Within sixty years of the martyrdom of St Thomas of Canterbury in 1170, a leper hospital dedicated to him had been built in the angle where the London and Epsom roads joined. It was run on the lines of a religious house, with a Prior or Master but like all early ‘hospitals’ it was probably more a home for the poor, aged and sick rather than a place of treatment. St Thomas’ Hospital enjoyed the protection of the King, who paid the chaplain who conducted the services there. The hospital seems to have lasted until the 15th century, when it was closed, probably because leprosy disappeared from this country. It had become part of the Manor of Poyle by the end of the Middle Ages, but the building continued as an almshouse until it was demolished in the early 19th century. Its name lingered on in Spital Street until this was changed to Upper High Street in 1901.
Abbot’s Hospital, opened in 1622, was principally an old people’s home. Some provision, however, was made for the medical care of the Brothers and Sisters for “it cannot be conceiv’d but where aged people are, some are like divers times to be sick, who are then to be attended, and comforted”. Under the original regulations two of the Sisters were appointed from Michaelmas each year as ‘Relievers of the Impotent’ receiving 6s.8d. annually for caring for the other inmates. Similar provision was made when Parsons’ Hospital was founded in Stoke Road in 1796.
In 1838 the new Union Workhouse (later St Luke’s) included an infirmary for paupers on parish relief. For others with small means a house in Quarry Street (now Olivio) was opened in 1860 as a free dispensary and surgery. Supported by voluntary subscription, the Guildford and West Surrey Dispensary treated out-patients, and doctors visited those who lived within two miles of the Guildhall. Over 1,600 patients were treated in the first year, and this obvious need, together with the difficulty of treating patients at home, indicated that a general hospital was required for the area. It may seem curious that there had been no hospital in West Surrey before this – Winchester, for example, had a County Infirmary from 1736. However, the population of the Guildford area remained comparatively low until the coming of the railway in 1845, and so perhaps hardly justified one. Technically, St Thomas’ in Lambeth and Guy’s hospital in Southwark were in Surrey until 1888, but in practice they could only care for the south London area.
The Royal Surrey County Hospital was projected in 1862, and the foundation stone laid in July 1863 on a site in the Farnham Road provided by Lord Onslow. The building was designed by Edward Lower, and was built of yellow sandstone with brick dressings. Florence Nightingale was consulted over the plans, and Queen Victoria agreed that the hospital should be dedicated to the memory of Prince Albert. It was opened on the 27th April 1866 with 60 beds in the two wards on the first floor. Other than accidents or emergencies, all patients had to produce a letter of recommendation from one of the hospital’s benefactors before being admitted. Benefactors who donated 50 guineas or more, or subscribed 10 guineas or more annually, were eligible to sit in the annual Court of Governors who largely elected the small committee of management for the hospital.
In the first full year 12 operations were carried out, and nearly 250 in-patients and over 1,500 out-patients were treated. These figures rose to 1,000 in-patients and over 3,000 out-patients by the end of the century. Extensions to the original building were made at intervals as a result of increased pressure of population and the development of the medical services provided. Treatment was at first free, income being derived from subscriptions, donations, collections and fund-raising events: from the turn of the century an annual carnival procession was held and other events such as sales and bazaars contributed to the hospital’s revenue. There were also many voluntary organisations who contributed directly to the work of the hospital, providing assistance, comforts for the patients and other necessaries. In 1928 however, it became necessary to make a charge for treatment both for in-patients and out-patients and a medical insurance scheme was started.
During the First World War the hospital treated military casualties, with an annexe across the road in the newly built Guildford County School for Girls: there were several other temporary military hospitals in the area, notably at Clandon House. During the Second World War, the hospital again received military casualties, being part of the St Thomas’ Hospital Sector in the Emergency Medical Service scheme. During both wars, however, normal civilian treatment continued. In July 1948 the Royal Surrey County Hospital became part of the National Health Service: treatment was free and, with progress in medical techniques, this led to increased demands being made on the hospital – 13,829 out-patients in 1947 became nearly 18,000 in 1953. Medical specialities were distributed between the County Hospital and St Luke’s, but it was soon recognised that a new general hospital was needed on a larger site.
St Luke’s Hospital had its origins in the infirmary of the Guildford Union Workhouse. In 1896 a new infirmary was built adjacent to the workhouse, and was renamed the Warren Road Hospital when control of it passed from the Board of Guardians to Surrey County Council in 1930. By the outbreak of the Second World War, a number of large hutted wards had been built as temporary accommodation for the anticipated war casualties. During the war a Radiotherapy Department was established which was to develop into one of the best equipped in the country. At the end of the war the hospital was renamed ‘St Luke’s’ after the nearby mission church dedicated to the patron saint of doctors and in 1948 it became united with the Royal Surrey County Hospital under the National Health Service.
In 1935 the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood set up a nursing home in Harvey Road which they named Mount Alvernia – this has now developed into a private hospital for general and maternity cases.
The need for a new District General Hospital was recognised early in the 1950s, but it was not until the 1980s that the new building was ready on a site at Park Barn. To it was transferred the name Royal Surrey County Hospital, the old one now being called the Farnham Road Hospital, and being used for psychogeriatric patients.
Guildford Museum, Castle Arch, Guildford, Surrey
(01483) 444750
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