This is the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport. The hospital was opened in 1901 when patients arrived by tram or shanks’ pony - no cars to worry about parking then.

The site was donated by Lord Tredegar and the building cost £25,000. I can remember an open balcony where sick children with lung problems were wheeled out to give them fresh air – with today’s traffic the air wouldn’t be very fresh now. Before the founding of the NHS the hospital was funded by voluntary contributions.

Dave Woolven, Newport

The Now and Then picture is the Royal Gwent Hospital. I remember being in as a patient in 1979. In those days there was no central heating and you were even allowed to smoke on the wards.

There were 16 beds to a ward and we all used to eat together on a long table with a bench.

We used to tease the nurses but I remember one giving us all a shock by lifting her skirt at us.

There were gardens outside which have now been concreted over to make a car park, and I can clearly remember a Spitfire plane parked in the gardens to raise money for the War effort.

Clive Andrews, Newport

The Now and Then picture is the Royal Gwent Hospital which has now altered dramatically. At the front is the maternity clinic, out-patients department and the fracture clinic.

I remember that the hearing clinic used to be outside, but is now a department inside the hospital.