Bryophytes and Buildings: Old Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh


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Old Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

Old Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh The construction of the (now old) Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, situated in Lauriston Place opposite George Heriots School, was begun in 1872 and completed in 1879. Started by the architect David Bryce, it was finished by his nephew John Bryce. The Royal Infirmary was designed in a Scots Baronial fashion with Holyrood-style towers. Florence Nightingale's principles of open layout were adopted and, with her approval, the hospital was built as a series of parallel pavilions projecting from either side of a long corridor on three floors.	The Old RIE Clock Tower
King George II	King George II The hospital succeeded the Earlier Royal Infirmary which was built in 1738 in the reign of King George II and from whom it received its Royal Charter. A bronze statue of George II ( created by James Hill in 1753) and costumed as a victorious Roman general stood outside the main entrance to the infirmary. The statue will be shifted to a new home in the new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at Little France on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
The Red home The hospital site also houses a number of other buildings constructed over the years. One of the most interesting of these buildings is the "Red Home" which was built in 1890 by the architects, Sydney Mitchell & Wilson, who were involved in the later developments of the hospital. The building has been built using red brick and banded with stone and overlooks a small quadrangle containing a lawn, trees and flowering shrubs.
	The Red Home Future With the move to the New Royal Infirmary, the fate of this buildings was in the balance as the developers of the site wanted to demolish it! Fortunately, the decision was reversed and the Red Home will continue to please the eye of the observer for many years to come.
The Donations Many individual and institutions gave generous donations to the original Royal Infirmary and in 1881 some of the panels recording these donations were transferred to the new building. Some of these donations are listed here: 1745. £180 from the Islands of Barbados. 1776. £50 left by the philosopher David Hume 1818. £50 from the Grand Duke Michael of Russia. 1822. £120 from King George IV on his visit to Edinburgh. These donations continued into modern times and corridors and stairways of the hospital are lined with many panels listing hundreds of contributions.
	Some Famous Names The long standing connection between the University of Edinburgh and the Infirmary has resulted in Edinburgh gaining an outstanding reputation for medical training, research and innovation. Of the very long list of eminent surgeons and physicians who have taught, trained or practised at the Royal Infirmary only a few can be mentioned here; James Young Simpson; The discoverer of the anaesthetic effects of chloroform. Joseph Lister; The pioneer of antisepsis. Sir Robert Philip; The conqueror of tuberculosis James Syme; The Napoleon of surgery.
A Continuing Tradition The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh served the people of the Edinburgh and the Lothians for over 120 years as well as training many doctors and nurses who took their skills and dedication to the far corners of the world. The new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, now located out at Little France, will continue this service and tradition far into the future.