[5][6] Frank was ultimately killed in 1890, on his 39th birthday,[4] whilst exploring in San Benito, Gabon, West Africa, this time without his brother.

The tragedy was witnessed by his friend, Mr Ethelbert E Lort Phillips, who himself had a narrow escape from the rampaging elephant.

These included three Earls, two Viscounts, three Lords, three knights, three Members of Parliament and eight men of high military rank.

[11] The original intention was that the home be built in Cowes, in view of Frank's association with the town, as a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron.

[12] In February 1894, the Empress Frederick, the eldest child of Queen Victoria visited the home, together with Edward, Prince of Wales.

[16] Regretfully, "for one reason or another", the home didn't turn out to be as successful as the James's had hoped and so they looked to find alternative, better charitable uses for the building.

[20] However, this arrangement, if it actually happened at all, did not last for long as in December 1902, it was announced that the Cowes Hospital Committee had accepted another offer of William and Arthur James, that the home and its contents be put at the disposal of Princess Henry of Battenberg, Governor of the Isle of Wight.

[12] The Cowes Cottage Hospital Committee on behalf of Princess Henry of Battenberg gratefully accepted the offer, agreeing to the additional terms therein.

At the time of opening, it was announced that the hospital's running costs of approximately £750 per year,[22] were to be very generously supported by J. S. White & Co and their workforce of over 2000 men, who promised a large annual subscription.

A considerable sum of money had been spent on converting the home into a hospital, including the fitting out of an operating theatre, together with all the most modern equipment and surgical appliances.

[30] In July 1946, following the death of Princess Henry of Battenberg, the governors of the hospital elected Irene Mountbatten, Marchioness of Carisbrooke, as the new President.

[31] In 1948, a Gurnard man was awarded £3,018 in damages for severe burns, sustained whilst undergoing a minor operation at the hospital.

He was put into a bed which contained a hot water bottle, whilst still under anaesthetic and suffered the burns to his back.

[8] The reason given for its closure was that current methods of healthcare, with an emphasis on quality as well as cost effectiveness, meant that the type of building now needed for patient care was very different from that of the nineteenth century, when Frank James was built.

[34] In 2003, the NHS sold the building to the highest bidder, a developer who planned to convert the hospital into eleven units of accommodation and a terrace of town houses.

And in January 2006, the Isle of Wight Council planning department approved an application for Listed Building Consent, by the owners Vivaldi Property Managegment Limited.

[37] In September 2014, a new planning application was submitted to the Isle of Wight Council by the then owners, Southsea based company Charlemaine Estates LTD.

This was to create an additional eight units, with the aim of achieving greater value, to enable the building to be developed; and to protect the existing structure.

The Friends of Frank James said that some of the trees had been replanted in the community and a small number left on the site for future enjoyment.

They met monthly, to tend to the grounds and to keep the Frank James Hospital in the spotlight, in an attempt to preserve it for future generations.

[41] They have had the support of Island MP, Andrew Turner and the TV presenter, Alan Titchmarsh, who was formerly High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight.

[8] In March 2017, the group were refusing to hand over the keys to the hospital to its owners, until the developers agreed to a date to start work on its restoration and conversion.

The owners had also given assurances that some of the fruit trees planted by the volunteers would be retained, whilst others would be safely removed to make way for a car park.