The Sheffield Royal HospitalA History of a City's Quest for Healthcare

A hospital's story, told from the records it left behind.

Through extensive archival research and original source material, The Sheffield Royal Hospital: A History of a City's Quest for Healthcare presents the most comprehensive account to date of the Sheffield Royal Hospital. It charts the hospital's development, its achievements and its contribution to healthcare in Sheffield.

Richly illustrated and meticulously researched, it captures the stories of the institution and the people who dedicated their lives to serving the city.

The Sheffield Royal Hospital began as the Sheffield Public Dispensary, founded in 1832. As the town grew, so did the dispensary: it was extended in 1860 and again in 1870, becoming the Sheffield Public Hospital.

In the early 1890s it was completely rebuilt on West Street, between Westfield Terrace, Devonshire Street and Eldon Street. The new building was opened by the Duchess of York on 11 May 1895 as the Sheffield Royal Hospital. In the 1920s the neighbouring Mount Zion chapel was taken over and turned into an out-patients department.

The hospital joined the National Health Service in 1948. In 1978 its services moved to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital and it closed. The buildings were demolished in 1981; only the façade of the Mount Zion chapel survives.

Did you work or train at the Royal, or were you or a relative treated there? Share your memories.

Glynn May researches and writes about the history of Sheffield. His work is built on original sources: the city's newspapers, registers and archives.

The Sheffield Royal Hospital: A History of a City's Quest for Healthcare is the result of that research, and tells the story of the Sheffield Royal Hospital and the people who served it.