Charing Cross Hospital Medical School Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School

Charing Cross Hospital was established in 1823 in Villiers Street, London, as a charitable institution known as the West London Infirmary. The institution had its orgins in a meeting initiated by Dr Benjamin Golding in 1818. The infirmary provided accommodation for twelve beds, and became known as Charing Cross Hospital in 1827.

From the outset it was intended that the hospital would provide medical training for students, and a plan of medical education was drawn up in 1822. A new hospital building was opened in Agar Street in 1834 with accommodation for twenty-two students.

A separate medical school building was opened in Chandos Place in 1881, and enlarged in 1894 with additional laboratories. In 1911, the pre-clinical training was transferred to the University laboratories at King's College.

During the Second World War the Medical School was evacuated to Chaulden House, Boxmoor, and returned to Charing Cross in 1947.

A new hospital was opened in 1973 on Fulham Palace Road, on the site of the old Fulham Hospital, with accommodation for the Medical School. A new medical school building, the Reynolds Building, was opened in 1976.

The Charing Cross Hospital Medical School merged with the Westminster Medical School in 1984, and became known as the Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School. The School became part of Imperial College School of Medicine on its formation in 1997.