The Royal Victoria Military Hospital, Netley
Royal Victoria Country Park, Southampton, Hampshire
Royal Victoria Country Park, Southampton, Hampshire
The hospital was built in 1855 and sat on the shores of Southampton Water. It was originally built to treat the wounded from the Crimean War, following concerns by Queen Victoria over the dreadful conditions of the military hospitals in the Crimea.
The building was a quarter of a mile long (the worlds longest building when completed), 3 storeys high with 138 wards and approximately 1000 beds. In 1865 a 170m pier was built to receive the hospital ships, however the water was not deep enough for the ships to berth and in 1900 a railway line was built from Southampton docks and the casualties arrived by ambulance train. During the Great War 50,000 patients were treated at Netley. Red Cross huts were built on an acre of land at the rear to accommodate extra beds.
Although an attractive building, the design of the hospital was not particularly practical.The long corridor was at the front of the hospital benefiting from the sea breeze. The wards were at the rear facing inland with small windows so light and ventilation were poor.
Until 1902, Netley was the Army Medical Training School training civilian Doctors for medical service.
A psychiatric unit was established from E Block (Albert House) this became the first military asylum. In the 1950's to 1978 this treated Army and Navy personnel and from 1978 patients were treated at The QEMH Woolwich.
Sadly, the main hospital was demolished in 1966 following a fire. Netley Chapel remains and was Grade II listed in 1974.
(Thank goodness the original bones of the wonderful Cambridge Military Hospital in Aldershot will survive)
The Hospital from The Grounds
The Navy and Army Illustrated 19 March 1897.
The royal Victoria Hospital, probably the finest military hospital in the world, occupies a lovely situation on Southampton Water, about three miles from the town of Southampton. With a facade of 1,426 feet, it is a striking feature in the landscape as seen from the Solent. it is capable of accommodating 1,000 patients and is divided into Surgical and Medical Divisions, each under charge of a senior medical officer, with a complete staff of surgeons, nurses and attendants. The Principal Medical Officer of the establishment ranks as a Major-General. Attached to this Hospital is the Army Medical School, for the special training of army surgeons. The Royal Victoria Hospital was commenced in 1855 and finished in 1863, when it was opened by Her Majesty the Queen. All invalids from abroad, except those belonging to the Artillery are sent to Netley for treatment and if found quite unfit for further service are discharged there.
The building was a quarter of a mile long (the worlds longest building when completed), 3 storeys high with 138 wards and approximately 1000 beds. In 1865 a 170m pier was built to receive the hospital ships, however the water was not deep enough for the ships to berth and in 1900 a railway line was built from Southampton docks and the casualties arrived by ambulance train. During the Great War 50,000 patients were treated at Netley. Red Cross huts were built on an acre of land at the rear to accommodate extra beds.
Although an attractive building, the design of the hospital was not particularly practical.The long corridor was at the front of the hospital benefiting from the sea breeze. The wards were at the rear facing inland with small windows so light and ventilation were poor.
Until 1902, Netley was the Army Medical Training School training civilian Doctors for medical service.
A psychiatric unit was established from E Block (Albert House) this became the first military asylum. In the 1950's to 1978 this treated Army and Navy personnel and from 1978 patients were treated at The QEMH Woolwich.
Sadly, the main hospital was demolished in 1966 following a fire. Netley Chapel remains and was Grade II listed in 1974.
(Thank goodness the original bones of the wonderful Cambridge Military Hospital in Aldershot will survive)
The Hospital from The Grounds
The Navy and Army Illustrated 19 March 1897.
The royal Victoria Hospital, probably the finest military hospital in the world, occupies a lovely situation on Southampton Water, about three miles from the town of Southampton. With a facade of 1,426 feet, it is a striking feature in the landscape as seen from the Solent. it is capable of accommodating 1,000 patients and is divided into Surgical and Medical Divisions, each under charge of a senior medical officer, with a complete staff of surgeons, nurses and attendants. The Principal Medical Officer of the establishment ranks as a Major-General. Attached to this Hospital is the Army Medical School, for the special training of army surgeons. The Royal Victoria Hospital was commenced in 1855 and finished in 1863, when it was opened by Her Majesty the Queen. All invalids from abroad, except those belonging to the Artillery are sent to Netley for treatment and if found quite unfit for further service are discharged there.