Royal Northern Hospital

Floor plan in 1893

A ward in 1912

The hospital was founded as an independent and voluntary hospital by Dr. Sherard Freeman Statham, a surgeon, at York Way near King's Cross in 1856.[1] It merged with the Spinal Hospital at Portland Road in 1862 but demerged again when it moved to Holloway Road as the Great Northern Central Hospital in 1888.[1] It became the Great Northern Hospital in 1911.[1]

The hospital received a royal charter on amalgamation with the Royal Chest Hospital in 1921.[1] The casualty department was built using public subscription. The foundations to the new casualty department was laid by Lady Patricia Ramsay in July 1923, and the new building was opened by the Prince of Wales on 27 November 1923.[2] The hospital joined the National Health Service in 1948.[1]

Following the reorganisation of the NHS facilities in North London whereby services were transferred to the Royal Free Hospital, University College Hospital and the Whittington Hospital, the hospital closed in 1992.[3]

The hospital was demolished in the mid-1990s to make way to a block of flats; the demolition was delayed when a body was found.[4] The body was later confirmed as Michelle Folan, who disappeared in 1981. Her husband, Patrick Folan, was convicted of her murder in 2001.[5]

The Royal Northern Gardens are located on the site of the former casualty department of the Royal Northern Hospital.[1]

• Cecil Willett Cunnington (1878-1961), physician and historian on costume and fashion[6]
• Phillis Emily Cunnington (1887-1974), physician and historian on costume and fashion[7]

• List of hospitals in England