The History and Antiquities of London, Westminster, Southwark, and Parts Adjacent, vol. 4
Allen, Thomas
1827
Bethlem Hospital.
On the old building in being found in such a decayed state as to require re-building, and, after much investigation as to the propriety of reinstating it in its then situation, or of choosing new spot, the latter was determined on; and a part of the Bridgehouse estate in St. George's-fields was selected for the purpose. The city of London in obtained an act of parliament enabling them to grant acres and roods in the parish of St. George the martyr (abutting north on the turnpike-road from. to , and south on a sewer at the north end of land occupied with the houses in , and on the turnpike-road from Westminster-bridge to ), to the governors of , to build a new instead of that used at present, for | |
485 | years. On April , the lord mayor laid the stone of the new hospital. On the site of part of this ground was the Dog and Duck public-house, kept by Hedger, who built the number of small houses previously noticed, and whose conduct while in possession of the Dog and Duck was such that the magistrates very properly closed the gardens and house; it was afterwards occupied by the blind school, but was entirely pulled down in to make way for the new hospital. |
The buildings occupy a considerable space, the principal shews a front feet in extent, which consists of a centre and wings: the former has a portico, raised on a flight of steps, and composed of columns of the Ionic order, surmounted by their entablature and a pediment, in the tympanum of which is a relief of the royal arms; the height to the apex feet. The whole is surmounted by an attic, above which rises (rather oddly) another attic, which is crowned with a poverty-struck cupola. The remainder of the central portion of the building is occupied by apartments of the officers of the establishment. The wings are in stories, besides a rusticated basement, which shew uniformly grated windows: the whole building is unworthy of the advanced state of the arts in the present century, and may be characterized as a huge unsightly pile of brick and mortar, the ugliness of which is increased by the obtrusive display of its vast front; and if the spectator were disposed to silence the dismal ideas which arise in beholding a structure like the present, the designer seems to have determined to prevent him. Behind the principal pile of building are detached buildings for criminal lunatics; and at the back of the whole are airing grounds for male and female lunatics and convalescent patients; there is no chapel attached to the hospital. The hall contains the statues, by Cibber, formerly on the gates of the old hospital, which were repaired by Bacon in . Virtue has preserved an anecdote that of them was copied from Oliver Cromwell's gigantic porter, who became insane. The basement floor of the hospital is appropriated to dangerous, noisy, and uncleanly patients, who are not allowed sheets, but sleep on straw; and to this portion is attached keepers. The ground floor receives the patients on their admission, and this and the succeeding story are appropriated for curables. In the upper story only incurables are lodged. The basement gallery is paved with stone, and its ceiling arched with brick work; the upper galleries are floored with wood, and the ceiling plated with iron. Great attention has been paid to the ventilation of the edifice, and in cold weather the galleries are warmed by Howden's patent air stoves, in each wing in every floor; but as the heat diminishes gradually in the upper gallery, there are additional fires in the dining and keeper's room of that story. | |
The present building was commenced in , from the designs | |
486 | and under the direction of James Lewis, esq. architect. The foundation stone was laid on the in that year, and the building was completed in , at an expense of about of which was granted by parliament at different times, and subscribed by public bodies and private individuals. The corporation of London giving , the , the East India company, the Trinity-house, and the mercers', grocers', drapers', fishmongers', and goldsmiths', each; the sadlers' and vintners' and the apothecaries each; the residue was supplied by private benefactions. |
In the is | |
Footnotes: [] Vide vol iii. p. 414. [] Britton and Pugin's Public Buildings of London, vol. i. p. 301. |
