Forth Banks Infirmary
An eighteenth century print showing the Infirmary, Forth Banks, Newcastle upon Tyne in 1786.
The Infirmary opened on Forth Banks in 1752 'for the sick and lame poor of the counties of Newcastle, Durham and Northumberland'. It was a sign of the growing desire to take practical steps to improve the welfare of the poor. The hospital was built by subscription, using 47,000 bricks given by the Bricklayers' company. Entry to the hospital was by the 'letter system'. This meant that people had to provide a letter of recommendation from a subscriber before they could be admitted. The Infirmary was very popular and overcrowding led to several major extensions being built.
Suggested Further Reading
