The Royal London Archives
About the Archives
The Archives of The London (now The Royal London) Hospital date back to 1740, although patient records are only complete from 1883. The Archives hold records of numerous other hospitals, charities, training institutions and individuals and most of these are available for research.
The Archives are open to researchers by appointment only, Monday to Friday, 10am - 4.30pm. We are closed between Christmas and New Year, Easter and public holidays. Please email rlharchives@bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk or telephone 020 7377 7608 to make an appointment.
Records are held of The Royal London Hospital, London Chest Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children and other hospitals in Tower Hamlets and Newham, together with records of The London Hospital Medical College and The London Hospital School of Nursing.
Location
The Archives searchroom is in a separate location to the Royal London Hospital site.
Researchers must come to 9 Prescot Street, London E1 8PR if they have an appointment. Please be advised there is no admittance without an appointment.
Directions to the Royal London Hospital Archives
Summary of the holdings of The Royal London Hospital Archives –
The archives of The Royal London Hospital held by virtue of the appointment of the Archives as a Place of Deposit for public records under Section 4(1) of the Public Records Act 1958.
Archives of former District Hospitals and Special Health Authority Hospitals, held by virtue of the appointment of the Archives as a Place of Deposit for public records under Section 4(1) of the Public Records Act 1958:
- Albert Dock Hospital
- Bethnal Green Hospital
- East End Maternity Hospital
- East London Hospital for Children
- Forest Gate Hospital
- London Chest Hospital
- London Jewish Hospital
- Mildmay Mission Hospital
- Mile End Hospital
- Plaistow Maternity Hospital
- Poplar Hospital for Accidents
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children
- Queen Mary's Maternity Hospital
- Royal Brompton Hospital
- St. Andrew's Hospital
- St. Clement's Hospital
The archives of City and East London Area Health Authority(Teaching); Newham District Health Authority; Tower Hamlets District Health Authority; Bow Group Hospital Management Committee; Stepney Group Hospital Management Committee held by virtue of the appointment of the Archives as a Place of Deposit for public records under Section 4(1) of the Public Records Act 1958.
The archives of The Royal London Hospital and its Associated Community Services NHS Trust held by virtue of the appointment of the Archives as a Place of Deposit for public records under Section 4(1) of the Public Records Act 1958.
The archives of the Special Trustees of The Royal London Hospital, held on deposit from St. Bartholomew's and The Royal London Charitable Foundation.
Works of art and historical materials owned by the above bodies by virtue of purchase, commission, gift, etc, and transferred to the custody of the Archives
The archives, works of art and historical materials of the London Hospital Medical College, held on deposit from the College and of those Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry.
The archives, works of art and historical materials of clubs and societies associated with the Hospital and Medical College.
The archives, works of art and historical materials of Princess Alexandra & Newham College of Nursing & Midwifery and associated bodies, held on deposit from the College.
The archives of The Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust held on deposit from the Trust.
Personal papers and historical materials of private individuals and external organisations donated to the Archives, including those of Sydney Holland, 2nd Viscount Knutsford; Eva Luckes; Edith Cavell; Thomas Horrocks Openshaw; Hubert Maitland Turnbull; Dorothy Russell; Francis Camps, Donald Hunter, Douglas Northfield and Hamilton Bailey.
Details of our holdings can be found on the following websites:
www.nra.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/
More information
History of The Royal London publications