Issue 42 summer 24 web - Flipbook - Page 72
Refurbishment of the
Long Wards at the Royal
Hospital Chelsea
by Laura Morgante
It is a fundamental principle that the best protection for an historic building is to ensure its viable use and the
Royal Hospital Chelsea has continued its original purpose (through numerous minor adaptations) for well
over 300 years; sheltering retired British Army soldiers since 1692. Peregrine Bryant Architects has been
involved with the Royal Hospital from 2006 to this day, overseeing not only the complex adaptation of the
Long Wards (2006 – 2014), but also development throughout the ancillary West Road site with the Garages
and the Prince Philip Building that enable the Soane Stables conservation project and new use as a Museum.
Foundation of the Royal hospital
Towards the end of the 17th century, Charles II saw the
housing of retired soldiers from his expanded army as a
pressing problem. An intriguing solution was offered by
the Duke of Monmouth’s 1672 visit to Hôtel des Invalides
in Paris, begun in 1670 by order of Louis XIV. In 1681,
the King instructed his first Paymaster to the Forces, Sir
Stephen Fox, to find a site and attend to the building of a
hospital ‘…for the relief of such land souldiers as are, or shall
be, old, lame, or infirme in ye Service of the Crowne’.
The site chosen was that of the Theological College,
Chelsea, the buildings were found to be entirely unsuitable for the purpose and, in 1682, both the college and
lands were sold to the Crown for £1,300. The buildings
were promptly demolished and Christopher Wren was
appointed to design a new hospital on the site.
In the year 1682, Wren drafted a memorandum which
outlined his vision for the hospital: The two sides of ye Court
are double building in three stories and garrets, both containing
sixteen galleries, in each of which are 24 Cells divided off with
partitions of wainscot, and two larger Cells for corporals… the
upper end or front hath an Octagonal Vestibule in the middle
covered with a Cupolo and Lanthorne 130 fot high, and before
it a Portico of Doric order… on each hand of which are lower
Porticos leading to each wing. On each side of the vestibule are
assents to the Hall on one hand and the Chappell on the
other… On the corners of the building are 4 Pavilions… the
lesser Porticos and principal doorways are Portland Stone. The
rest of the Fabrick is brick, and the whole piled well and durably
built with good materials.
