Royal Hospital, Chelsea (London)

Founded by King Charles II in 1682 as a home for soldiers unfit for further duty due to injury or old age.

Summary 17th century buildings Free admission Gift shop

Introduction

The Royal Hospital Chelsea is a retirement and nursing home for British soldiers declared unfit for further duty due to injury or old age. A true hospital in the original sense of the word, that is a place where hospitality is provided, it is home to just over 300 soldiers, referred to as "in-pensioners" or "Chelsea pensioners".

History to the present day

The Royal Hospital was founded by King Charles II, in order to make provision for old or injured soldiers. With its Grade 1 listed buildings, it still serves its original purpose and intends to continue to do so well into the 21st Century. Designed and erected by Sir Christopher Wren, the design was based on the Hôpital des Invalides in Paris.

The chosen site for the Hospital contained the uncompleted building of the former "Chelsey College", a theological college founded by James I in 1610. Never having been successful, the College was closed during the Civil War and was later used to house prisoners, both during the Civil War and in the later wars against the Dutch. Donated by Charles II to the Royal Society in 1667, it was repurchased by the King in February 1682 to provide the site for the Hospital since the Society had been unable to find a suitable use for the site.

By the time of Charles II's death, in 1685, the main hall and chapel of the Hospital were largely completed constructed and work finally completed in 1692. The first patients included those injured at the Battle of Sedgemoor and by the end of March that year, the full capacity of 476 former soldiers were in residence.

Parts of the hospital were heavily damaged, with some loss of life, by enemy bombing in 1918. They were reconstructed in 1923 only to be destroyed again in 1945. Further damage was suffered during the Blitz and the Infirmary was destroyed in 1941.

In 2002, the statue of King Charles II which has stood in Figure Court since 1692 was re-gilded to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee. Also in 2002, the hospital was presented with the Sovereign's Mace by Queen Elizabeth II.  Throughout its existence the Royal Hospital had no colours or other distinctive device. The Mace is now carried at all the Royal Hospital's ceremonial events. In 2009 the hospital was opened to women for the first time.

Other facilities

The Royal Hospital site contains a small but interesting Museum. The Museum is composed of artefacts left by deceased "In-Pensioners" and was originally opened in the Great Hall in 1866.

Arrival information and how to find us

Address: , London, , United Kingdom

Opening times:

Museum: Mon - Sat: 10:00am - 12:00pm and 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Sun 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Shop: Mon - Fri: 10:00am - 5:00pm and 10:00am - 4:00pm on Wednesdays. Sat: 10:00am - 12pm and 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Sun: 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Admission prices: Entry to The Royal Hospital is free.