Royal Naval Hospital, Stonehouse

[6] The main quadrangle is described as 'a complex of outstanding historical significance in the development of institutions for the care of the sick, which forms the principal part of a remarkable and complete military hospital'.[13] Its pattern of detached wards (arranged so as to maximise ventilation and minimise spread of infection) foreshadowed the 'pavilion' style of hospital building which was popularised by Florence Nightingale a century later.[14] In the eighteenth century Plymouth's new hospital was highly praised by (among others) John Howard, Jacques-René Tenon and Charles-Augustin de Coulomb.These were contained in ten three-storey ward blocks arranged around a square courtyard (designed to serve as a spacious exercise ground for convalescing patients).[16] Centrally placed on the east side, directly opposite the entrance to the quadrangle, was an eleventh block, which housed the dispensary and dispenser's apartments, and above them a chapel (lit by a large venetian window), where divine service was offered every Sunday.From here an entrance arch led to receiving wards (with a bath room and a clothing store) where new arrivals were washed and provided with clean bedclothes.[2] West of the main quadrangle, facing the central block with its cupola, were a pair of gates flanked by lodges, which contained offices for the Agent[17] and the Steward[18] (who between them were responsible for the finances, stores, provisions and personnel of the hospital).It was supplied from a nearby reservoir [30] During the Napoleonic Wars the hospital was overseen by a Governor and three lieutenants; the senior officers included two physicians and two surgeons, the agent, the steward, a chaplain and a dispenser.[37] In 1993, in the wake of the government's Options for Change review, the decision was taken to close RNH Plymouth (along with a number of other military hospitals in the UK).
The main quadrangle (now flats). The cupola contains a clock of 1776 by Grignion & Son of Covent Garden . [ 1 ]
A comparison of the naval hospitals at Haslar (centre and bottom left) and Plymouth (top and bottom right), the former with its wards connected end-to-end, the latter with separate pavilions.
An 18th-century engraving of 'His Majesty's New Royal Hospital Building, near Plymouth'. (N.B. to provide a clearer view, only the floor-plan of the two nearest ward blocks is shown.)
Sick and Hurt CommissionersStonehouse, PlymouthRoyal Naval HospitalRNH Haslarconservation arealisted buildingsquadranglecupolaCovent GardenStonehouse CreekStonehousePlymouthtide millsStoke Military HospitalFlorence NightingaleJohn HowardJacques-René TenonCharles-Augustin de Coulombconceptual designdispensarychapelvenetian windowsmallpoxTuscancolonnadeoperating theatrepedimentedSick and Hurt Boardpost-captainRoyal MarinebarracksStonehouse Royal Marine BarracksNapoleonic Warsmortuary chapelpensionersnursing sisterssick berth staffzymotic wardpharmacistlimestoneaerial bombardmentSurgeon Rear-AdmiralOptions for Changemilitary hospitalsSt Dunstan's AbbeyPlymouth CollegeNavy ListHistoric EnglandNational Heritage List for England