The site was part of the Chaseville Park estate (originally part of
Enfield Chase) and was acquired by the
Metropolitan Asylums Board in 1883–4. In May 1885 the foundation stone was laid of what was originally to be named The Northern Convalescent Fever Hospital, and the hospital opened on 25 September 1887, Rather than having a single large building, the hospital comprised several smaller buildings, known as villas. In 1890, temporary huts were erected to increase capacity. In 1900, Enfield Urban District Council replaced these with a new isolation hospital, named Enfield Isolation Hospital, designed by the district council surveyor, a Mr Collins, and built by Chesoum and Sons. Control of the Northern Convalescent Fever Hospital was transferred to
London County Council in 1930, and the site served as an emergency bed service hospital during
World War II. In 1938, four additional single storey ward blocks were added to the Enfield Isolation Hospital. Both the Northern Convalescent Fever Hospital and Enfield Isolation Hospital came under the control of the
National Health Service on its formation in 1948, and both hospitals were renamed. The Northern Convalescent Fever Hospital became Highlands Hospital, and the Enfield Isolation Hospital became South Lodge Hospital. In 1993, Enfield District Health Authority (which was itself disbanded in 1996) agreed to the disposal of the site to developers. The site was purchased for around
£20 million. Some of the proceeds were used to construct the Highlands wing at
Chase Farm Hospital. Many of the old Highlands / Northern Convalescent Fever Hospital buildings were retained, but the South Lodge / Enfield Isolation Hospital buildings were demolished to make way for a
supermarket. A report published later by the borough council stated that the demolition of the historic South Lodge buildings was "in retrospect an unfortunate loss for the character of the area." ==Notable former staff==