A RICH & ROYAL HISTORY

King Edward VII Hospital was conceived in 1901 and opened by King Edward VII in 1906 amidst scenes of great public acclamation. During WWII the hospital served Air Force Pilots from the Battle of Britain, with Queen Elizabeth a regular visitor. Its Royal association is survived through the commemorative stone laid in the entrance hall by King Edward VII himself.

The building itself was designed by a young architect by the name of Charles Holden, who later went on to design many of London’s underground stations to great acclaim. Ironically, despite the Royal association of the building, Holden twice refused a knighthood, citing a belief that architecture should be a collaborative effort for which no one person should be rewarded.

The renowned horticulturalist Gertrude Jekyll, who had worked in conjunction with Sir Edwin Lutyens on over two hundred houses, was responsible for designing and planting the gardens, which are still today in their original form.