The history of St. George's Hospital / [George C. Peachey].

  • Peachey, George C. (George Charles), 1862-1935.
Date:
1910-1914
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The history of St. George's Hospital / [George C. Peachey]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    THE HISTORY OF ST. GEORGE’S HOSPITAL. The history of hospitals in England is practically that of the provision made by successive generations for the relief of the sick and impotent poor. Even before there were any Kings of England, gilds existed in well-nigh every town which dispensed charity and undertook the duties now performed by hospitals, almshouses and guardians.1 While the country was still undivided into parishes, the bishops as incumbents of the whole of their respective dioceses received the tithes payable upon the land; but later on, when churches became more numerous and were appropriated to the religious houses, one-third part was allotted as stipend to the priest in charge of each parish, and the remainder was retained by the monks for their own maintenance, for hospitality extended to the stranger and for poor relief. In order to accommodate not only its own sick and infirm, but also pilgrims passing on their way, and other strangers who might apply for medical treatment, each monastery had apartments specially set aside for use as an infirmary. Besides these there were the hospitals, or more properly speaking, almshouses, for the aged and infirm, the majority of which were endowed by private benefactors in order to secure for their souls the future benefits promised by the Church. The Early Gilds The Monas- teries