sick to Gallt-y-Sil Hospital in Caernarfon, and to transform the Eryri into an acute bed hospital for medical, surgical and orthopaedic patients with relevant specialists being appointed for the hospital. In 1973 extensions were built to provide day rooms and other facilities for the hospital. At this time it was used for orthopaedic and surgical operations, with a theatre in full use 5 days a week. The hospital then provided 67 beds.

In September 1984 due to the opening of the new District General Hospital in Bangor, Ysbyty Gwynedd, the role of the Eryri changed again. All patients and staff at Eryri were transferred to Ysbyty Gwynedd until the Eryri was re-opened following the closure of Gallt-y-Sil Hospital on the 1 March 1985. Further alterations were carried out at that time. The Eryri then became a Rehabilitation for the Elderly Hospital. Padarn Ward was renovated to provide a modern 24 bedded ward consisting of bays and four side wards. The old theatre now included outpatient, physiotherapy and speech therapy departments and a conference room. All the wards at Eryri Hospital have been named after local saints - Padarn, Peblig and Peris and the Twrog Day Unit.