Central London Ophthalmic Hospital, Judd Street, St Pancras London WC

A purpose-built, eye hospital designed by John Ladds and built 1911-13. It is of four storeys, basement and attic and in 1991 was the home of the Institute of Ophthalmology. In 1911 the Duchess of Albany laid a foundation stone for a purpose-built hospital in Judd Street.  She returned in July 1913 to open the new 5-storey building, which initially had 24 beds in two wards on one floor, with small wards for septic cases.  The nursing staff consisted of two Sisters and four probationers.  The Out-Patients Department, which had its own operating theatre, was already in use.  It had closed in Grays Inn Road on a Saturday and re-opened in Judd Street the following Monday. Later, as the Hospital became fully equipped, 40 beds were available - one floor of wards for men and one for women.  During WW1 beds were placed at the disposal of the War Office for sick and injured servicemen. In 1921, because of severe financial difficulties, the Hospital Committee was forced to close half the beds.

OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL - In the year 1843 there was established the Central London Ophthalmic Hospital, and so popular it been that from time to time it has had to be enlarged to cope with the demands made upon its activities. The lease of the present building is terminating shortly, and the managers resolved upon the erection of a more commodious building, where all the requirements of an ophthalmic hospital will be available, and where skilled treatment can be freely afforded to those in necessitous circumstances. On the 5th instant, the Duchess of Albany visited Judd-street. St. Pancras, to lay the foundation stone of the new building. …. Mr. John Ladds, the architect. having handed her Royal Highness a suitably inscribed trowel, the Duchess procced to lay the foundation stone, after which the Right Rev. Bishop Stirling offered a dedicatory prayer. [Shoreditch Observer 15 July 1911 page 8]

Reference           Shoreditch Observer 15 July 1911 page 8

Archive              London Metropolitan Archives: City of London: A/FH/A/16/031/027/002
Estate: Plans, Sections and Elevations for Central London Ophthalmic Hospital, Judd Street, Compton Street. John Ladds. Plan Nos.1-10. Coloured.