ABSTRACT

During the half-century 1870-1920, the 'Merchant Navy of the world' expanded significantly: for example, 'In 1860 the Mercantile Marine of the principal European maritime countries, and of the USA, comprised 10,806,642 tons'; around 1880, 'it consisted of 14,490,038 tons'. When the Society became land-based in 1870 the Seamen’s Hospital Society abandoned its central London office, and administration was relocated to the Dreadnought Hospital itself. However, in 1890 a new office was opened in the city, at 24 Budge Row. A former probationer nurse has recorded her recollections of the Dreadnought in 1902: There were a few old naval pensioners in the wards, as well as a patient who had actually worked on the last of the hospital-ships. Many, but not all of the fittings on the 'Dreadnought'-ship had been removed to the land-based Hospital; the remainder were sold by auction. A significant development was the amalgamation of the Dreadnought, and Miller Pathological Departments.