The hospital was financed through the will of a French benefactor, Marguerite Amice Piou, with the land to build it acquired for £8,500.

[1][2] It had 100 beds when it was opened by Sir David Burnett, Lord Mayor of London, in March 1913.

[1] The hospital was placed under the management of the Order of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God and, two years later, of the Sisters of Mercy.

[1] Visitors at that time included the Duke and Duchess of Vendôme as well as the Prince and Princess Victor Napoléon.

[1] The hospital had many famous patients including Lionel Logue, the speech therapist who helped King George VI overcome his pronounced stammer,[3] Freya Stark, the celebrated explorer and travel writer,[4] and the actress and singer Lily Elsie.