The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-06-24 00:00:00

OPENING OF ST. THOMAS'S HOSPITAL,

LONDON, BY Tia QUEEN.
. . . . .

The new St. Thomas's Bonita!: which during the
Past three years has gradually peen on the Albert Dn.
baukment at the loot of Westminster-bridge, war
opened by her Majesty the Quern, on Wednesday.
Historians trace brat the origin of this institution to
the early part of the thirteenth century, 320 yeara
before beard VI, granted it a charter of inc erpord.
don. Th.. ancient site was eose to the Thames, near
the church of Sc. Mary Overy, now St. Saviour's
Southwark, and the handsome stone atructive was one
of the baling architectural features of the borough of
S inthwark. Part of it still stands, but the greater part
has been pulled down to make way for the Charing.cre as
and London Bridge It Away. The Hospital governors
strenuously opposed the railway company, who only
*anted a (ex feet of the hospital prep "ay, for it was
thought that • railway within a few feet of the
hospital windows mold ant be tolerated ; and Vice-
Chracellor Sir W. Page Wood, now Lord Gnancellra,
crayoned the railway company to tale all ao hog.
pital premises or nom Au enormous sum, £296,000,
was paid as compensatiou, and soon afterward% in
18112, the hospital was temoorrerily removed to the
Surrey Gardens Hall, which for come time had been
the temporary ;Llano of worship far Mr. Spurgeon't
congregation. There the hospital has since furalled
its functions, thokh ef necessity in a very limited
way, an only room for 290 beds could be found.
The site of the new hospital is on the hank of the
Thames, directly opposite the Houses of Parliament,
and won nen:tired by the hoapi authori ire Iron the
Board of Works at a cod of £90,000. The anti: e bite
is over eight and a half acres, and about half of it is
land reclaimed from the Thames in making the Albert
• uhauktne-d.. Mr. Henry Currey is the architect of
the new buildings. 'l'he foundation atm e was laid on
the 13)01 May, 1863, by the Q leen. Mr. John Petry
is the contractor, and the cost of his part of the weak
is £332,748, or at the rate of 9 per cubic foot of
building; and this stated that 25 00)0(9) tricks have been
used in tile building. The budding' are constructed in
aeven separate blocks, and are connected Oil the ground
II ,or by corridor% the loarrest one being over half •
mile from end to end. Oa Wednesday this mita avenue
was prettify deeorated with shrubs and flowers, and
the fl 'or laid with scarlet cloth. Is the centre, jail
inside the main entrance, a hi' had been erected
and was tastefully surrounded with flags. trophies, ever
greens, and choice pirate aud Hwere. Facing the dais
a temporary gallery of Waiut a dram steps had been
built, reed every effort aerated to have been put forth
to make the entrance hall imitable for the inaugural
csremony. The ward. are IS ft. by 120 It. sad 15 Is.
high, and each hells t nty., drbt ben,. or 600 in all.
The beds will be eight feet spirt, and net so that the
patients can see out of the windows. The blocks are
125 ft. apart, except in the centre, where the court in
21i0 ft. acroas. The chapel in over the entrance ball.
There is a part of the building specially sit apart for
traiMng Meer Nightingale's nurser ; and laboratories,
dispensariea, operating room., museum, and everything
that akill and money can procure for a &stolen'
hospital. The mortuary is at the southern end, and
is reached by on underground passage, so as not to be
within view of the patients. The general plan of
mentation inside i as simple as possible, and in the
wards there are no carnices or other contrivances for
harbouring dust Cr vermin. Altogether the rebalt of
of the labours of the architect at pears to give great
satisfaction.

Her Majesty, who was accompanied by the Prinei se
Ti mice and the Marquis ef Lorne and the Princess
Beatrice, arrived nom after twelve o'cli rek, and
her arrival WAS annourced by • hunch of
trumrets and the stirring band of the Grenadier
Guards, striking up the National Ahthem. Her
Majcety was received by the trearurer and others of
the hospital efli dale, and a procession was formed,
which passed slur g the main corridor to the der
where the Queen an, conducted to a chair of State.
Her MajeAy had on her right hand the Princess of
Wales, the Duke of E linburgh. Prince and Princess
Christian, Prince and Prineess Tech, and Maripds of
Lorne; and on her left, the Pi threes Louise, the Prince
f Wales, and Princess Beatrice. A large atsemblrge
of distinguished persons were also present.
After the National Anthem had been sung by &choir
selected from Westminster Abbey and S . Paul's
choirs, a suitable address was mesented to the Queen
by the treneurer, to which her Majesty handed • written
reply, remarking that she was xtremely pleased at
heing present at the opening of the hospital. A pros
cession was then formed, and the Queen passed up the
staircase and named two of the wards respectively the
" Victoria" ward and the " Albert " ward. Then
pats*l down to the deli again the Archbishop of
Canterbury offered up a brayer, folios/ad by the
Lord's Prayer, in which ail j iced. A hymn written
for the occasion won Finny to a chorale composed by the
late Prince Consort. The Q teen then raid, "I declare
this Royal 11 wpital now open." Mr. Francis flick.,
the treasurer, was then called to the dbil and *Val
knighted. The Old Hundredth Perdu' and the Benedics
tion concluded the intereetini: ceremony.