Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1866-1959 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1341 items
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Alexandra Hospital for Children with Hip Disease was opened on 12 March 1867. Founded by a group of women (two of whom were nurses at the nearby Great Ormond Street Hospital), it was initially based in 19 Queen Square, Bloomsbury, London. Until 1870, it was known as the House of Relief for Children with Chronic Diseases of the Joints, and from 1870 to 1881 the Hospital for Hip Diseases in Children. Hip disease, or tuberculous arthritis, was a common disease at this time.
The demand for the hospital's beds was such that 18 Queen Square was purchased in 1872 to provide additional accommodation. 17 Queen Square was acquired in 1873 and properties in Queen Square Place were added over the following years. In 1881 the hospital was re-named after Princess Alexandra, and by 1897 the Alexandra Hospital had sixty-eight beds. However, the buildings in which the hospital was accommodated were dilapidated and unsanitary and in 1898 a decision was taken to re-build. The hospital took temporary accommodation at 34 Guilford Street, Russell Square, London whilst the rebuilding took place. The new hospital buildings opened on 20 July 1899. The Alexandra Hospital also had convalescent homes at Helen Branch Hospital, Bournemouth, Hampshire (1874-1993); Wash Well Home, Painswick, Gloucestershire (1893-1914); and Clandon Branch Hospital, East Clandon, Surrey (1903-1936).
In 1920, the Alexandra Hospital moved from its central London location. It took up residence at the Kettlewell Home in Swanley, Kent, the site of St Bartholomew's Hospital's convalescent home. The Alexandra Hospital had maintained close ties with Bart's from its foundation in 1867, and many of its medical staff had served both institutions. These links were now strengthened and on 3 November 1922, the hospitals amalgamated. After the amalgamation the Committee of Management was renamed the Committee of the Alexandra Hospital and Kettlewell Home.
In 1940, the Alexandra Hospital moved for the final time, to Stockwood Park near Luton, Bedfordshire, a property on lease from Luton Borough Council. It was later proposed that a further move be made to Nyn Park in Hertfordshire, but these suggestions came to nothing and in 1958 the Ministry of Health closed the Alexandra Hospital.
Repository
Archival history
SBHA 1866-1959 Collection (Fonds) 1341 items Alexandra Hospital for Children with Hip Disease
The Alexandra Hospital for Children with Hip Disease was opened on 12 March 1867. Founded by a group of women (two of whom were nurses at the nearby Great Ormond Street Hospital), it was initially based in 19 Queen Square, Bloomsbury, London. Until 1870, it was known as the House of Relief for Children with Chronic Diseases of the Joints, and from 1870 to 1881 the Hospital for Hip Diseases in Children. Hip disease, or tuberculous arthritis, was a common disease at this time.
The demand for the hospital's beds was such that 18 Queen Square was purchased in 1872 to provide additional accommodation. 17 Queen Square was acquired in 1873 and properties in Queen Square Place were added over the following years. In 1881 the hospital was re-named after Princess Alexandra, and by 1897 the Alexandra Hospital had sixty-eight beds. However, the buildings in which the hospital was accommodated were dilapidated and unsanitary and in 1898 a decision was taken to re-build. The hospital took temporary accommodation at 34 Guilford Street, Russell Square, London whilst the rebuilding took place. The new hospital buildings opened on 20 July 1899. The Alexandra Hospital also had convalescent homes at Helen Branch Hospital, Bournemouth, Hampshire (1874-1993); Wash Well Home, Painswick, Gloucestershire (1893-1914); and Clandon Branch Hospital, East Clandon, Surrey (1903-1936).
In 1920, the Alexandra Hospital moved from its central London location. It took up residence at the Kettlewell Home in Swanley, Kent, the site of St Bartholomew's Hospital's convalescent home. The Alexandra Hospital had maintained close ties with Bart's from its foundation in 1867, and many of its medical staff had served both institutions. These links were now strengthened and on 3 November 1922, the hospitals amalgamated. After the amalgamation the Committee of Management was renamed the Committee of the Alexandra Hospital and Kettlewell Home.
In 1940, the Alexandra Hospital moved for the final time, to Stockwood Park near Luton, Bedfordshire, a property on lease from Luton Borough Council. It was later proposed that a further move be made to Nyn Park in Hertfordshire, but these suggestions came to nothing and in 1958 the Ministry of Health closed the Alexandra Hospital.
Comprises: Dispensary; Alexandra Hospital School; Administrative records; Financial records; Estate and property records; Drawings and illustrations; Postcards; Nursing records; Medical records; Photographs; Staff records; Operating theatre records; Supplies Department; External publications.
See Scope and content.
Some material is restricted. Please contact the repository in the first instance.
Copying and digitisation services are available for unrestricted material. Researchers should contact the repository in the first instance.
English
See 'Detailed catalogue' link above.
Administrative records, consisting of annual reports 1897-1938, are held by London Metropolitan Archives, ref: SC/PPS/093/01.
Original description compiled by Neil Hargreaves, 2006-2007, thanks to generous funding from The Pilgrim Trust/Esmée Fairbairn Foundation Cataloguing Grants Programme. Updated by Clare Button, Archivist, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997. 2006-2007 ; updated July 2020. Alexandra Hospital for Children with Hip Disease Bedfordshire Berry , Sir , James , 1860-1946 , Knight , surgeon Bloomsbury Bowlby , Sir , Anthony Alfred , 1855-1929 , 1st Baronet , surgeon Camden Dispensaries Documents England Europe Foundling Hospital Health services Holborn Hospital administration Hospital finance Hospital for Hip Diseases in Children , Bloomsbury Hospital management Hospitals House of Relief for Children with Chronic Diseases of the Joints , Bloomsbury Information sources Kent London Luton Medical institutions Medical personnel Medical profession Medical records Medical sciences Nurses Paramedical personnel Patients Personnel Queen Square Schools Social sciences Social welfare Stockwood Park St Pancras Surgery Swanley Swanley Tuberculosis Sanatorium UK Western Europe People by occupation People Educational institutions Tuberculosis, osteoarticular Tuberculosis Actinomycetales infections Diseases Pathology Primary documents
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Comprises: Dispensary; Alexandra Hospital School; Administrative records; Financial records; Estate and property records; Drawings and illustrations; Postcards; Nursing records; Medical records; Photographs; Staff records; Operating theatre records; Supplies Department; External publications.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
See Scope and content.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Some material is restricted. Please contact the repository in the first instance.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copying and digitisation services are available for unrestricted material. Researchers should contact the repository in the first instance.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
See 'Detailed catalogue' link above.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Administrative records, consisting of annual reports 1897-1938, are held by London Metropolitan Archives, ref: SC/PPS/093/01.
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Documents
- Health services
- Health services » Hospitals
- Information sources
- Medical profession » Medical personnel
- Medical profession
- Medical sciences
- Medical profession » Medical personnel » Paramedical personnel
- Health services » Patients
- Personnel
- Schools
- Social sciences
- Social welfare
- Medical sciences » Surgery
- Educational institutions
- Pathology » Diseases
- Pathology
- Documents » Primary documents
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English