The fine and spacious buildings which constitute St. Thomas's Hospital are in Southwark. It was founded by Richard, prior of Bermondsey, in 1213, and surrendered to King Henry VIII. in 1538. In the year 1551, the mayor and citizens of London, having purchased of King Edward VI. the manor of Southwark, including this hospital, repaired and enlarged it, and admitted into it 260 poor sick and helpless objects. Upon which the king, in 1553, incorporated it together with those of Christ, Bridewell, Bethlem, and St. Bartholomew.
The ancient structure, much damaged by time and by fire, was rebuilt by voluntary subscription in the year 1693, and by additional buildings greatly enlarged: in consequence of which, it consisted of three beautiful squares; to which the governors in 1732, added a magnificent new building, consisting of several wards, and various officers, at their own expense. It now consists of four quadrangular courts. In the first are wards for women : in the second, two chapels; the lesser for the private use of the hospital, and the other is parochial. In the same court, and adjoining to it, are the houses of the treasurer, and other officers. In the third court are several wards for men. The fourth hath also wards, hot and cold baths, a surgery, theatre, and an apothecary's shop. The number of in and out patients relieved by this hospital, according to an average of six or seven years, may be stated at 9,000, at an expenditure of 10,000l.
The governors of this hospital are, the lord mayor and court of aldermen, and those who, on receiving a governor's staff, give a benefaction of 50l. or upwards. The house contains 18 wards, and about 485 beds.
In the middle of the second court is a statue in brass of Edward VI., and beneath him the representation of the halt and the maimed. In the centre of the third court is a stone statue of Sir Robert Clayton, a lord mayor of London, dressed in his costume of chief magistrate. He gave 600l. to promote the rebuilding of the hospital; and he left 2,300l. towards endowing it. The statue was raised before Sir Robert's death, which took place in 1714.—Within the last few years, an excellent circular theatre for the purpose of lectures has been built. It will hold about 300 persons most conveniently.
This hospital, like those of which descriptions follow, is for the sick poor, maimed by accident, &c. It is of immense use, as may be imagined from the annual number of in-patients, averaging about 3,000, out-patients, 6,000. The following is this hospital's recent annual return :—
Cured and discharged in the year, In-Patients, Out-Patients........10,304
Remainmg under cure..................In-Patients.............................1,815
....................................................Out-Patients.....................1,815
Buried.....................................................................................243
So that there has been under the charge of the
Hospital during the year..........................................................14,178
From this precise account, the general average may be inferred.
Source: Leigh's New Picture of London. Printed for Samuel Leigh, 18, Strand;
by W. Clowes, Northumberland Court. 1819