Craigleith House /Royal Victoria Hospital/Sir Robert Philip M.D.
Apologies.... this page is being continually updated.
Last update 1st November 2008
HISTORY OF THE ROYAL VICTORIA HOSPITAL
Foreword
The present Royal Victoria Hospital
orinally started with the renting of Craigleith House in 1894,(no
photograph available) by Dr Robert William Philip, a pioneer in the treatment of
Tuberculosis. In the plan below can be seen Craigleith House,marked in red.
At the bottom
left of the plan above was the main entrance to the estate but is now,
known as the West Lodge and is an exit only.
********************************************
The main entrance to the present Royal Victoria Hospital, is shown below, in Craigleith Road, Edinburgh and was built and opened in 1907 after completion of the five "butterfly wards"
The East lodge is now the main entrance and on its left hand side can be seen a carved stone.
My thanks to 'The Court of the Lord Lyon' for the following explanation of the carved stone.
*******************************************************
Professor Robert William Philip 1857-1939
The following death notice was taken from the Scotsman's archives dated 26th January 1939
Professor Robert William Philip.1857-1939
The death occurred, at his residence, 9 Palmerston Road, Edinburgh, yesterday, January 25th 1939) of Sir Robert William Phillip,M.D.,LL.D., M.A., F.R.C.P. (Edinburgh and London), who had a world wide reputation as an authority upon tuberculosis. Sir Robert was one of the chief pioneers in the attempt to exterminate the disease-an attempt which has met with a great measure of success.
INTRODUCTION
Before going on to describe the development of the Royal Victoria Hospital it is necessary to explain that Dr Robert Philip set up the first tuberculosis clinic in the world in two small rooms in 13 Bank Street, Edinburgh on the 25th November 1887 named the Victoria Dispensary for Consumption (TB) and Diseases of the Chest.
A blue plaque on a building at the top of the Mound opposite the Law Courts states
"Near this place in 1887, Dr Robert Philip founded a tuberculosis dispensary, the first clinic in the world dedicated to fighting a disease of which he foretold Man's eventual mastery. That vision has brought hope to many lands."
In four years the two rooms were quite inadequate to meet the numbers of referred patients and in 1891 the dispensary moved to larger premises in Lauriston Place. In 1911 the now Royal Victoria Dispensary moved to much larger premises in Spittal Street.
Dr Philip's after creating the first clinic was to create a sanatorium to work in co-ordination with the dispensary. He stated that the sanatorium should not be isolated but be within the City for the convenience of patients and relatives and to show the community that fresh air treatment was possible in the heart of an urban area. To this end a few of his friends emerged as the Victoria Hospital Tuberculosis Trust and a suitable site was found in a charming Georgian mansion ( CRAIGLEITH HOUSE) a mile or so to the North of the town and it was opened as a sanatorium in 1894 and known as the Victoria Hospital for Consumption.
His treatment, before the discovery of medication, for the disease in its early stages, was revolutionary in that he would isolate the patient from family and friends, place them into an environment with plenty of sun and fresh air and with a certain amount of exercise. He also ensured that a follow up of the patient's contacts was necessary as Tuberculosis was a very contagious disease and there was also the requirement to educate patient and family on disposal of body fluids which would be heavily contaminated with the tuberculosis bacilli which was discovered as the causative organism by Robert Koch in Germany in 1882 the year Dr Robert Philip graduated MD at Edinburgh University.
The above photomicrograph (photograph taken with a light microscope x1000) shows red Tubercle Bacillus in a sputum sample. Stain used was a Ziehl Neelson.
*************
HISTORY OF THE ROYAL VICTORIA HOSPITAL, CRAIGLEITH ROAD EDINBURGH
In 1894 Craigleith House, Craigleith Road, Edinburgh, a late Georgian Mansion/Villa, was leased to Sir Robert Philip and turned into the 1st Tuberculosis (TB) Sanatorium in Scotland containing 12 beds. It was inaugurated on the 22nd November 1894 by Lord Stormonth-Darling, in the presence of a large assemblance of ladies and gentlemen.
In many early maps/plans,shown below, it was known just as Craigleith then Victoria Hospital for Consumption until Royal Patronage was given by King Edward VII in 1904 and the hospital became The Royal Victoria Hospital for Consumption.
The earliest plan of 1896 shows Craigleith House on the left of the picture and its extensive grounds to the front and on the right.
It was described as a well built, commodious mansion-house, surrounded by 7 1/2 acres of wooded park. It stands on a sunny eminence, but is well sheltered in various directions. Pleasant walks are laid out, and there is a fine one acre walled garden, still better protected.
There was accommodation for fifteen patients.
Ground floor contained two male wards each with three patients, the resident physician's apartments, laboratory,storeroom,etc.
First floor contained three larger wards for female patients and two smaller rooms, holding in all eight patients, the matron's room etc.
The second floor contained bed-room accommodation for day and night nurses and maids.
**************************
This may be a picture of Craigleith House as it's only referred to as "two children with nurse outside a sanatorium" dated 1923
*******************************
In 1899 Craigleith House and its extensive grounds (60 acres) were bought for £1,000 per acre by Dr.Robert Philip. The grounds were essential in the treatment of Tuberculosis as the patients were required to get plenty fresh air and the surrounding trees helped to filter the air!
TB was prevalent in the early
1900s and treatment was exposure to sunlight.
In total five small sun houses
were built in the grounds between 1903 and 1907 and were named the butterfly wards because of their shape.
**************************************
In the plan above can be seen the first three "Butterfly Wards" opened on 15th July 1903 by the Right Honourable the Earl of Rosebery KC:KT. Over to the top left of the plan is shown in green the laundry, now the maintenance workshops and the base for the Lothian Health Services van system, and to its left, in blue, the stables. The plaque above was removed from the butterfly wards on their demolition and can be seen in the main reception area of the R.V.H
*************************
Another two villas or butterfly wards and the administrative block (top right hand side of above picture) were opened on the 26th October 1907 by the Right Honourable A.J. Balfour MP. The plaque above was also removed from the butterfly wards on their demolition and is on display in the reception area.
***********************
Other shelters/chalets were erected in the grounds as shown below
These open air shelters were for patients to use on a daily basis and were fitted on rails to allow it to be positioned towards the sun.Photos by kind permission of Capital Collections at www.capitalcollections.org.uk
This two bed
wooden chalet was open at one end and patients slept out in them all year
round.
***************************
The Administrative block, opened in 1907, with bell tower, but no bell, still exists and incorporates the Board Room. Above the front entrance is a very large ornate Royal Coat of Arms seen below right. The picture on the left shows the front entrance and bell tower to the left of the picture.
On the coat of arms to the left is inscribed 'Dieu Et Mon Droit'('God and My Right'). To the right is inscribed 'Quis Sepa Rabit' ('We Must remain Neutral') and along the bottom is inscribed 'Nemo Me Impune Lacessit'('No One Harms Me With Impunity').
My thanks to 'The Court of the Lord Lyon' for the following explanation of the Coat of Arms
Shield: Quarterly, 1st and 4th, a lion rampant within a double tressure flory counterflory, 2nd, three lions passant guardant, 3rd, an Harp. Above the shield is set an Imperial Crown above which are placed three Helms suitable to His Majesty’s Sovereign jurisdiction, each with Mantling, that in chief His Majesty’s Royal Crest of Scotland, a lion sejeant affrontée imperially crowned, grasping in his dexter paw a naked sword and in his sinister paw a sceptre, both erected, and in an Escrol this Motto “IN DEFENS”; that on the dexter His Majesty's Royal Crest of England, on an Imperial crown, a lion guardant imperially crowned, and in an Escrol this Motto "DIEU ET MON DROIT"; and that on the sinister His Majesty's Royal Crest of Ireland on a wreath a tower triple-towered, from the portal a hart springing, and in an Escrol this Motto "QUIS SEPARABIT". Below the shield are His Majesty’s Royal plant badges, Thistles for Scotland, Roses for England and Shamrocks for Ireland, with His Supporters, dexter, an Unicorn crowned with an Imperial crown and gorged of an open crown to which is affixed a chain passing betwixt the forelegs and reflexed over his back, and sinister, a lion rampant guardant imperially crowned, the unicorn embracing and bearing up a banner charged of a Saltire or Cross of St. Andrew, the lion embracing and bearing up likewise a banner charged of a Cross of St. George.
***********************
At the same time as the final two butterfly wards and administration block were opened the unusual east entrance gateway and lodge was completed (1907) and is now the main entrance into the R.V.H complex off Craigleith Road
The administrative block and east entrance gate are both "B" listed buildings.
************************
A water colour painting of the Administrative block by Richard Jaques hangs in its boardroom.
********************************************
TREATMENT
Treatment of TB, in its early stages, in the early days was directed by Dr Robert Philip and consisted of increasing the patients immunological system by initially increasing the patients contact with fresh air, sunlight and mild exercise. At the same time it was necessary to stop the spread of the disease as well as finding other methods of defeating the disease by surgical procedures, medication, immunisation and improving the living conditions particularly in regard to cleanliness and the method for disposing of contaminated body fluids. By 1955 the direct attack on tuberculosis was being successfully mounted using all these methods as such there was less demand for TB beds but there was now an increased demand for the long term nursing care of the elderly.
For this reason the butterfly wards were converted in 1959 for the continuing care of the elderly patients who were unable to return home.
****************
The original Craigleith House after the Butterfly wards were built was used as a nurses home but became in much need of repair and it was decided to demolish it in 1960.
The converted "Butterfly Wards" were not absolutely suitable for patients and staff and modern ward facilities were built (1967), on the site of the original Craigleith House consisting of three 30 bed wards but still leaving the converted butterfly wards in use as seen in the above photograph.
The butterfly wards were eventually demolished around 1981 to make way for the third and final Phase of the R.V.H as seen in the above photograph
This consisted of a 6 x 30 bed complex and was opened on
20th November 1986 by Mr. R. Bruce Weatherstone, T.D.,C.A.
Chairman of the Lothian Health Board on the site of the original "butterfly
wards.
*********************
Finally a purpose built 30 bedded long stay care ward was built (circa 1970 ), with the help of a donation from Robert Alexander. To commemorate the origin of the hospital this Day Centre is named CRAIGLEITH HOUSE. The Day Centre is situated just inside the grounds at the West Gate.
*********************
The main entrance, seen in the above photograph, the main reception and W.R.V.S. area was refurbished in celebration of the Royal Victoria Hospital Centenary 1984-1994 and re-opened on 17th March 1995 by the actor, David Rintoul.
*********************
A commemorative plaque was erected on 17th March 1995 to honour the memory of SIR ROBERT PHILIP,1857-1939, WORLD PIONEER OF TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL AND FOUNDER OF THIS HOSPITAL.
***************************
The Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh published in their latest edition (September 2008) an historical obituary by Dr Derek Doyle of Sir Robert William Philip (1857-1939), along with his portrait and I am grateful to Dr Derek Doyle and the Royal College of Physicians for permission to publish it in full
SUMMARY
The first phase, of the current Royal Victoria Hospital, of three thirty bed wards was built in 1967 partly on the site of Craigleith House which had fallen into disrepair.
A thirty-bed day centre was built in 1975.
Six more thirty- bed wards were opened in 1986 on the site of the Butterfly Wards.
Plans for a brand new building for medical services for the elderly, currently provided at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Edinburgh have been given the go-ahead (2008) subject to obtaining Local Authority planning consent. The proposals are for medical services for patients over 65 years of age to be provided in a new facility to be built on the Western General Hospital site adjacent to the current hospital.
March 2009 News Flash
Royal Plans Ready by the end of 2009.
Detailed plans for the reprovision of the Royal Victoria Hospital will be finalised and submitted for approval by the end of 2009. The new RVH is proposed to be built on the site of the Paderowski Hospital within the grounds of the Western General Hospital and is hoped it would to be up and running by early 2010. **************************************************************************
References.
(1) Williamson, J. Tuberculosis revisited-or-How we nearly conquered tuberculosis. 2008. http://www.smj.org.uk/tb1200.htm
(2) Fortescue Fox.,R. The Coming of Physical Medicine. A memorial to Sir Robert Philip.
(3) Historic Scotland. Extracts from unpublished survey of Hospitals c 1990
(4) Charles Dickson, of RVH staff, for his supply of many photographs many still to be shown.
(5) RVH for permission to examine/photograph the many photographs and documents hanging in the main reception and WRVS canteen.
(6) City of Edinburgh Planning archives for various plans.
(7) RCAHMS for access to aerial photographs.
(7) Map Library Edinburgh
(8) Scotsman archives
(9) Lothian Health Service Archive staff.
(10) Royal College Physicians Edinburgh.
(11) A history of the Western General Hospital (Edinburgh) by Martin Eastwood and Anne Jenkinson. J. Donald Publishers Ltd Edinburgh
(12) 'The Court of the Lord Lyon' and in particular Bruce Gorie Secretary to the Lyons Office. *****************************************************************
My thanks to the many people I have met and spoken with on the telephone and who have given me good advice on how/where to contact people with some knowledge of the RVH complex. I still have lots of archival material to examine and hopefully will complete this winter.
Acknowledgements and references. If I have omitted to acknowledge my apologies.
Any errors, mistakes or further information please feel free to comment alanross@blueyonder.co.uk