Collection RHN - Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability

The Hospital was established in 1854 as the 'Royal Hospital' at Mansion House on 31 July 1854. The driving force behind the charity was the Reverend Andrew Reed (1792-1862), a Non-Conformist clergyman and philanthropist who established five charitable institutions in his lifetime including the Royal Orphan Asylum, Asylum for Idiots (later Royal Earlswood Hospital) and the Royal Hospital, later known as 'Royal Hospital for Incurables'. The aim of the hospital was to provide a permanent home for people living with disability where there was no known medical cure and no other family or parish support was available.

The Hospital was initially established in an old workhouse in Carshalton, Surrey from 1855-1857, but soon a new premises was required as patient demand grew. From 1857-1862, the Hospital was established in Putney House, situated on Upper Richmond Road, Putney before moving to its current location, Melrose Lodge (formerly West Hill Mansion) in 1862. Once moved the Hospital quickly began to convert the Georgian mansion for use as a convalescent home, which more accurately reflected the function of the institution. Work was quickly undertaken to build two new wings to the north and south of the Georgian mansion house, before a new wing was built from 1879-1882, which allowed the accommodation of 100 more patients and included an assembly room for religious services and performances.

The Hospital offices were based in the City of London until prior to the advent of the Second World War when they were transferred to the hospital. There is reference to there being a loss of some of the early documents in a fire but the main administrative documents of the early hospital survive. Other items were held for safekeeping at the hospital's solicitors, Farrer & Co, which were transferred back to the hospital in a safe deposit box.