A ward at the Dreadnought Hospital, Greenwich.

Dreadnought Hospital Greenwich.

Repro ID: H0659

Description: A ward at the Dreadnought Hospital, showing a nurse watching over two patients.The Seamen's Hospital Society was founded in 1821 to care for sick and injured seafarers in the merchant Navy. From 1821 to 1871, the work of the Society was carried out on board a hospital ship moored on the Thames at Greenwich. Three ships were successively made available by the Admiralty and were converted to hospital use at the expense of the Society. The lower decks were used as wards and the top deck fitted with canvas shelters for the convalescent patients. In 1870 the hospital came ashore when the the Society was granted the use of the infirmary of the Royal Hospital Greenwich and grew to accommodate 345 beds.

Creator: Unknown

Date: 19th century

Credit line: National Maritime Museum, London