£l0,000 TO WORLD’S OLDEST HOSPITAL

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12394, 13 March 1926, Page 11

£lo,ooo TO WORLD’S OLDEST HOSPITAL

FOUNDED AT ROCHESTER 847 YEARS AGO Mr Frank Lloyd, of Coombe House, Croydon, in contributing £IO,OOO to the extension of St Bartholomew’s Hospital, Rochester, asks that- one of the proposed -new wards should he named after his late wife. The secretary of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, which is said to be the oldest in the world, told a “Daily Chronicle” representative that Mr Lloyd’s gift had come at a 'most opportune time. “This hospital was founded lii years after William the Conqueror landed in Engjand,” he said. “It was founded for the reception of lepers, and during its 847 years’ history it has maintained a splendid service of the poor and suffering. ' The hospital serves the needs of Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, and Sheerness. In' 1868 the popuation of the district served was about 60,000, now it is three times as great. Sometimes patients have to wait four or five months before a bed is available, and additions to the building are urgently needed. OLD NORMAN CHAPEL “People here are doing what they can, but thero ate few rich residents, and we hope that Mr Lloyd’s magnificent gift will encourage others to do what they can foi the oldest hospital in the world.” Although the present building _ is comparatively modern, the _ hospital patients still use the beautiful old Norman chapel, the only part of the ancient hospital that remains. It is one of the earliest Norman churches in existence, the work of Bishop Gimdulf, Bishop of Rochester from 1077 to 1108. Indisnensable departments of the hospital, such as that devoted to X-ray work, need, enlarging, and rtore wards are wanted.