St. Bartholomew's Hospital

St. Bartholomew's Hospital

On the south side of West Smithfield (P.O. Directory). In Farringdon Ward Without.

Founded by Rahere as a cell to the Priory (q.v.) and subject to its jurisdiction (S. 376 and Ch. I. pm. 13 Ed. I. and 22 Ed. I. (121)). "Hospit St. Barthi de Smythefeld," (22 Ed. I. Ch. I. p.m.).

Foundation confirmed by Edward III. to be governed by a Master, 8 brothers and 4 sisters under the Priory (S. 376).

Repaired by the Executors of Richard Whittington, 1423.

After the Dissolution, it was refounded 1544–47, and its revenues restored, the jurisdiction of the Mayor and Corporation being substituted for that of the Priory, by grant of the King (L. and P. H. VIII. XIX. (1), p. 501 and XXI. (2), p. 414).

It has been frequently repaired and enlarged during the 18th and 19th centuries, and within recent years, and is one of the wealthiest of the London hospitals.

The church within the site of the hospital was given to be a parish church called the church of St. Bartholomew the Little for all inhabitants within the site and close of the Hospital, 1547 (L. and P. H. VIII. XIX. (1), p. 501).

See St. Bartholomew the Less.

The recent extensions have involved the removal of the small courts and alleys on the east side of Giltspur Street, including Bull Court, or Ball Court, Bartholomew Court, etc.

St. Bartholomew's-Hospital,—Giltspur-street, the entrance of West-Smithfield, a few yards on the R. from Newgate-street and the Old-Bailey, it extends to Little-Britain, where there is another entrance.

St. Bartholomew's Hospital, is a splendid charitable institution, that has been traced from the *earliest documents and records to the benevolence of Raherus, or Rahere, in the year 1102. He is said to have been minstrel to Henry I., who repenting and quitting his gay disorderly life, founded near this spot a priory of black canons, which he dedicated to St. Bartholomew, and became the first prior. He obtained from the King the grant of a piece of wast ground, upon which he built an hospital, for a master, brethren and sisters, sick persons and pregnant women.† He endowed his priory with the sum of £553 a year, and the estates which he settled on this hospital were then valued at &pound305 a year.‡ This eminent benefactor to the poor and afflicted of his fellow-creatures, whose charitable memory is not likely to be forgotten while the English language shall endure, was buried, as before-mentioned in a former article, in his church of St. Bartholomew the Great, where his tomb, still in perfect repair, affords a curious specimen of ancient monumental sculpture.

Both the Priory and the hospital were surrendered to Henry VIII., who in the latter year of his reign re-founded the hospital, and endowed it with an annual revenue of 500 marks, on condition that the City of London should pay an equal sum. This proposal being acceded to, the new foundation was incorporated by the title of "The Hospital of the Mayor, Commonalty and Citizens of London, Governors for the Poor, called Little St. Bartholomew's, near West Smithfield."

Since that time the hospital has received considerable benefactions from charitable persons, by which means the benefits of the charity have been much increased.

The government of this and the four other royal hospitals within this city having been found inconvenient, and these five royal foundations having increased in utility and prosperity, and as many wealthy and charitable commoners had contributed very largely towards their permanent establishment, the particular privileges of each, and the power of the corporation, who were governors by virtue of their office, were much involved in doubt. It therefore became necessary that they should be correctly and distinctly ascertained, as a dispute had subsisted for some years between the court of Common Council and the acting governors of these five royal hospitals relative to the right of the latter to participate in the government. At length an amicable compromise took place by written agreement, and an act of parliament, the 22 Geo. III., c. 77, was passed, by which the Common Council were empowered to appoint twelve of their own number to be governors of each of these foundations (Bethlem and Bridewell being considered as one) respectively, who were to continue so while they continued members of that court. The title of this hospital was then settled to be thus:—"The Mayor and Commonalty, and Citizens of the city of London, as Governors of the House of the Poor, commonly called St. Bartholomew's Hospital, near West Smithfield, London, of the foundation of King Henry VIII."

In Mr. Highmore's work on the law of Mortmain and Charitable Uses* may be found this agreement and the act of parliament in full, to which the reader is referred, as their great length prevents their insertion in this work. The reader will there find the mode of electing governors, the style and title of each hospital, the manner in which the corporation is represented at the general courts of these five hospitals, and the mode of sealing deeds particularly detailed. It may be sufficient in this place to state, that the Common Council at their first corporation court after their annual election on St. Thomas's day, or at any subsequent court, nominate forty-eight of their members, of whom the names of twelve are sent to each hospital, Bethlem and Bridewll being from their union considered as one, who thereby become governors, and act as such in all matters for so long, and so many successive years, as they shall continue to be members of the Common Council, or be re-elected as such members, and all vacancies are to be filled by the Common Council.

The annual court for all these hospitals is held at Christ's Hospital, on St. Matthew's-day, where the corporation is represented by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and the above mentioned twelve members of the Common Council for each hospital. Notwithstanding the whole of the buildings of this ancient hospital escaped the great fire in 1666, yet a considerable part of the houses which constituted its chief revenue were destroyed. The hospital was repaired 1691, and by the liberality of the corporation and citizens its houses were rebuilt and its income restored. The progress of the institution was carried on uninterruptedly till 11729, when on a general survey, under the superintendence of Gibbs, the architect of St. Martin's in the Fields, the buildings of the hospital were found by their antiquity to have become ruinous and dangerous. A subscription was therefore entered into by many of the governors and other charitable persons, among whom was Dr. Ratcliffe, to defray the expense. The latter, in addition to his munificent donation, bequeathed a perpetual annuity of £500. a year for the improvement of the diet, and £100. a year to buy linen.

The plan was prepared by Gibbs, their architect, and the first stone was laid on the 9th of June 1730, by Sir George Brocas, then Lord Mayor, and President of the Hospital. The principal entrance next Smithfield, is of earlier date, having been erected in 1702, as notified by an inscription beneath the statue of Henry VIII., its second founder, which says that it was in the first year of Queen Anne, Alderman Sir William Pritchard being President.

The building forms a spacious quadrangle, each side being detached from the other, and joined only by stone screens and gateways. Each building is of Bath stone, with moulded dressings to the windows, and a cornice and balustrade at the top. Over the entrance next Smithfield is a statue of Henry VIII., the second founder, over whom the corporation should place that of the benevolent Rahere, who endowed it so liberally from his own funds. Under this statue is inscribed, "St. Bartholomew's Hospital, founded by Rahere, A.D., 1102, refounded by Henry VIII., 1546." Over the pediment are two reclining figures, representing lameness and sickness, in humble imitation of Cibber's find recumbent statues of melancholy and raving madness, at Bethlem.

The interior of this hospital is conveniently arranged, and cleanliness, returning health and comfort pervade all its apartments. The grand staircase was painted gratuitously by Hogarth, for which he was made a governor for life. The subjects are, the good Samaritan; the pool of Bethesda; Rahere, the founder, laying the foundation stone; and a sick man carried on a bier, attended by monks. In the great hall is a whole length portrait of Henry VIII., and another of Dr. Ratcliffe, who deserves to stand second only to Rahere; also a picture of St. Bartholomew, holding a knife as a symbol of his martyrdom, and a fine portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds, of Percival Pott, Esq., many years surgeon to the hospital. In one of the windows is a painting on glass of Henry VIII., delivering the charter of incorporation to the Lord Mayor.

The management of this hospital has been so pure and free from reproach, and its revenues so faithfully applied, that its beneficial effects have been more extended than even its greatest benefactors could possibly have foreseen. Patients are received without limitation and necessity is the only recommendation. Applications for admission are greatly facilitated by the readiness with which all information is given to the poor and their friends at the Steward's Office, which is in the north side of the quadrangle nearest to Smithfield, and where the necessary petition is given gratis. In this paper the name of the disease under which the patient labours is to be inserted, and some housekeeper is to undersign an undertaking to receive the patient when discharged, or to bury the corpse if the person should die in the hospital.

The present officers of the hospital are Sir James Shaw, Bart., Alderman, President; William Helps, Esq., Treasurer; the Rev. Samuel Wix, M.A., F.R.S., Vicar and Hospitaller; Edward Roberts, M.D., Clement Hue, M.D., and P.M. Latham, M.D., Physicians; John P. Vincent, William Lawrence, and Henry Earle, Esqs., Surgeons; Edward Stanley, J. Eusebius, A. Lloyd, and Frederick C. Skey, Esqs., Assistant Surgeons; C.W. Wheeler, Apothecary; John Wood, Clerk,and William Wix, Steward. The twelve members of the Common Council, who at present represent that body as governors, are T. Cartwright, Esq., Deputy, for the Ward of Bridge; Mr. Robert Smith, for that of the Tower; John Pullen, Esq., Deputy for Cripplegate Without; John Blacket, Esq., Deputy, Farringdon Without; Mr. George Ledger, Cheap; John Forster, Esq., Deputy, Dowgate; Mr. Benjamin Stubbing, Langbourn; Mr. Perrot Fenton, jun., Castle Baynard; Mr. Robert Carter, Portsoken; Mr. William Stevens, Bishopsgate; Mr. Thomas Corney, Broad-street; and Mr. Samuel Bradley, Candlewick. For accounts of the other five royal hospitals within or appertaining to the city, see Bethlem, Bridewell, Christ's, or the Bluecoat School, and St. Thomas's.

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* Highmore's Pietas Londinensis.
† Gough's Camden.
‡ Highmore's Pietas Londinensis.

* Page 34.

Bartholomew's (St.) Hospital, the earliest institution of the kind in London, was founded A.D. 1123¹ by Rahere, who also founded the Priory of St. Bartholomew. The Hospital had an independent constitution and a separate estate, but was for some purposes under the control of the Priory. It had a master, eight brethren, and four sisters, and its community was subject to the rule of St. Austin. From the beginning it was a Hospital for the Sick, and not a mere almshouse, and this is distinctly expressed in a grant of privileges to it by Edward III., which there states the uses of the Hospital: "Ad omnes pauperes infirmos ad idem hospitale confluentes quousque de infirmitatibus suis convaluerint, ac mulieres praegnantes quousque de puerperio surrexerint, necnon ad omnes pueros de eisdem mulieribus genitos, usque septennium, si dictæ mulieres intra hospitale prædictum decesserint." [See St. Bartholomew the Great] The relations of the Hospital and Priory were revised by Richard de Ely, Bishop of London, in 1197; by Eustace de Fauconberg, Bishop of London, on July 1, 1224; and by Simon of Sudbury, Bishop of London, on May 1, 1373, and the two foundations were finally separated on the dissolution of the Priory in 1537. In 1544, at the petition of Sir Richard Gresham, Lord Mayor, and father of Sir Thomas Gresham, Henry VIII. refounded it by Royal Charter, and in 1547 granted it a new charter, which gave back to the foundation the greater portion of its former revenues "for the continual relief and help of an hundred sore and diseased," being "moved thereto with great pity for and towards the relief and succour and help of the poor, aged, sick, low, and impotent people ... lying and going about begging in the common streets of the City of London and the suburbs of the same," and "infected with divers great and horrible sicknesses and diseases." The earliest medical book due to St. Bartholomew's Hospital was written by John Mirfeld, one of the canons of the Priory in the latter half of the 14th century. It is called Breviarium Bartholomei, and is a general treatise on medicine, based in part on observations made in the Hospital. The immediate superintendence of the Hospital was committed at first to Thomas Vicary, Serjeant-Surgeon to Henry VIII., Edward VI., Mary, and Elizabeth, and author of The Englishman's Treasure, the first work on anatomy published in the English language. Harvey, the discoverer of the circulation of the blood, was Physician to the Hospital for 34 years (1609–1643). The principles as to the kind of cases which ought to be admitted, and the length of time which cases should remain under treatment in the wards, are stated in some rules which he drew up at the request of the Governors, and are followed to this day.

The date of the actual commencement of a Medical School is unknown; but in 1662 students were in the habit of attending the medical and surgical practice; and in 1667 their studies were assisted by the formation of a Library "for the use of the Governors and young University scholars." A building for a Museum of Anatomical and Chirurgical Preparations was provided in 1724, and placed under the charge of John Freke, then Assistant-Surgeon to the Hospital; and in 1734 leave was granted for any of the surgeons or assistant-surgeons "to read Lectures in Anatomy in the dissecting-room of the Hospital." The first surgeon who availed himself of this permission was Mr. Edward Nourse, whose anatomical lectures, delivered for many years in or near the Hospital, were followed in 1765 and for many years after by Courses of Lectures on Surgery from his former pupil and prosector, Perceval Pott, who held the office of Surgeon to the Hospital, and numbered among his pupils John Hunter. About the same time Dr. William Pitcairn, and subsequently Dr. David Pitcairn, successively Physicians to the Hospital, delivered lectures, probably occasional ones, on Medicine. Further additions to the course of instruction were made by Mr. Abernethy, who was elected Assistant-Surgeon in 1787, and by whom, with the assistance of Drs. William and David Pitcairn, the principal lectures of the present day were established. Abernethy lectured on Anatomy, Physiology, and Surgery in a theatre erected for him by the Governors in 1791, and his high reputation attracted so great a body of students that it was found necessary in 1822 to erect a new and larger Anatomical Theatre.

The progress of science and the extension of medical education in the last 40 years have led to the institution of additional lectureships on subjects auxiliary to Medicine, and on new and important applications of it; and further facilities have been afforded for instruction. In 1835 and 1854 the Anatomical Museum was considerably enlarged, a new Medical Theatre was built, and Museums of Materia Medica and Botany were founded; and, at the same time, the Library was removed to a more convenient building, and enriched by liberal contributions. A more capacious Museum and new Library were erected in 1878–1879. In 1834 the Medical Officers and Lecturers commenced the practice of offering Prizes and Honorary Distinctions for superior knowledge displayed at the annual examinations of their classes; in 1845 four scholarships were founded, and others have since been added. In 1866 a new Laboratory for the study of Practical Chemistry was provided for the Chemical Class, and in 1870 a second extensive Laboratory was built, with a room specially constructed for the teaching of Mechanical and Natural Philosophy. In 1843 the Governors founded a Collegiate Establishment, to afford the pupils the moral advantages, together with the comfort and convenience, of a residence within the walls of the Hospital, and to supply them with ready guidance and assistance in their studies. It has since been enlarged to nearly twice its original extent. The chief officer of the College is called the Warden. The Prince of Wales is the President of the Hospital, and the treasurer is the chief executive officer after the president. All the aldermen are governors ex officio, with ten members of the Court of Common Council, and the other governors are elected benefactors. On the "Annual View Day" the governing body, with the President at their head, go over and inspect the entire establishment, and in the evening dine in the great hall of the Hospital.

The great quadrangle (200 feet x 160 feet) was designed by James Gibbs, the architect of the church of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, the first stone laid June 9, 1730, and completed 1770. The gate towards Smithfield was built in 1702, the laboratory in 1793 by George Dance, R.A., and the New Surgery in 1842. The School of Medicine, rebuilt in 1878–1879, is a substantial structure of granite and Portland stone, designed by E. I'Anson. It presents a handsome classic facade to Giltspur Street, a museum, library, class-rooms, and offices. This Hospital gives relief to all poor persons suffering from accident or disease, either as in-patients or out-patients. Cases of all kinds are received into the Hospital, including diseases of the eyes, distortions of the limbs, and all other infirmities which can be relieved by medicine or surgery. Accidents or cases of urgent disease are admitted without any letter of re- commendation or other formality at all hours of the day or night to the Surgery, where there is a person in constant attendance, and the aid of the Resident Medical Officers can be instantly obtained. Ordinary cases are admitted any week day between 9 and 10 o'clock. The Hospital contains 676 beds, and relief is afforded to 150,000 patients annually, of whom about 7000 are in-patients, 18,000 out-patients, and 130,000 casual patients, medical and surgical. There are four physicians and four assistant physicians, five surgeons and five assistant surgeons, two accoucheurs, two ophthalmic surgeons, one aural surgeon, four dentists, two chloroformists, and an electrician, with a large staff of clinical clerks and dressers under them. There are 29 sisters and about 130 nurses.

One of the greatest individual benefactors to the Hospital was the celebrated Dr. Radcliffe, who left the yearly sum of £500 for ever towards mending the diet of the Hospital, and the further sum of £100 for ever for the purchase of linen. Original portrait of Henry VIII. in the Committee Room, painted in 1544; Portrait of Dr. Radcliffe, by Kneller; good Portrait of Perceval Pott, by Sir Joshua Reynolds; fine Portrait of Abernethy, by Sir T. Lawrence; Portraits of Sir James Paget and Mr. Luther Holden, the eminent surgeons, by Sir J. E. Millais, R.A. At the foot of the staircase leading to the Great Hall is a good portrait of Edward Colston. In the Great Hall upstairs, over the mantelpiece, is a painting of St. Bartholomew. The Good Samaritan and the Pool of Bethesda, on the grand staircase, were painted gratuitously by Hogarth, for which he was made a governor; the subjects are surrounded with scrollwork, painted at Hogarth's expense by his pupils.

A complete Convalescent Hospital, which will accommodate 75 patients, has been constructed at Swanley in Kent. It was formally opened by H.R.H. the President, on July 13, 1885, and is called after its founder, Mr. Kettlewell.

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¹ The date 1102, which is given as that of the century MS. of the foundation in two modern inscriptions upon the Hospital walls, is erroneous, and originated in an a life of Rahere written in the 12th century.