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Clapham Maternity Hospital was founded in 1889 by Dr Annie McCall and Miss Marion Ritchie. It was the first maternity hospital where women were treated only by female doctors, and where midwives, maternity nurses and female medical students were trained entirely by women. In 1935 the name of the hospital was changed to the Annie McCall Maternity Hospital. In 1948 the Annie McCall Maternity Hospital was transferred to the National Health Service and became part of the Lambeth Group of Hospitals of the South West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board. In 1964 most of the hospitals in the Lambeth Group, including the Annie McCall Maternity Hospital, became part of the newly formed South West London Group. The hospital closed in 1970.

The South London Hospital for Women was founded in 1912 "to satisfy two needs - a hospital for those female patients who prefer to be treated by a member of their own sex, and the opportunity for women doctors to train and work as hospital specialists". In 1939 the name of the hospital was changed to the South London Hospital for Women and Children. With the introduction of the National Health Service in 1948, the South London Hospital lost its independence becoming one of the Lambeth Group of Hospitals under the South West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board. In 1964 the Lambeth Group ceased to exist. Control of the South London Hospital passed to the newly formed South West London Group Hospital Management Committee. In 1974 it became part of the Wandsworth and East Merton Health District of the Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth Area Health Authority. In 1982 further reorganisation of the NHS transferred responsibility for the South London Hospital to Wandsworth Health Authority. The hospital closed in 1984.

Clapham Maternity Hospital was founded in 1889 by Dr Annie McCall and Miss Marion Ritchie. It was the first maternity hospital where women were treated only by female doctors, and where midwives, maternity nurses and female medical students were trained entirely by women. Poor married women were admitted to the hospital, as were unmarried women expecting their first child. A district midwifery service was also provided to deliver women in their own homes. In 1935 the name of the hospital was changed to the Annie McCall Maternity Hospital.

The hospital was situated initially at 41 and 43 Jeffreys Road, Clapham. Later 39 Jeffreys Road was purchased to enable the hospital to expand. By 1939 it had 50 beds for in-patients. In 1935 the name of the hospital was changed to the Annie McCall Maternity Hospital.

The hospital was severely damaged by bombing in 1940, which necessitated the complete evacuation of the patients and the closing down of the hospital. By 1948 three beds had been opened in a house connected to the hospital. The antenatal clinic and some district midwifery services were resumed. The hospital was rebuilt within its old walls and by 1954 had 36 beds in use. In 1948 the Annie McCall Maternity Hospital was transferred to the National Health Service and became part of the Lambeth Group of Hospitals of the South West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board. In 1964 most of the hospitals in the Lambeth Group, including the Annie McCall Maternity Hospital, became part of the newly formed South West London Group. The hospital closed in 1970.

Normansfield was founded in May 1868 by Dr John Haydon Langdon-Down and his wife, Mary, as a private home for the mentally handicapped, especially for the children of the upper classes whom they sought to educate and train to the full extent of their capabilities. The hospital opened in a recently built house in extensive grounds in Kingston Road, Teddington, close to Hampton Wick. By the end of the year 19 patients were in residence.

Under the Mental Deficiency Act of 1913, the main building became a certified house. The North Wing accommodated male patients while the South Wing was for women and children. Conifers and Trematon became approved homes, Conifers for higher grade women and Trematon for higher grade men. Education, occupational therapy, therapeutic work on the farm and in the kitchen garden and daily exercise in the hospital grounds was provided for the patients. Annual visits to the south coast were arranged for almost all the patients up to the Second World War.

The problems of maintaining a private establishment after the War and with the advent of the National Health Service proved overwhelming. Negotiations to sell the hospital to the Government resulted in the transfer of Normansfield to the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board on 22 June 1951. The hospital came under the immediate control of Staines Group Hospital Management Committee. As a result of the 1974 reorganisation of the National Health Service Normansfield was managed from 1 April 1974 by Kingston and Richmond Area Health Authority and the South West Thames Regional Health Authority. By 1993 Normansfield Hospital had become part of the Richmond Twickenham and Roehampton Healthcare NHS Trust. The Hospital closed in 2000 and the site has since been redeveloped.

Saint John's Hill Workhouse was in use from the formation of Wandsworth and Clapham Poor Law Union in 1836. In 1870 an infirmary was constructed on an adjoining site. In the 1880's Wandsworth Board of Guardians built a new workhouse in Swaffield Road. From the opening of Swaffield Road Workhouse, all the buildings on the Saint John's Hill site were used as part of the infirmary. Saint John's Hill Infirmary was superseded as a general hospital by Saint James' Hospital, Balham, which was opened by Wandsworth Board of Guardians in 1911. From that date Saint John's was used mainly for the care of the chronic sick. In 1948 Saint John's Hospital became part of the National Health Service. It was administered by Battersea and Putney Group Hospital Management Committee and the South West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board. On 1 July 1964 the Battersea and Putney Group Hospital management Committee amalgamated with Tooting Bec Hospital Management Committee.

From 1 April 1972 to 31 March 1974 Saint John's Hospital formed part of the Westminster Hospital Group. As a result of the 1974 reorganisations of the National Health Service Saint John's became part of the Roehampton Health District of Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth Area Health Authority (Teaching). Between 1977 and 1978 Saint John's Day Hospital and Chest Clinic were built on the site. In 1982 Saint John's Hospital became the responsibility of Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton Health Authority. In 1988, by then known as Saint John's Health Care Unit, it was transferred to Wandsworth Health Authority. The Hospital closed in 1990.

In the 1860's Dr Eustace Smith and Dr T C Kirby established the North-West London Free Dispensary for Sick Children in cramped quarters at 12 Bell Street, NW1. It was set up as a charity and would provide medical treatment for any child without notice or recommendation. The buildings on Bell Street rapidly became too small for the number of patients being treated. In the early 1880's seven thousand pounds was raised and used to purchase two houses on Paddington Green. These were converted to form a hospital and opened on 16 August 1883 as Paddington Green Children's Hospital.

However, there was a serious outbreak of diphtheria at the hospital. As the cause could not be traced the hospital was closed down and the buildings demolished. It was then discovered that there were two old cesspits nearby which had been the cause of the outbreak. A new hospital was built on the site; it was opened in 1895 and extended a year later. In 1911 a much improved out-patients department was opened.

In 1948 it became part of the newly formed National Health Service and was in the London (Teaching) Regional Health Board and under the administration of the Saint Mary's Hospital Management Committee. With NHS reorganisation in 1974 it became part of the North West London Regional Health Authority under the North West (Teaching) District Health Authority. In 1982 the District Health Authorities were redrawn and Paddington Green was now in Paddington and North Kensington. In 1987 the hospital closed when its facilities were transferred to the new Saint Mary's Hospital at Paddington.

The Mildmay Memorial Hospital, Newington Green Road, Mildmay Park, was opened in 1883 as the Mildmay Memorial Cottage Hospital. Its parent institution was the Mildmay Deaconess' Institute, which was also responsible for the Mildmay Mission Hospital whose records are kept at the Royal London Hospital Trust Archives Centre. In 1908 the Mildmay Memorial Hospital dropped the 'cottage' element of its name, and from this date until 1916 was a part of the Mildmay Medical Missions. After the introduction of the National Health Service in 1948 the hospital was administered by the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board, and locally by the Archway Group Hospital Management Committee. The hospital closed in 1958.

The Maternity Nursing Association was started in 1897 by Miss Edith May. Miss May had trained as a midwife in 1892, and returned to her home parish of St Jude, Gray's Inn Road to practise. She united this parish with her father's parish of St Andrew, Holborn, to form the Maternity Nursing Mission, which was based in 2 flats in King's Cross Road. The mission opened on Mar 25 1897 but has since been called the Maternity Nursing Association. Its aim was to enable women to be attended in their own homes by fully qualified nurses, to receive pupils for training and to provide Maternity and Infant Welfare Centres. After the advent of the National Health Service in 1948 the association came under the control of the Northern Group Hospital Management Committee, but in 1954 was transferred to London County Council control.

In 1837 the newly formed Brentford Board of Guardians built a large workhouse on the east side of the Twickenham Road in Isleworth on what is now the northern part of the site of the West Middlesex University Hospital. In the 1880's on land to the south of the workhouse they constructed a school for 280 children formerly accommodated in the workhouse. This was opened in 1883 by Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke. The School was enlarged in 1901 and renamed Percy House Schools. From 1915 to 1918 it was used as a military hospital. By this time Percy House was no longer needed by the Guardians as a school since a change in policy meant children were now boarded out with foster parents or housed in scattered homes. The building was leased to HM Office of Works and was for many years used as a store for army records.

In 1894 Brentford Board of Guardians purchased from Lord Warkworth a house and grounds situated to the south east of Percy House adjoining Mill Platt. Together with other acquisitions this enlarged the total site to about 40 acres fronting Twickenham Road and Mill Platt. Brentford Union Infirmary was built between 1894 and 1896 on the northern part of the site, incorporating some of the original workhouse buildings. The rest of the workhouse was demolished. A new workhouse, known as Warkworth House, was built on the southern part of the site between 1900 and 1902. The original house, now called Little Warkworth House, was later used to accommodate the School of Nursing.

Under the Local Government Act of 1929 Brentford Board of Guardians was abolished. All its responsibilities including the infirmary, known since 1920 as West Middlesex Hospital, Warkworth House and Percy House were transferred in 1930 to the Middlesex County Council. The annual report of the County Medical Officer of Health for 1930 described West Middlesex Hospital as a general hospital of about 400 beds dealing largely with acute medical and surgical cases, but also with some chronic patients and maternity cases "of special difficulty". Adjoining the hospital was Warkworth House, "a large well-planned mixed institution with accommodation for some 800 persons." On 31 December 1930 it housed a total of 559 sick persons compared with 254 healthy inmates. 147 beds were reserved for cases of mental illness and epilepsy. The maternity block containing 16 beds formed part of the institution. Brentford Board of Guardians has started to build a modern maternity unit as part of the hospital. The Queen Mary Maternity Wing was completed in 1932 with accommodation for 30 cases. In 1935 the upper floor was adapted to provide an additional 32 beds. The Guardians had also begun to build an electrotherapeutic department. In 1933 Middlesex County Council appointed a pathologist and equipped a pathology laboratory.

By 1935 Middlesex County Council had regained possession of Percy House from HM Office of Works. Aged and ablebodied inmates were transferred to Percy House from Warkworth House, which then became part of West Middlesex hospital. On 1 April 1936 the hospital removed from the Poor Law and was appropriated for the reception and treatment of the sick under the Public Health Acts.

In 1948 West Middlesex Hospital became part of the National Health Service under the control of the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board and South West Middlesex Hospital Management Committee. Percy House was retained by Middlesex County Council as "Part III" accommodation. It continued in use as an old people's home until 1975. Most of the buildings of Percy House were demolished in 1981.

With a total of 1,254 beds and buildings stretching a mile from one end of the site to the other, West Middlesex Hospital was one of the largest groups of hospital buildings in the country. It was much in need of modernisation and improvement. A new outpatients' and casualty department was built in 1952. In the early 1960's a scheme for the redevelopment of the hospital was prepared, but only the first phase, the construction of the Medical Department and a new boiler house, was completed.

In 1974 West Middlesex Hospital became part of Hounslow Health District of Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow Area Health Authority. In 1982 it was transferred to Hounslow and Spelthorne Health Authority. In about 1980 the hospital was renamed the West Middlesex University Hospital. In 1992 it became West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust.

Saint Giles' Hospital opened in 1873 as Camberwell Workhouse Infirmary on a site adjoining the Havil Street Workhouses. Extensive new hospital buildings were erected between 1899 and 1903 by Camberwell Board of Guardians on part of the site adjoining Brunswick Square (now St Giles' Road) and Brunswick Road. The infirmary was renamed Saint Giles' Hospital in 1927. In 1930 Camberwell Board of Guardians ceased to exist and the hospital was transferred to the London County Council. By 1938 it had 810 beds.

In 1948 Saint Giles' Hospital became part of the National Health Service under the control of the South East Metropolitan Regional Health Board and Camberwell Hospital management Committee. On the reorganisation of the National Health Service in 1974, by now a 283 bed mainly acute hospital, it became the responsibility of King's Health District (Teaching) of Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Area Health Authority. In 1982 it came under the control of Camberwell Health Authority based at King's College Hospital. On 1 April 1993 Saint Giles' Hospital became part of Optimum Health Services, an NHS Trust responsible for community health care services in Camberwell. Most of the hospital buildings were no longer required by the health service and many have been demolished. Saint Giles' Tower, a circular ward block opened in 1889, has been converted into flats. The remaining buildings were used for clinics, treatment centres and administration. In April 1999 the community health elements of Optimum Health Services were absorbed by a new trust, Community Health South London NHS Trust.

The Board of Guardians of Greenwich Union Workhouse applied for permission to expand the site towards the end of the 1890s but this was refused by the Local Government Board of Greenwich. Spicers Meadow was therefore bought in 1896 for five thousand and fifty pounds and plans were drawn up for Grove Park Workhouse to act as an overspill for the Greenwich Union Workhouse.

Thomas Dinwiddy was the architect, his plans were approved in 1897 (the plans were presented at the Paris International Exhibition in 1900 and won a Diploma of Merit). The foundation stone was laid in 1899.

The first Master of the Workhouse was Edward Tyler, working for an annual fee of one hundred and twenty pounds. The workhouse had room for 816 inmates whose work was to break up granite that was sold later to local councils. The workhouse, however, had been built in a remote site and the authorities found that they had difficulty recruiting inmates. The remaining story of the workhouse was an ever-changing one.

In 1914 the workhouse was used as a mobilisation / training centre by the Army Services Corps. In 1918 the workhouse was sold to the Metropolitan Asylums Board as a hospital for patients with tuberculosis (Grove Park Hospital). The Board soon decided that they did not want this facility and the buildings remained empty until 1926, at which time it once again became a hospital for patients with tuberculosis. A nurses' home was added in 1938. The hospital was bombed on 15th November 1940, two nurses were awarded the George Medal for rescuing patients from the debris. In 1945 the hospital became a centre for thoracic surgery. In 1977 Grove Park Hospital became a facility for patients with mental handicap.

Unfortunately, the buildings were not 'listed' by Greenwich or Lewisham authorities so that when the buildings were sold to a private contractor in 1992 much of the original construction was demolished. Only the frontage and main administration building remain (the road around the main administration building was named Thomas Dinwiddy Road, after the architect). The hospital site has now been redeveloped as a residential area.

The hospital opened on 1st December 1858 at 32 Soho Square as the Dental Hospital of London. The origins of all regulated and scientific dental practices can be found in the inception of the Dental Hospital and School. Before 1858 the dental profession had no regulation and anyone could set themselves up as a dental practitioner. This led to poor standards and a realisation of the need for proper training and an official qualification for dental practitioners. The Dental Hospital was established to achieve this and gained the backing of the Royal College of Surgeons to approve diplomas. The Dental School opened on 1st October 1859 to provide regulated, structured training for students in dental medicine. The hospital emphasised the need to regard dental medicine as connected to all other branches of medicine and to look at the wider picture when treating patients.

In 1874 the Dental Hospital moved to Nos. 40 and 41 Leicester Square the premises at 32 Soho Square having become too small and limited in resources for the number of patients being seen. The number of patients being treated had risen from 2,116 in 1859 to 22,627 in 1872. By 1882 they had reached 35,893 and there were once again complaints about a lack of space, these were appeased with the addition of the Tower House, adjoining the Hospital property and given to them by Sir Edwin Saunders. The addition of this extra space almost doubled the hospital's operating space.

The problem of space did not end there. The Dental Hospital was now in a position where their efforts to increase resources to meet rising demand resulted in even greater demand. By 1886 patient attendances had reached 43,745, a 12% increase on the previous year and nearly double that of 1874. This resulted in further overcrowding and a need for further expansion. An attempt was made to incorporate No. 42 Leicester Square into the Hospital, but these plans were held up by difficulties over fire regulations. It was not until 1888 that the extension was opened. This was only a temporary solution to a long-term problem, and the Dental hospital looked at obtaining a new site for the construction of a purpuse built hospital building.

By the end of 1893 the Board of Management had purchase Nos. 35, 35a and 36 Leicester Square, Nos. 22 and 23 Green Street, Nos. 1-5 Longs Court and had a deposit down for The Duke's Head, No. 37 Saint Martin's Street, all of which were contained within the same block. This had entailed an expenditure of £20,398, three-quarters of which had to be borrowed from the bank. Plans were in place for the purchase of the other buildings in the block and this was achieved by 1896, when plans were set in place to rebuild. The site was cleared in 1896 and the building work commenced in 1897. The Hospital moved into the new building in March 1901, and the old site was sold for £18,000. At this time the Hospital also received the patronage of King Edward VII and changed its name to the Royal Dental hospital. The Hospital at this time had developed the shape and organisation that were to stay in place for the next 75 years, but it had also gained a burden of debt that was not to be paid off until 1930.

In 1911 the Royal Dental Hospital of London School of Dental Surgery became a school of the University of London and as well as their own Licence in Dental Surgery a University Degree in Dental Surgery was offered. This development allowed the Dental School to become involved in many of the developments in dental surgery that occurred in the early twentieth century. However the burden of debt did also mean that the School and Hospital did not develop as rapidly during this period as some of their competitors. The technological development of the Hospital was slowed down by the financial pressures and by the internal politics of the teaching and practice of Dental Surgery at this time.

The Royal Dental Hospital and School stayed open throughout the Second World War. Most of the other specialist dental schools and departments had either closed down or moved out of London with their parent organisations, leaving the Royal Dental hospital as the only place for the public to get specialist dental care. The building was damaged by a land mine in October 1940 but was quickly repaired and back in service. Other difficulties due to reduce income and staff shortages meant that the referral of patients for consultant opinion was discouraged, but other wise a full service was offered.

The establishment of the NHS in 1948 saw the Royal Dental Hospital grouped with the Saint George's Hospital and Medical School, located on Hyde Park Corner and the Atkinson Morley in Wimbledon as the Saint George's Hospital Teaching Group. The School of Dental Surgery became a self-governing body, affiliated with Saint George's Hospital Medical School. The problems over space were still an issue. In 1957 plans to renovate the interior of the hospital to provide more space and better equipment were approved and the Hospital and School accomodation was reorganised, the School moved most of its non-clinical facilities into the newly acquired Ciro Club on Orange Street.

During the 1960's and 1970's the big issue was the transfer of the Dental School to Tooting with Saint George's Hospital and Medical School, which were to be rebuilt there. The Royal Dental Hospital was not at first happy with this and tried to delay the move, which was also held up by the Ministry of Health due to the finacial situation of the time. However Saint George's finally moved in 1975 and in 1976 the School of Dental Surgery's pre-clinical departments moved to Tooting. It was decided that the dental service required in Tooting was not that offered by the Royal Dental Hospital and the 1980's were spent preparing of the closure of the Hospital. The Dental School was amalgamated with the United Medical School of Guy's and Saint Thomas' Hospitals and the remaining dental services transferred to Tooting. The Royal Dental Hospital closed in 1985 and the site in Leicester Square was developed as the Hampshire Hotel.

The hospital opened on 1st December 1858 at 32 Soho Square as the Dental Hospital of London. The origins of all regulated and scientific dental practices can be found in the inception of the Dental Hospital and School. Before 1858 the dental profession had no regulation and anyone could set themselves up as a dental practitioner. This led to poor standards and a realisation of the need for proper training and an official qualification for dental practitioners. The Dental Hospital was established to achieve this and gained the backing of the Royal College of Surgeons to approve diplomas. The Dental School opened on 1st October 1859 to provide regulated, structured training for students in dental medicine. The hospital emphasised the need to regard dental medicine as connected to all other branches of medicine and to look at the wider picture when treating patients.

In 1874 the Dental Hospital moved to Nos. 40 and 41 Leicester Square the premises at 32 Soho Square having become too small and limited in resources for the number of patients being seen. The number of patients being treated had risen from 2,116 in 1859 to 22,627 in 1872. By 1882 they had reached 35,893 and there were once again complaints about a lack of space, these were appeased with the addition of the Tower House, adjoining the Hospital property and given to them by Sir Edwin Saunders. The addition of this extra space almost doubled the hospital's operating space. The problem of space did not end there. The Dental Hospital was now in a position where their efforts to increase resources to meet rising demand resulted in even greater demand. By 1886 patient attendances had reached 43,745, a 12% increase on the previous year and nearly double that of 1874. This resulted in further overcrowding and a need for further expansion. An attempt was made to incorporate No. 42 Leicester Square into the Hospital, but these plans were held up by difficulties over fire regulations. It was not until 1888 that the extension was opened. This was only a temporary solution to a long-term problem, and the Dental hospital looked at obtaining a new site for the construction of a purpuse built hospital building. By the end of 1893 the Board of Management had purchase Nos. 35, 35a and 36 Leicester Square, Nos. 22 and 23 Green Street, Nos. 1-5 Longs Court and had a deposit down for The Duke's Head, No. 37 Saint Martin's Street, all of which were contained within the same block. This had entailed an expenditure of £20,398, three-quarters of which had to be borrowed from the bank. Plans were in place for the purchase of the other buildings in the block and this was achieved by 1896, when plans were set in place to rebuild. The site was cleared in 1896 and the building work commenced in 1897. The Hospital moved into the new building in March 1901, and the old site was sold for £18,000. At this time the Hospital also received the patronage of King Edward VII and changed its name to the Royal Dental hospital. The Hospital at this time had developed the shape and organisation that were to stay in place for the next 75 years, but it had also gained a burden of debt that was not to be paid off until 1930.

In 1911 the Royal Dental Hospital of London School of Dental Surgery became a school of the University of London and as well as their own Licence in Dental Surgery a University Degree in Dental Surgery was offered. This development allowed the Dental School to become involved in many of the developments in dental surgery that occurred in the early twentieth century. However the burden of debt did also mean that the School and Hospital did not develop as rapidly during this period as some of their competitors. The technological development of the Hospital was slowed down by the financial pressures and by the internal politics of the teaching and practice of Dental Surgery at this time.

The Royal Dental Hospital and School stayed open throughout the Second World War. Most of the other specialist dental schools and departments had either closed down or moved out of London with their parent organisations, leaving the Royal Dental hospital as the only place for the public to get specialist dental care. The building was damaged by a land mine in October 1940 but was quickly repaired and back in service. Other difficulties due to reduce income and staff shortages meant that the referral of patients for consultant opinion was discouraged, but other wise a full service was offered. The establishment of the NHS in 1948 saw the Royal Dental Hospital grouped with the Saint George's Hospital and Medical School, located on Hyde Park Corner and the Atkinson Morley in Wimbledon as the Saint George's Hospital Teaching Group. The School of Dental Surgery became a self-governing body, affiliated with Saint George's Hospital Medical School. The problems over space were still an issue. In 1957 plans to renovate the interior of the hospital to provide more space and better equipment were approved and the Hospital and School accomodation was reorganised, the School moved most of its non-clinical facilities into the newly acquired Ciro Club on Orange Street.

During the 1960's and 1970's the big issue was the transfer of the Dental School to Tooting with Saint George's Hospital and Medical School, which were to be rebuilt there. The Royal Dental Hospital was not at first happy with this and tried to delay the move, which was also held up by the Ministry of Health due to the finacial situation of the time. However Saint George's finally moved in 1975 and in 1976 the School of Dental Surgery's pre-clinical departments moved to Tooting. It was decided that the dental service required in Tooting was not that offered by the Royal Dental Hospital and the 1980's were spent preparing of the closure of the Hospital. The Dental School was amalgamated with the United Medical School of Guy's and Saint Thomas' Hospitals and the remaining dental services transferred to Tooting. The Royal Dental Hospital closed in 1985 and the site in Leicester Square was developed as the Hampshire Hotel.

The Greenwich and Bexley Area Health Authority was established in 1974 following the National Health Service Reorganisation Act 1973. It was responsible for the management and administration of hospitals in this area. In 1982 all Area Health Authorities were replaced by District Health Authorities.

Battersea and Putney Hospital Management Group was responsible for the administration of hospitals in the Battersea and Putney area. The hospitals it managed were the Battersea General Hospital, Bolingbroke Hospital, Saint John's Hospital (on Saint John's Hill), Putney Hospital, Battersea Chest Clinic and Wandsworth Chest Clinic. In July 1964 it amalgamated with the Tooting Bec Hospital Management Group to form the Battersea, Putney and Tooting Group Hospital Management Committee.

Joyce Green Hospital, Joyce Green Lane, Dartford; previous name: Joyce Green Smallpox Hospital (1903 - 1948).

Previous locations:

Hospital ships: Dreadnought, Greenwich (1871 - 1881)

Endymion and Atlas, Greenwich (1881 - 1884)

Long Reach, Dartford (1884 - 1903)

Castalia, Long Reach, Dartford (1884 - 1903).

The Joyce Green Smallpox Hospital opened on 28 December 1903, the third of the hospitals known as the River Hospitals, along with Long Reach Hospital and The Orchard. They were built to replace the hospital ships Atlas and Endymion which had been moved in 1884 from Greenwich to an isolated situation at Long Reach near Dartford, and the twin hulled Castalia. Originally built for cross-channel services but never used as such, the Castalia was refitted to accommodate 150 smallpox patients with five ward blocks arranged on the double hulls. The hospital ships became too costly and dangerous and after the construction of the new hospital on land nearby Long Reach; they were sold for scrap in 1904.

With a massive outbreak of smallpox in 1901 the temporary Long Reach hospital with 300 beds opened in 1902. The Orchard a larger temporary hospital housing 800 beds also opened in 1902 and at the end of 1903 Joyce Green was opened. All three were administered by a Medical Superintendent, Steward and Matron and were known as The River Hospital for over 60 years until Long Reach and the Orchard closed in 1948.

Although Joyce Green opened to help ease the 1901 smallpox epidemic by the end of 1903 the epidemic was over and deaths were few. Not until the 1920's was there a repeat epidemic but this was only a minor one. Instead the hospital was used as a fever hospital to isolate infectious patients.

It was used as a fever hospital for much of the Great War, occasionally coping with the arrival of large numbers of war refuges most notably in July 1918 when at a week's notice 1000 refuges were received all of whom were vaccinated against smallpox even though only two were found to be infected. After the war, Joyce Green reverted to being a fever hospital with a major outbreak of scarlet fever.

By 1923 Joyce Green was more or less empty and surviving the threat of demolition was rebuilt and repaired taking into account modern thought to include isolation units and electric light. The Medical Superintendent at this time also turned his attention to the grounds at Joyce Green, which to his credit and that of his gardener, Henry W. Hopkins, became a centre of plant propagation for other Metropolitan Asylums Board institutions. In 1928 there was a major outbreak of smallpox so Joyce Green was finally being used for its true purpose.

With the outbreak of War, Joyce Green underwent several changes in role from smallpox hospital to fever hospital to Emergency Medical Hospital from 1939 -1941, and it saw an increase in beds from 986 to over 1500 and the setting up of specialist hospital units including three x-ray departments. The hospital survived with no major was damage but by 1945 patient numbers fell back to 428, and with the cessation of war a decline in activity.

In 1948 the NHS took control from the London County Council and Joyce Green was run by the South East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board and Darenth and Dartford Hospital Management Committee. In 1974 after NHS reorganisation it was run by the South East Thames Regional Health Authority and the Dartford and Gravesham District Health Authority.

In 1998 Joyce Green Hospital formed part of the Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust along with West Hill Hospital, which is closed to all except outpatients. Joyce green covers Accident and Emergency, general surgery, urology, orthopaedics, paediatrics, haematology, general medicine, care of the elderly and postgraduate medical training. In September 2000 the purpose built Darenth Valley Hospital opened to replace Joyce Green Hospital, West Hill Hospitals and Gravesend maternity services.

See also website managed by Francine Payne: http://www.dartfordhospitalhistories.org.uk/ (correct as of August 2010).

Shenley Hospital, Radlett, Hertfordshire was opened on 31st May 1934 as part of the Middlesex Colony. Along with Napsbury Hospital it was established for the care of the mentally ill.

The hospital was built on the site of Porters Park and provided accommodation initially for 1047 and the full development of 2000 beds with 500 staff. It was planned on the villa system comprising of small nursing units ranging from 20-45 patients and had its own water supply treatment, sewage works and farm.

Shenley Hospital originally came under the aegis of Middlesex County Council. In 1948 it became part of the North Western Metropolitan Hospital Board until 1974 and the first major re-organisation of the NHS when the new health authorities were set up. Shenley came under the North West Thames Regional Health Authority and the Brent and Harrow Area Health Authority until 1982 when the Area Health Authorities were abolished and replaced with new districts in this case Brent District Health Authority. Finally in 1992 the hospital came under the responsibility of the North West London Mental Health NHS Trust until its closure in 1997.

Shenley Hospital closed in 1997 and the only remaining part is the Tower, the land has been redeveloped as a housing estate.

Napsbury Hospital opened in 1905 as Napsbury Asylum, a metropolitan asylum. In 1918 it became Napsbury Mental Hospital and had another change of name in 1943 when it became known as Napsbury Hospital. In 1948 the hospital came under the management of the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board until 1974 when it became part of the North West Thames Regional Health Authority. The hospital closed in 1999.

The Convalescent home was opened on the 25th August 1888 and was founded by Mrs Clifton-Brown and Major Vaughan Morgan.

On 13 June 1750 a meeting to consider the establishment of a hospital for the care and treatment of the poor suffering from mental illnesses took place at the King's Arms, Exchange Alley, City of London between Thomas Crowe, physician, Richard Speed, druggist, James Sperling, merchant, William Prowing, apothecary, Thomas Light, merchant and Francis Magnus. At this time, provision for treatment of individuals from poor families in London was made at the Bethlem Hospital, but waiting lists were long and alternatives were private 'mad houses' which were beyond the means of most people.

From the beginning, the founders of Saint Luke's Hospital intended to cure 'lunacy', as well as to make treatment accessible to poorer people. Two apothecaries were found to prepare and supply all drugs required free of charge, and after 4 months over £1000 had been pledged and a committee formed to establish the hospital. Appeals for funds gave people opportunity to be come Governor of the hospital for life if they gave £20. At Bethlem, the public were allowed to come and look at the 'lunatics' on public holidays, as a form of leisure. One of the first rules of the new hospital was 'that patients in this hospital be not exposed to publick view'.

The first site of the hospital, called Saint Luke's Hospital for Lunatics, was the old Moorfields Foundry leased by the City of London. George Dance, City Surveyor advised on the conversion of the building and gave his services free. The hospital was named Saint Luke's due to its proximity to Saint Luke's, Old Street. In July 1751, the first patients were admitted. During the 1750s, there were 50 'curable' and 20 'incurable' patients with staff consisting of the Keeper and his wife, with 2 male and 2 female attendants.

The hospital's funds were substantially increased with a major bequest of £30,000 by Sir Thomas Clarke, Master of the Rolls. This allowed a move in 1786 from the Foundry to a 3 acre site on Old Street leased from Saint Bartholomew's Hospital. The number of patients increased to 80 'curable' patients and 30 'incurable' patients. In 1832 an infirmary was added to the hospital. From 1833, occupational therapy for patients was introduced.

In 1841 the hospital came under the authority of the London Commissioners in Lunacy. The Commissioners considered the Old Street site to be unsuitable for reception of patients due to its central location in London. The Governors argued that the capital's population required provision of treatment of individuals with mental health conditions and did not have financial reserves to leave the site or receive financial benefit from terms of the existing lease. To increase funds, following successive building alterations and improvements, it was decided in 1858 to admit 'incurable' patients on a paying basis.

In 1882 the Keeper and Matron (wife of Keeper) system of administration was abolished, and qualified nurses were admitted. Further training was supplied by the Medical Superintendent. In 1904 nursing uniforms were introduced.

From 1871 the Governors began examining options for acquiring a second site for the use of convalescent patients. In 1893 Nether Court, Saint Lawrence-on-Sea, Ramsgate, Kent and 12 acres of grounds was rented for the benefit of female patients and later bought in 1901. In 1910, Welders House and Estate near Jordans, Buckinghamshire consisting of 135 acres was purchased for the establishment of a large convalescent home but was never brought to completion.

By end of 19th century, state-run County Asylums were well established for the reception of patients with families with limited means.The proportion of patients from the middle classes therefore increased.

The Old Street site was finally sold to the Bank of England in 1916, following lengthy negotiations with Saint Bartholomew's. By the end of 1916, most patients has been discharged back to their families or to other hospitals.

In 1922 an out-patients department was begun at the Middlesex Hospital to provide beds for patients. In 1930 Woodside Nerve Hospital was opened at Woodside Avenue, Muswell Hill, and the hospital purchased the 3 buildings in the road. In 1938 28 Grand Avenue was taken into use as a nurse's home and arrangements for resident patients at the Middlesex was terminated.

In the 1935 the hospital treated the following range of cases (source: summary statistics contained in H64/B/08/01/001):

• 'Organic nervous and mental disorders': Alcoholism, cardiovascular (involving the heart and blood vessels), Meniere's Syndrome (inner ear condition causing dizziness), drugs, cephalalgia (head aches) and 'senile changes'

• 'Functional syndromes': Anxiety states, confusional states, depression, elation, hysteria, neurasthenia (nervous breakdown), obsessional states, paranoid, schizophrenic (psychotic behaviour). Anxiety, depression and hysteria being the most prevalent cases.

From 1939 on the onset of the Second World War, the Ministry of Health took over the hospital for the sole treatment of Ministry of Service (E.M.S.) servicemen and women patients suffering shell shock from active service. By 1945, 1705 Service patients had been treated at Woodside.

In 1948, upon the foundation of The National Health Service (NHS), Saint Luke's - Woodside Hospital became the psychological department of the Middlesex Hospital with a teaching as well as treatment role. The hospital came under the following administrative authorities:

Middlesex Hospital Management Committee (from 1948-1974) then North East Thames Regional Health Authority (1974-1982), then Bloomsbury District Health Authority (from 1982). In 1993 the hospital joined the newly formed Camden and Islington Community Health Services NHS Trust and in turn was managed from April 2002 by Camden and Islington Mental Health NHS Trust.

The Metropolitan Asylums Board opened the Grove Fever Hospital on a site in Tooting in 1899. The hospital treated patients with infectious diseases such as scarlet fever, diphtheria and enteric fever. During the First World War, it became the Grove Military Hospital with 550 beds, mainly treating soldiers with war injuries. Parts of the hospital were still designated for infectious diseases, tuberculosis and dermatology. In 1920, it returned to be a fever hospital with around 500 beds. In 1930, the London County Council took administrative control of the Hospital. During World War Two, as well as patients with infectious diseases, civilian air-raid casualties were admitted. The hospital joined the National Health Service in 1948 under the control of the Wandsworth Hospital Group as the Grove Hospital. Soon after, the Ministry of Health decided to rebuild Saint George's Hospital, Hyde Park Corner on the Grove and Fountain Hospital sites. The Ministry requested that 150 beds at Grove Hospital should be made available to Saint George's Hospital. At a similar time, 50 beds were also made available for patients from Saint James' Hospital in Balham which was temporarily closed for rebuilding. In 1953, the hospital became the responsibility of Saint George's Hospital. By 1958, it was renamed Saint George's Hospital, Tooting Branch.

The hospital has been administered by the following:

1899-1930: Metropolitan Asylums Board

1930-1948: London County Council

1948-1953: Wandsworth Hospital Teaching Group of South West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board

1953-1958: Saint George's Hospital Teaching Group of South West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board.

Saint George's Hospital opened in 1733 at Lanesborough House, Hyde Park Corner. It owes its existence to four men, Henry Hoare, William Wogan, Robert Witham and the Reverend Patrick Cockburn, who collectively founded the Westminster Public Infirmary in Petty France in 1720. The ever increasing needs of the sick forced the Westminster Public Infirmary to seek improved and enlarged premises. A disagreement between members of both the Governors and medical staff on the choice of building led to the founding of both Westminster Hospital in Castle Lane and Saint George's Hospital on Hyde Park Corner.

In 1735, Saint George's Hospital purchased the freehold of Lanesborough House, two adjoining houses and two acres of land. Under the direction of Isaac Ware of the Board of Works, the hospital was enlarged to accommodate 200 patients. By 1825 the hospital was falling into disrepair. A competition was held for the design of a new hospital. It was won by William Wilkins, and the new building was opened at Hyde Park Corner in 1829.

Since its foundation, Saint George's Hospital has been training medical students. In 1834, a medical school was established in Kinnerton Street and it was incorpotated into the hospital in 1868.

Just before the beginning of the Second World War, it was decided that Saint George's needed to be rebuilt on its Hyde Park Corner site. The plan was however abandoned by the commencement of hostilities. During the War, against a background of the population shift from central London, discussions took place which paved the way for Saint George's to be rebuilt and transferred out of the city centre.

With the introduction of the National Health Service in 1948, the hospital became part of the Saint George's Hospital Teaching Group of the South West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board. Soon after, the Board of Governors persuaded Aneurin Bevan, the Minister of Health, that the new hospital should be built on the Grove Fever Hospital and Fountain Hospital sites in Tooting. Patients began to be admitted into the Grove Hospital in 1951 and, by 1953, the Grove Hospital was designated to Saint George's and responsibility for it was transferred from the Wandsworth Hospital Group to the Board of Governors of Saint George's. The Fountain Children's Hospital site adjacent to the Grove Hospital was added to the land available for the Saint George's Hospital redevelopment when the Fountain transferred to Queen Mary's Hospital, Carshalton. The building of the new Saint George's at Tooting began in 1973.

Following the reorganisation of the National Health Service in 1974, the Board of Governors was disbanded, and the responsibility for Saint George's Hospital was passed to the Wandsworth and Merton District of the Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth Area Health Authority. South West Thames Regional Health Authority assumed responsibility for the rebuilding of the new Saint George's. The first phase of the new Saint George's Hospital Medical School opened in 1976. Lanesborough Wing, the first of the ward blocks opened in 1980. The same year marked the closure of Saint George's Hospital at Hyde Park Corner.

In 1993, Saint George's Hospital came under the control of Saint George's Healthcare NHS Trust.

The hospital has been administered by the following:

1733-1948: Saint George's Hospital

1948-1974: Saint George's Hospital Teaching Group of South West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board

1974-1982: Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth Area Health Authority of South West Thames Regional Hospital Board

1982-1993: Wandsworth District Health Authority of South West Thames Regional Hospital Board

1993- : Saint George's Healthcare NHS Trust.

Poor relief was based on the Act for the Relief of the Poor of 1601 which obliged parishes to take care of the aged and needy in their area. Parish overseers were empowered to collect a local income tax known as the poor-rate which would be put towards the relief of the poor. This evolved into the rating system, where the amount of poor-rate charged was based on the value of a person's property. Early workhouses were constructed and managed by the parish. However, this process was expensive and various schemes were devised where groups of parishes could act together and pool their resources. As early as 1647 towns were setting up 'Corporations' of parishes. An Act of 1782, promoted by Thomas Gilbert, allowed adjacent parishes to combine into Unions and provide workhouses. These were known as 'Gilbert's Unions' and were managed by a board of Guardians.

Under the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, the Poor Law Commission was given the power to unite parishes in England and Wales into Poor Law Unions. Each Union was to be administered by a local Board of Guardians. Relief was to be provided through the provision of a workhouse. An amendment to the 1834 Act allowed already existing 'Gilbert's Unions' or Corporations of parishes to remain in existence, although they were encouraged to convert themselves into Poor Law Unions. Although there was some reorganisation of union boundaries, particularly in London, the majority of Unions created under the 1834 Act remained in operation until 1930. In March 1930 a new Local Government Bill abolished the Poor Law Unions and the Board of Guardians. Responsibility for their institutions passed to Public Assistance Committees managed by the county councils - in the metropolis either the London County Council or the Middlesex County Council.

The Hackney Poor Law Union was formed in 1836, consisting of the parishes of Saint John Hackney and Stoke Newington. The parish of South Hornsey was added in 1900. A parish workhouse already existed on Homerton High Street, this was gradually replaced with new buildings and was much extended. After 1930 the building became Hackney Hospital. The Union also managed a Children's Receiving Home on Sidney Road, near the workhouse. In addition, the Union used the Brentwood School District industrial school at Brentwood in Essex. After the School District was dissolved in 1885 the Union took over the school. They also opened cottage homes in nearby Ongar.

Source of information: Peter Higginbotham at The Workhouse website.

Christ Church was founded as a replacement to a chapel on Well Walk, which had become overcrowded. The building was designed by S.W. Dawkes in the Decorated style, it was constructed between 1851 and 1852. Sir Gilbert Scott, a member of the congregation, designed an additional gallery in 1860. The church was restored in 1920.

From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 9: Hampstead, Paddington (1989), pp. 145-152.

In the 1840s the Hampstead parish church, Saint Paul's, began to hold services in the West End National School. In 1875 these services became part of Trinity Parish Mission Church, later called Emmanuel Church. A district was assigned to the church in 1885. Increased attendance led to the construction of a permanent church in 1897, designed by J.A.Thomas.

From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 9: Hampstead, Paddington (1989), pp. 145-152.

The church of Saint Peter was constructed in 1859 to designs by W. Mumford. A district was assigned to the church in 1861 from the parish of Saint John's. The patron was the dean and chapter of Westminster, who endowed the parish with annual monies and gave a site for the building. Extensive repairs were carried out in 1917, and the church was extended in 1927.

From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 9: Hampstead, Paddington (1989), pp. 145-152.

The church of Holy Trinity, Church Lane, Finchley, was established in 1846 in order to combat 'godlessness' in this area, then a hamlet known as East End. A chapelry was assigned in 1846, and a vicarage created in 1872. The parish was reduced in size by the creation of new parishes at All Saints, East Finchley, and Saint Jude's, Hampstead Garden Suburb.

From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 6: Friern Barnet, Finchley, Hornsey with Highgate (1980), pp. 82-86.

This area of Islington was given a temporary brick church in Archway Road in 1886 which was subsequently used as the parish hall. The architect of the permanent church was Frederic Hammond. This was his only church. The foundation stone was laid on 11 July 1894, and the church was dedicated on 16 February 1895. It was consecrated on 27 April 1897, and assigned a district on 13 October 1897.

The parish of Saint David was formed out of the parish of Saint Luke, West Holloway, in July 1869. It was united with the parish of Saint Clement, Barnsbury, in 1977 to form the parish of Saint David with Saint Clement. The church building was constructed in 1866 to 1869, designed by E.L. Blackburne. It burned down in 1935 and was rebuilt to designs by T.F. Ford by 1936.

From: 'Islington: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington parishes (1985), pp. 88-99.

The church of Saint George was founded by Henry Hampton, the minister at Saint Luke's temporary church, who resigned and with other seceders built a new temporary church. The church was not licenced for Anglican worship so the congregation, some 900 strong, formed the Free Church of England. Hampton left in 1863 and the replacement vicar was officially recognised, whereupon a parish was assigned.

The first church building was built of wood. This was replaced in 1866 by a church of Kentish ragstone, designed by George Truefitt. The church was sold in 1970. Services moved to the parish hall until a new church was consecrated in 1975, designed by Clive Alexander.

From: 'Islington: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington parishes (1985), pp. 88-99.

The church of Saint John the Baptist was constructed between 1871 and 1872, designed by William Wigginton. A parish was assigned in 1873. The building was damaged by enemy action in 1940 and services were moved to the church hall. The church was declared redundant in 1971 and was demolished in 1981.

From: 'Islington: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington parishes (1985), pp. 88-99.

Built in 1814, as a Chapel of Ease to the parish church of Saint Mary Islington. The parish of Saint Mary Magdalene was formed in 1894, the first wedding taking place in 1895. In the 1950's the neighbouring parish church of Saint James was rebuilt as a church hall. A part of the former Saint James parish was added and the name changed to Saint Mary Magdalene with Saint James.

The Benefice of Saint Mary, Hornsey Rise was formed in 1861 and the District in 1865 from Saint Mark, Tollington Park. Parts were assigned to Saint Paul, Upper Holloway in 1870 and to Saint Stephen, Upper Holloway in 1881.

The Church of Saint Mary was built in Kentish rag in the Decorated style by A D Gough in 1860-61 on a site presented by a Mr Warlters.

In 1982 the parish was united with that of Saint Stephen, Elthorne Road to become Saint Mary Hornsey Rise with Saint Stephen. Saint Stephen's church was closed and demolished in 1983.

'Islington: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington parishes (1985), pp. 88-99.

Saint Matthias' Church was built as a chapel of ease to Saint Luke, West Holloway in 1868. It became a district parish in 1886 and was consecrated on 14 January 1886. In 1956 the parish was united with Saint Andrew, Thornhill Square and Saint Matthias became a chapel of ease to Saint Andrew's.

Saint Stephen, Elthorne Road originated as a mission church in Elthorne Road founded by Saint John, Upper Holloway circa 1877. The District of Saint Stephen was formed in 1881 from Saint John, Upper Holloway and Saint Mary, Hornsey Rise. The Church of Saint Stephen was built in 1879-1880 designed by E. Christian and consecrated on 29 October 1880.

The substantial redevelopment of the area surrounding the church from 1966 slowly destroyed the congregation and in 1982 the church was closed and the parish united with that of Saint Mary, Hornsey Rise. The Church was demolished in 1983. The mission church, which had become the church hall in 1880, was demolished in the 1970's.

The site of Holy Trinity church was donated by the Stonefields Charity Estate, and the building was constructed between 1826 and 1829 to designs by Sir Charles Barry. A parish was assigned in 1830, taken from the parish of Saint Mary's, Islington. Parts of the parish were later assigned to other churches: All Saints, Caledonian Road, in 1839; Saint Andrew, Thornhill Square, in 1854 and Saint Thomas, Barnsbury, in 1862. The parish was joined with Saint Andrew's, Thornhill Square, in 1980 and the church was sold to the Celestial Church of Christ.

From: 'Islington: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington parishes (1985), pp. 88-99.

The parish of Saint Clement was created from part of the parish of Saint James, Norland, Kensington. The schools were opened in 1866 and the church, designed by J.P. Aubyn, in 1867. It seated 800 and was consecrated by the Bishop of Armagh on 7 May 1867. It is a wide low building of yellow brick with red bands and stone dressings, a large slated roof with a slate-hung belfry turret containing a clock and crowned with a spire. Its principal treasure is the large cartoon of 'Jesus at the Well of Samaria' by Sir Edward Burne-Jones.

The first incumbent was the Reverend Arthur Dalgarno Robinson, curate of Saint Stephen, Shepherds Bush, who remained until 1881. From 1881-1886 the incumbent was the Reverend Edwyn Hoskyns, later to become Bishop of Southwell.

In 1882 the northern part of the parish became part of the parish of Saint Helen.

Christ Church was designed by J.E.K. Cutts in the French Gothic style of the 13th century. It was built of stock brick with bands of black and red brick with a vestibule and steeply pitched roof of slate. It seated 800 with 550 free seats. The Christ Church Oxford Mission came to the church in 1928. In 1940 Christ Church was united with Saint Michael and All Angels and the building was subsequently demolished. In 1973 the site was occupied by the Notting Hill Adventure Playground.

This church served the expanding population of west Kensington, although the Bishop of London was against this plan because there were 'not enough poor people' in the area. The parish was taken from that of Saint Philip's on Earl's Court Road, but its founder and traditions were from Saint Matthias, Warwick Road. Originally housed in an iron shed known as the 'dustbin', which opened in 1883, it developed into the grandest church in the area.

The architect was Hugh Gough who designed it as an austere, lofty structure of Transitional Style and Cisterician type with its proportions modelled on Tintern Abbey, but progress was piecemeal. The congregation was encouraged to contribute funds and also time and skills to decorate the somewhat spartan interior. Led by skilled craftsmen their efforts produced great results in the Arts & Crafts spirit and the church became the grandest and most flourishing High Church foundation in Kensington. In 1958 the parish of Saint Matthias was amalgamated with that of Saint Cuthbert's.

The church hall (built 1896) included a meeting hall, library, gymnasium, and living accommodation for curates. Nowadays it is used by the Saint Mungo community organisation and similar groups and is an active drop-in centre for the homeless and vulnerable.

Saint Francis of Assisi is the daughter church of Saint Michael and All Angels, Ladbroke Grove; and was founded in 1936 as a Mission Chapel.

The first vicar was the Reverend Arthur Delgano Robinson, a prominent local philanthropic clergyman, who also founded Saint Clement's Church. He established a school for the children of the local potteries workers, who were notoriously poverty-stricken.

Saint Helen's was built in 1881 by H. Currey and dedicated on 15th January 1884. The church was hit by a flying bomb and destroyed during World War II and rebuilt during 1954-6 and rededicated on 6th July 1956. The ancillary buildings: the vicarage, church hall, parish room and stores are clustered round the church. The church has an organ case and stained class by Sir J. Ninian Comper, the architect's father, and pews by Richard Norman Shaw which were orginally from Holy Trinity, Latimer Road, Hammersmith. The parish was united with Holy Trinity in 1951. The church has developed a strong tradition for children's and youth work.

In April 2000 the parish boundary was extended to include the Delgano estate with Saint Francis Mission Chapel and Saint Francis House.

Saint Martin's Mission was originally known as Rackham Hall as it was situated on Rackham Street. It was built by Mr. Allen, a local builder. It was the Mission Church of Saint Michael and All Angels, Ladbroke Grove (P84/MAA). Since 1916 it has become a parish stretching from Ladbroke Grove to St Quintin's Park.

Saint Charles' Hospital was built as Saint Marylebone Infirmary situated in the Ladbroke Grove area of North Kensington. The hospital was opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1881. Its name was changed to Saint Charles' Hospital when it was transferred from Saint Marylebone Board of Guardians to the London County Council in 1930. In 1948 it became part of the National Health Service and came under the control of the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board and the Paddington Group Hospital Management Committee. It now forms part of the Paddington and North Kensington District Health Authority.

Saint Stephen's Church was built within a year in 1866-1867 and consecrated on 10th January 1867. It was designed by Joseph Peacock. A temporary church on the east side of Gloucester Road had opened in early 1866. The church became 'higher' after the 1870's and by 1900 was firmly Anglo-Catholic in character and was remodelled in the early 1900's to reflect this. Poet TS Eliot served as churchwarden at Saint Stephen's for twenty-five years. The church has a memorial plaque to him.

The original church of Saint Thomas was built in 1889 to the designs of Demaine and Brierley of York. The site was purchased by trustees of the Bishop of London's Church Building Fund for £800 and a large of part of the building's expenses was paid for from funds which had accrued from the amalgamation in 1886 of the benefice of Saint Thomas in the Liberty of the Rolls and that of Saint Dunstan's in the West.

During World War Two the church was severely damaged by enemy action. In 1951 the benefice was united with that of Saint Andrew and Saint Philip Goldborne Road and in 1967 Saint Thomas's was completely rebuilt to the designs of Romilly B. Craze.

Originally built in 1820 as a Congregationalist chapel called Holland Chapel, the building which was to become Christ Church, North Brixton was taken over as a proprietary chapel by the Reverend F. Crossman. It became a Chapel of Ease to Saint Mark's Church, Kennington and when in 1855 Canon McConnell Hussey became its minister, he converted the leasehold land to freehold. He also arranged to have the district formed into a separate parish and to have the church consecrated, reseated and enlarged by the addition of an apse at his own expense. The church was consecrated on 9 October 1855. In 1891 the Reverend W. R. Mowll was appointed. He was responsible for the building of a parish hall and the rebuilding of the old church which, delapidated beyond repair, was closed in 1899 and demolished. The new church was consecrated by the Bishop of Rochester on 5 December 1902.

The parish of Emmanuel, West Dulwich was formed from part of the parish of Saint Luke's West Norwood and from part of the parish of Saint Stephen's, College Road, in the late nineteenth century. A temporary iron church was opened in September 1872 under licence from the Bishop of Winchester. A permanent church was consecrated in 1877 under the Bishop of Rochester. From around 1923/4 it was in the diocese of Southwark. In 1966 Emmanuel was joined with All Saints, West Dulwich becoming a Conventional District of that parish. A new church was built in 1967 after the demolition of the older one.

The church of Saint John the Evangelist on Waterloo Road was constructed using funds allocated by the Commissioners for Building New Churches in 1822. These Commissioners had been established by an Act of Parliament in 1818 for the building of new churches in populous areas, particularly around London which was expanding rapidly. The site for the church was purchased from the Archbishop of Canterbury on marshy ground; the advice of John Rennie was sought regarding the foundations. On his recommendation piling was used under all the walls, which still remain strong. An imposing classical design by architect Francis Bedford was chosen. The church was consecrated in November 1824. Renovations and repairs were carried out in 1885 and again in 1924.

A parish school was constructed in Exton Street as soon as the church was finished. In 1844 a new church, All Saints, was constructed to provide more church accommodation in the area, and the parish was taken out of that of Saint John. However, it was demolished to make way for Waterloo Station, and the parishes were merged again. The churchyard was made into a public garden in 1878, although some monuments still survive to the front of the church.

Information from 'Church of St John the Evangelist, Waterloo Road', Survey of London: volume 23: Lambeth: South Bank and Vauxhall (1951), pp. 32-36.

Royal South London Dispensary: The dispensary was founded in 1821 for the benefit of the poor people of Lambeth, Southwark and Newington. Its premises were situated at Saint George's Cross, Southwark opposite Bethlem Hospital. The dispensary closed in June 1917 owing to lack of the necessary financial support. The minute book was handed over to the Revd. E. G. Gordon, Vicar of Saint John, Waterloo Road, for safe keeping. Other records were to be sold or otherwise disposed of.

The site of Saint James the Apostle was donated by James Lewis Minet, who also paid for the construction. Work began in June 1869 and the consecration took place in June 1870. A consolidated chapelry was formed in 1874. The architect was George Low who designed the church in a Decorated Gothic style, using Kentish ragstone and Bath stone.

The Church was closed in 1979 and the benefice has been united with that of Saint John the Divine, Vassall Road, Kennington.

Some information from: 'Myatt's Fields, Denmark Hill and Herne Hill: Introduction and Myatt's Fields area', Survey of London: volume 26: Lambeth: Southern area (1956), pp. 141-145.

The church of Saint Luke, West Norwood, was built by the Lambeth Church Building Committee working under the Church Building Commissioners, who had been established by an Act of 1818 to provide more churches, particularly in the expanding metropolis. The church was constructed between 1822 and 1825 to designs by Francis Bedford; although major alterations to the interior were carried out in 1870.

Information from: 'Norwood: Churches', Survey of London: volume 26: Lambeth: Southern area (1956), pp. 173-180.

The Ealing Provident Dispensary was established in 1869 at Minton Lodge on Mattock Lane, Ealing W13. In 1817 it was renamed Ealing Cottage Hospital and Provident Dispensary. In 1911 after the death of King Edward VII it was again renamed as the King Edward Memorial Hospital and Provident Dispensary. In 1933 it dropped the words Provident Dispensary to become the King Edward Memorial Hospital. The hospital joined the National Health Service in 1948 and came under the administration of the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board and the South West Middlesex Hospital Management Committee. In 1974 with NHS reorganisation it became part of the North West Thames Regional Health Authority and Ealing District Health Authority. The hospital was closed in 1979.

Early Commissioners of Sewers were solely concerned with land drainage and the prevention of flooding, not with the removal of sewage in the modern sense. In 1531 an Act of Sewers was passed which set out in great detail the duties and powers of Commissioners and governed their work until the 19th century. Gradually a permanent pattern emerged in the London area of seven commissions, five north and two south of the Thames, with, after the Great Fire, a separate commission for the City of London. The London commissioners had more extensive powers than those in other parts of the country; they had control over all watercourses and ditches within two miles of the City of London as well as newly constructed drains and sewers. After 1800 the London commissioners also obtained powers to control the formation of new sewers and house drains.

The jurisdiction of the Havering Level Commission of Sewers covered Ilford, East Ham, Havering, Dagenham, West Ham, Leyton, Walthamstow and Barking. A 'Level' in this context is a stretch of land approximately horizontal and unbroken by elevations.