Hospital for the Incurables:
The Royal Hospital was established in July 1854 at a meeting held at the Mansion House, chaired by the Lord Mayor of London. The founder, Andrew Reed, had a record as a practical philanthropist, and responded to a plea from the author Charles Dickens to:
"give permanent relief to such persons as are hopelessly disqualified for the duties of life," but "not to interfere with the endeavours of existing charities, but to take action precisely where their action ceased."
The Royal Hospital was originally called the Hospital for Incurables and was based in a converted workhouse in Carshalton, Surrey. In 1857, a more spacious house was leased in Putney, and finally in 1865, patients were moved to the hospital's present site on West Hill, Putney. In 1919, the organisation received its Royal Charter, becoming the Royal Hospital and Home for Incurables.
The building on West Hill in Putney had originally been a hunting lodge (Melrose Lodge) and was purchased with 24 acres of land, on which, until the 1960s, the hospital operated a working farm. Much of the land has now been developed, but the Royal Hospital retains spacious landscaped gardens for the use of patients, relatives and staff. These grounds are also used to hold concerts, fundraising receptions and host a local primary school's annual Sports Day.
