Bridewell , Corporation of London Bethlem Royal Hospital , Corporation of London x Priory of St Mary of Bethlehem x Bethlehem Royal Hospital

Bridewell , Corporation of London Bethlem Royal Hospital , Corporation of London x Priory of St Mary of Bethlehem x Bethlehem Royal Hospital

Bridewell was built as a royal palace for Henry VIII from 1515 on a site between Fleet Street and the Thames, along the bank of the Fleet River and near to a well named after St Bride's Church. It was completed in 1523 but Henry only lived there for a few years The problem of the poor led the Lord Mayor and aldermen in 1552 to form a committee who recommended the foundation of Christ's Hospital for the education and sustenance of poor children, St Thomas's Hospital to be refounded for the wounded and sick and Bridewell to be given for the correction, reformation and employment of the idle and vagrant poor. Edward VI, perhaps inspired by a sermon by Nicholas Ridley, Bishop of London, gave Bridewell Palace to the City on 26 June 1553.

The three hospitals, Christ's, St Thomas's and Bridewell, were under the supervision of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen and the City levied the livery companies for funds to establish the hospitals. Governors were elected annually for each hospital at a joint meeting and each hospital had its own President, Treasurer and Clerk The government of Bethlem Royal Hospital was given to the City in 1547. From some point in the later 16th century, Bridewell and Bethlem were jointly governed by a President, Treasurer amd a Court of Governors. Traditionally 1557 has been given as the start of joint administration, but recent research suggests that Bethlem was perhaps still separate until the 1570s.

Until the mid 17th century Bethlem was largely left in the hands of its "keeper" by the Bridewell Governors. After the Great Fire, meetings were held for the first time at Bethlem and the Governors then became more closely involved in its administration. Gradually, Bridewell became associated with prisoners and punishment rather than idle poor and reform. Although vagrant and poor children were apprenticed and learnt a trade there, the numbers of prisoners were far greater. The governors were much concerned with the corrupting effect on Bridewell's apprentices of close proximity to prisoners and at the end of the 18th century a move began to separate the houses of correction (prison) and occupations (apprentices) which culminated in the establishment of a new House of Occupations in Southwark in 1830.

Bridewell closed as a prison in 1855 when most of the building was knocked down and new streets and houses took its place. Bridewell Royal Hospital remains the name of the administrative body which moved to Witley, Surrey in the twentieth century. In 1948 Bethlem Royal Hospital was separated from Bridewell Royal Hospital and united with the Maudsley Hospital.