Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1895-1974 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
2.5 linear metres
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The original buildings were erected in 1848 - 1849 as a workhouse for the Board of Guardians of the City of London Union. In 1874 it was converted into an infirmary for the same Union. With the reconstruction of Homerton Workhouse in 1909, Bow was superfluous to the Union's needs and was closed, but in 1912 it was re-opened as Bow Institution to treat the chronic sick. London County Council took over the hospital in 1930 when the Board of Guardians was abolished; the number of beds was increased to 786. In 1933 a mental observation unit was opened. St. Clement's (so named from 1936) was badly damaged by bombs in August 1944.
On the introduction of the National Health Service, the Hospital was taken over by the Bow (No. 8) Hospital Management Committee (itself replaced in 1963 by the Thames Group Hospital Management Committee). In 1959, it became exclusively psychiatric. Control of the Hospital passed to the Governors of the London Hospital in 1968, and its designation was altered to The London Hospital (St. Clement's). In 1974 it became part of the Tower Hamlets Health District. The hospital formed part of The Royal London Hospital and Associated Community Services NHS Trust in 1991 and was known as The Royal London Hospital (St Clement's) from 1990. Upon closure of the hospital in 2005 services were transferred to a new Adult Mental Health Facility at Mile End Hospital.
Repository
Archival history
RLHSC 1895-1974 Collection (fonds) 2.5 linear metres St Clement's Hospital
The original buildings were erected in 1848 - 1849 as a workhouse for the Board of Guardians of the City of London Union. In 1874 it was converted into an infirmary for the same Union. With the reconstruction of Homerton Workhouse in 1909, Bow was superfluous to the Union's needs and was closed, but in 1912 it was re-opened as Bow Institution to treat the chronic sick. London County Council took over the hospital in 1930 when the Board of Guardians was abolished; the number of beds was increased to 786. In 1933 a mental observation unit was opened. St. Clement's (so named from 1936) was badly damaged by bombs in August 1944.
On the introduction of the National Health Service, the Hospital was taken over by the Bow (No. 8) Hospital Management Committee (itself replaced in 1963 by the Thames Group Hospital Management Committee). In 1959, it became exclusively psychiatric. Control of the Hospital passed to the Governors of the London Hospital in 1968, and its designation was altered to The London Hospital (St. Clement's). In 1974 it became part of the Tower Hamlets Health District. The hospital formed part of The Royal London Hospital and Associated Community Services NHS Trust in 1991 and was known as The Royal London Hospital (St Clement's) from 1990. Upon closure of the hospital in 2005 services were transferred to a new Adult Mental Health Facility at Mile End Hospital.
Some records were among the archives of the London Hospital in September 1984. The remaining records were transferred from St Clement's Hospital in 1985. The photographs of City of London Board of Guardians minutes and maps were purchased from London Metropolitan Archives in 1986.
Administrative records, patient records, nursing records, photographs, plans and miscellaneous papers
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.
Originally compiled by Julie Tancell as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. 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. June 2001, updated April 2020. Addiction Alcoholism Autopsies Bow Institution Diseases Forensic medicine Government Health Health services Hospitals International conflicts Local government London Hospital (St Clement's) Medical institutions Medical personnel Medical profession Medical sciences Mental health Nursing Paramedical personnel Pathology Patients Personnel Photographs Poor Law administration Preventive medicine Psychiatry Public administration Social problems Social sciences Social welfare St Clement's Hospital , London Stepney Chest Clinic Surgery Systems of medicine Vaccination Visual materials War War damage People by occupation People
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Some records were among the archives of the London Hospital in September 1984. The remaining records were transferred from St Clement's Hospital in 1985. The photographs of City of London Board of Guardians minutes and maps were purchased from London Metropolitan Archives in 1986.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Administrative records, patient records, nursing records, photographs, plans and miscellaneous papers
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
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
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