French Hospital

French Hospital, contiguous to the Pesthouse on the south side of St. Luke’s parish, was erected in the year 1717, and the Governors by letters patent of the 4th of King George I. in 1718, were constituted a body politic and corporate, by the name of The Governor and Directors of the hospital for the poor French Protestants, and their defendants, residing in Great Britain.

This hospital at present contains 220 poor helpless men and women, 146 of whom are upon the foundation, and are plentifully supplied with all the necessaries of life, at the expence of the hospital; but the other seventy-four are paid for by their friends, at the rate of 9l. a year each. This charity also extends to lunatics, for whose accommodation a large infirmary is provided.

To this foundation belong a Chaplain, Physician, Surgeon, and other proper officers, who carefully attend the pensioners, and administer to their several necessities. Stow, last edit.

French-Hospital, Pesthouse-Row, Old-Street, St. Luke's, a few doors on the L. from the W. end of St. Luke's hospital, and op. Peerless-pool.

French Protestants' Alms Houses or Hospital, Bath-street, City-road, was founded, endowed and built by the French protestant refugees, in 1718, upon a plot of ground purchased of the Ironmongers' Company. It was incorporated by letters patent of the 4th George I., in 1718, under the title of "The Governor and Directors of the Hospital for poor French Protestants and their descendants, residing in Great Britain." The chapel is commodious and the charity is in a flourishing condition. An annual sermon is preached and a collection made for the benefit of its funds, upon the Wednesday before Easter of every year, of which public notice is always given.

The present officers are, the Earl of Radnor, Governor; David Duval, Esq., Sub-Governor ; John L. André, Esq., Treasurer; G. Guilloneau, Esq., Secretary; the Rev. John Messre, Chaplain John Meyer, M.D., Physician; Samuel Byles, Esq., Surgeon; John Hebert, Steward.

French Hospital (Hospice), Victoria Park, owes its origin to M. de Gastigny, Master of the Buckhounds to William III., who died in 1708, and bequeathed £1000 towards founding a hospice for distressed French Protestants and their descendants resident in England. In 1716 a piece of ground "contiguous to the Pest Houses on the S. side of St. Luke's parish" in a lane (afterwards called Bath Street, City Road) leading from Old Street to Islington, was purchased from the Ironmongers' Company, and a building erected for the reception of 200 inmates. In 1718 a Charter was granted, and by 1760 the hospital sheltered 234 poor people. In later years the charity underwent many fluctuations; the governors were compelled to dispose of portions of their land on building leases, and the hospital became closely surrounded by houses. But the leases fell in, and at length the directors were enabled to purchase a piece of ground on a more open and healthy site close to Victoria Park, and on it they in 1864–1866 erected the present building, which provides accommodation for sixty inmates—forty men and twenty women. It is a very pretty and appropriate example of French Domestic Gothic, designed by Robert Louis Roumieu, architect, himself descended from a refugee family. It stands in about 3 acres of pleasure grounds; attached to it is a neat little chapel.