Daily Photo: 18/01/10 – Royal Kent Dispensary

Comments

1. Neil Rhind says

   January 19, 2010 at 5:25 pm

   Royal West Kent Dispensary

   Very nice picture today. The listed building dates from1851-1852 and was designed by architects Brandon & Ritchie.

   The Dispensary had been founded in 1783 for treating the poor of Greenwich suffering ill-health. Local doctors worked a shift system on a pro bono basis and by 1786 it had treated 4,000 patients. In 1837 it was awarded the Royal Warrant and such was the Dispensary’s success that a new state-of-the-art building was required.

   One of the great supporters was the Rev John Miller, Vicar of St Alphege, Greenwich from 1866 to 1880. He was the founder of the “Hospital Sunday” fund raising scheme which he started when the Vicar at St Martin’s, in Birmingham. The collection for one Sunday in the year went to the local hospital – an idea which took off like a sky rocket and it was copied throughout the UK, United States and the Colonies.

   On his death an extra block was erected at the rear of the Dispensary and named in his honour. Eventually, the whole hospital took his name and kept it well into the time of the National Health Service. Alas, modern reorganisation saw the closure of the Miller but, at least, the old building was retained.
   It is now in flats and the Greenwich Town sick have to journey to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, on the borders of Woolwich, some many miles away.

2. Rob Powell says

   January 19, 2010 at 5:27 pm

   Thanks for that information, Neil – much appreciated.