Hospitals in Westminster 1871

[Jill Eaton]

I've had a look on the National Archives website and a general search of google to find out where someone poor would have been treated if they lived (and died) in the Westminster area in and just before 1871.

I have a death certificates that states "Ill for some time" and it occurs to me that they may have been hospitalised. I need to check the death certificate at home to remember exactly what they died of.

My biggest problem is not having grown up in London, I'm not familiar with what hospitals would have been open at the time or whether they were near enough to treat someone who was living in the Westminster area.

Since my ancestor was poor it's possible that it would have been a charitable institution and also possible that he wouldn't have been to hospital at all

[avm228]

What’s the actual place of death, according to the certificate?

[Jebber]

He would most likely have been treated in the workhouse infirmary, that was usually the only option for the poor.

For information on Westminster check out
 www.workhouses.org   

[Jill Eaton]

What’s the actual place of death, according to the certificate?

He died a Westminster Buildings, Old Pye Street, Westminster

of "phthisis" which I understand is either pulmonary tuberculosis or a wasting disease

I did wonder whether he might have been in a sanatorium but since he died at home it seems unlikely.

[avm228]

Phthisis was TB (also known as consumption at the time). It’s entirely possible he didn’t receive any medical care at all.  There wasn’t much which could usefully be done, and Old Pye St was very poor indeed.

More on the area here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil%27s_Acre

[avm228]

I did wonder whether he might have been in a sanatorium but since he died at home it seems unlikely.

I’m not sure that by 1871 there was such a thing as a TB sanatorium in England; when they were introduced they would have been private and costly.

[jonwarrn]

Sorry to wander off topic.
An article about the Working Mens Club and Lodging House, Old Pye Street, in the Illustrated London News, 26 May 1866, page 13. In the newspapers online, and it's also here (you can save the page!)
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015006993219;view=1up;seq=513

Has engraving of "Westminster Buildings"
Did you ever find a burial for JW?
I'm not sure that the available poor law records for that area circa 1871 are too helpful.
John

[Jill Eaton]

Found this:

http://www.ezitis.myzen.co.uk/londonchest.html

Would have been too late for my ancestor but interesting anyway

[Jill Eaton]

Sorry to wander off topic.
An article about the Working Mens Club and Lodging House, Old Pye Street, in the Illustrated London News, 26 May 1866, page 13. In the newspapers online, and it's also here (you can save the page!)
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015006993219;view=1up;seq=513

Has engraving of "Westminster Buildings"
Did you ever find a burial for JW?
I'm not sure that the available poor law records for that area circa 1871 are too helpful.
John

That's fascinating John! Actually really good to see that someone was trying to help the disadvantaged of the area.

I never found a burial for JW. I'm still 95% certain he was a catholic and as yet I can't find anything on Findmypast Catholic registers. Apparently the database is still incomplete.