A history of Mildmay Hospital
William Pennefather (1826-1873)
by an unknown artist
stipple engraving, mid 19th century
NPG D11183
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Mildmay Hospital has its origins in the work of The Rev. William and Catherine Pennefather and their team of Christian women, later known as Deaconesses, who began their work of visiting the sick of the East End during the Cholera outbreak of 1866.
The Mildmay Medical Mission was opened in 1877 by William's widow Catherine Pennefather and eleven other women, in a converted warehouse behind Shoreditch Church, in Turville Square/Cabbage Court in the Old Nichol slums.
Dedicated to the memory of William, who had died in 1873, it consisted of twenty-seven beds in three wards, with one doctor, three nurses and five deaconesses-in-training. The Hospital was recognised for the training of nurses in 1883.
Although the hospital did not require letters of admission, like many other voluntary hospitals of the time, and it did not discriminate by religion, throughout its existence the Mildmay stressed its role as an evangelical Christian centre as well as a general hospital; prayers were held on the wards, and biblical quotations were painted on the walls. Staff regarded their work as a religious as well as a medical vocation. Despite this, the hospital had a strong tradition for treating Jewish immigrants to the East End.
An article from the wonderful Spitalfields Life by Linda Wilkinson explores the Mildmay Mission's Victorian origins.
(Click the title to expand this section)
Training nurses
"Florence Nightingale had the greatest respect for both groups, hailing "Every attempt to train in practical activity all female missionaries"... Her interest was no doubt particularly stimulated by the fact that, some of them [in other Mildmay Institutions] specialised in nursing and so were among some of the first trainee nurses in the country"
D. Taylor-Thompson, 'Mildmay'. page 8
Deaconesses
In a bid to improve the living conditions of the poor, the Pennefathers (for Catherine was as much, if not more involved than her husband) recruited a team of Christian women, who became known as Deaconesses, and whose training as missionaries included biblical tuition, sewing, cookery, housekeeping, singing and bookkeeping in preparation to work in a Mildmay Mission or abroad.
Catherine Pennefather
Waiting at Outpatients
'The Pennefathers' missionary projects included; a Men's Night School, Sewing classes for widows, a Flower Mission, a Lads' Institute, a Servants' training home, and a Missionary training home. William took some inspiration from a Lutheran "Order of Deaconesses" in Germany'.
D.Taylor-Thompson, 'Mildmay- The Birth and rebirth of a unique Hospital'. London, 1992
Ceremonial laying of Mildmay's foundation stone
The slum clearances carried out by the London County Council in the 1880s and 1890s threatened the original site, and in 1890, a foundation stone was laid for a purpose-built hospital at Austin Street and Hackney Road.
The new Mildmay Mission Hospital opened in 1892, with 50 beds in 3 wards; male, female and children's.
(The Mildmay Mission itself was based from c.1870s-1950s at Central Hall, Philpot Street, close to the Royal London Hospital).
The portico above the main entrance of the 1892 hospital
A postcard of Mildmay, posted in 190.
Click to enlarge
Mary Richards
Mary Richards entered training at the Mildmay Mission Hospital in April 1931 and left after completing her training and receiving her certificate in May 1934. Mary was from Brixworth, Northants and aged 22 years when she started her training; she had previously learned dressmaking, housewifery, and cookery, all skills previously required by women who became Mildmay Deaconesses prior to Nurse training becoming an option.
Mary had worked in a girls village home for nearly two years, and her religious faith was described as C of E. Many applicants to train as nurses at Mildmay were also Church Missionary Society candidates. Her report describes her as 'A kind, reliable capable nurse.'
Mary returned in 1938-9 working for six months as a Nursing Sister, for the last eight days she was in charge of the male ward, Mathieson.
Mildmay Hospital nursing badge awarded to Mary Richards
With thanks to Sarah Rogers for this information and image.
Show your support for Mildmay
We have created this special commemorative lapel badge, based on the original Mildmay nursing badge, to mark 145 years since the opening of the first Mildmay Medical Mission in 1877.
By purchasing a badge you are making an invaluable financial contribution towards the running of our charitable hospital while at the same time, helping to raise awareness of, and demonstrating your commitment to our cause and support of our work.
Women's ward
A postcard donated to us in April 2021
The hospital with a difference!
This is a fundraising booklet for the new hospital extension, circa 1939, featuring a visit by Queen Mary. Towards the back of the pamphlet are some great adverts from local suppliers to Mildmay of all kinds of goods, from paint to laundry services, affirming the hospital's place within the local community.
This booklet was sent to us by someone who has a story about their aunt, who worked at Mildmay. Read it here.
In 1948 the hospital was incorporated into the National Health Service as part of the North East Metropolitan Regional Board's Central (No. 5) Group of Hospitals and transferred in 1966 to the East London Group. In 1974 it became part of the Tower Hamlets Health District.
But by 1982, as a hospital with less than 200 beds, the NHS regarded Mildmay as no longer economically viable, and it was closed down.
Front cover
Front cover
1988: Mildmay becomes Europe's first AIDS hospice
In 1985, the hospital was reopened outside the NHS as a charitable nursing home, with a GP surgery attached and caring for young chronically sick patients.
In 1988, it became Europe's first hospice caring for people with HIV/AIDS and their families, acquiring a worldwide reputation.
It was famously visited by Diana, Princess of Wales, several times in the 1980s and 90s.
Princess Alexandra met patients when she officially re-opened the Mildmay Mission Hospital on 19 May 1988.
Diana, Princess of Wales, helps to break down the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS
Diana, Princess of Wales, made three official and 14 unofficial visits to our Shoreditch hospital between 1989 and 1997, sometimes arriving at 11 pm and staying until the early hours. She would sit with dying patients, holding hands and offering comfort.
Princess Diana's foreword to the book, A Time to Care - Mildmay Hospital's response to people with AIDS, by Ruth Sims.
By 2014, the old hospital was demolished and our new, purpose-built specialist HIV hospital was opened.
Timelapse video of the demolition of the old Mildmay Hospital buildings in 2011
Mildmay, prior to its closure by the NHS in 1982
The Bert Miller Photographic Archive
Bert Miller was at Mildmay for 30 years; employed for 7 and a volunteer for 23. During some building work, Bert saw some photo transparencies lying in a skip. He retrieved them and took them home. On inspecting them, he found that they were photographs of the hospital and staff dating back to the early 1960's.