[2] It was built by the Guardians of the Poor of the parish of Southwark St Saviour to ease pressure from overcrowding at their existing workhouse infirmary in Newington.

The same visitor observed the hospital wards as being 'long and bright, and we were struck by the large number of men in bed, but even these were smoking and reading or playing games.

[1] In 2016 Southwark Council received consent from the Greater London Authority to build a health centre and school on the site, and to demolish the remaining ward blocks, walkways, and nurse’s quarters.

[14][15] The contractors were Kirk and Randall of Woolwich, prominent London builders who constructed numerous notable buildings, including the grade I listed Greek Cathedral of Aghia Sophia in Bayswater.

[16] The landowner of the site, Mr E. J. Bailey, wrote in 1881 that he would only sell the land on condition 'that a public building only should be erected thereupon and the elevation thereof should be of an ornamental character.

[19] Nurse's quarters with Arts and Crafts-inspired features were built parallel to the end Western ward block in the early 20th century.

Florence Nightingale was a proponent of the idea that the high patient mortality rate could be reduced with good ventilation and sunlight.

To this end, Nightingale wards were designed as narrow blocks with tall windows at regular intervals along both sides to allow cross-ventilation.

The, now demolished, Eastern ward block had a basement story of open piers and arches allowing a free circulation of the air beneath the ground floor.