BermondseyBoy

St Geroges Circus--- Royal Eye Hospital

Once again, drifting over the border of Bermondsey, but a place I think we will all have known or perhaps been a patient there at one time or another.
Opened in 1857 with just 2 beds, it was known as the South London Ophthalmic Hospital, enlarged in 1860 the name was then changed to The Surrey Ophthalmic Hospital. It was given the title 'Royal' in 1869 and enlarged again in 1882 when it became known as the Royal Eye Hospital. It became part of the NHS in 1948 and contined as a hospital till the 1980s when it was closed to patients and was taken over by the Lambeth, Southwark, and Lewisham Health Authority. Later, on becoming derelict, it was demolished and replaced by McLaren House the Hall of Residence for London South Bank University housing some 600 students.

This clock tower was constructed in 1907 to designs by Jan F Groll, but was demolished in the mid-1930s after complaints that it was a nuisance to traffic. In the 1990s it was replaced by the obelisk designed by Robert Mylne that had originally stood on the spot since 1771, but which had been removed in 1905 ahead of the clock tower's construction.

The Obelisk was removed around 1897 to make way for the Jubilee Clock Tower.

Victoria Diamond Jubilee Clock Tower, St George's Circus, 1907. Duke of Clarence pub on left.

St George's Circus, 1945, The Royal Eye Hospital which was almost completely destroyed , Heavy German bombing of the area destroyed many of the buildings shown here.

St George’s Circus in 1930 showing the corner of Blackfriars Road and Waterloo Road - see the No. 68 bus! To the left is the Royal Eye Hospital and the extreme right is The Surrey Theatre a few years before its demolition.