An old engraving of The Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London, England, UK from the River Thames c. 1700. It is a retirement home and nursing home for British Army veterans. Founded as an almshouse (old word for 'hospital') King Charles II founded it in 1682. The site for the Royal Hospital was an incomplete building 'Chelsey College'. Christopher Wren designed extensions to by adding two additional quadrangles east and west of the central court. It opened in 1692.
An old engraving of The Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London, England, UK from the River Thames c. 1700. It is a retirement home and nursing home for some 300 veterans of the British Army. Founded as an almshouse (the old word for 'hospital') King Charles II founded the Royal Hospital in 1682 as a retreat for veterans. The site for the Royal Hospital was an area of Chelsea which held an incomplete building 'Chelsey College', a theological college James I founded in 1609. The main inspirational force behind the foundation of the Hospital was Sir Stephen Fox (1627–1716), Paymaster of the Forces and a trusted and able royal administrator of the King. Christopher Wren designed an extension to original design adding two additional quadrangles to the east and west of the central court; these were known respectively as the 'Light Horse Court' and the 'College Court'. Due to mismanagement by Lord Ranelagh, the Hospital Treasurer, the building was not completed until 1692.
Size: 3307px × 2200px
Location: Chelsea, London, England, UK
Photo credit: © M&N / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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