The facility had its origins in the Dartford Union Workhouse which was designed by John Whichcord and opened in 1860.

[1] It became King Edward Hospital in 1913 and the buildings were used as accommodation for munitions workers at the local Vickers factory during the First World War.

[2] The facility was renamed the County Hospital in 1935 and suffered bomb damage when one nurse and 24 patients were killed in one of the female wards in enemy bombing in 1940 during the Second World War.

[3] It joined the National Health Service as West Hill Hospital in 1948.

[1] A new accident and emergency department, together with new operating theatres and a new out-patients unit were opened by Princess Anne in 1971.