It was founded to provide free advice and medicine for the poor, and to encourage vaccination.

The support and financing was largely from donations, concerts, fees and exhibitions.

[1] Three doctors were appointment annually after a table of their skills and cures had been examined.

[1] The dispensary had an income of around £200 annually and dispensed around £160 worth of medicine each year.

[1] It continued until Monmouth Hospital and Dispensary was opened at Cartref, St James' Square, in 1868.