Westmoreland Lock Hospital

Repository: Royal College of Physicians of Ireland

Identity Statement

TitleWestmoreland Lock Hospital
Archive ReferenceIE RCPI/WLH
Web Link to this Entryhttps://iar.ie/archive/westmoreland-lock-hospital
Creation Dates1792-1922
Extent Medium10 boxes

Context

Creator(s): Westmoreland Lock Hospital, Dublin

  • Administrative History ↴

    In 1755 George Doyle established a hospital for the treatment of venereal diseases (sexually transmitted diseases) on Rainsfort Street in Dublin. After several changes in location the hospital moved to Townsend Street in 1792 when it was renamed The Westmoreland in honour of the Lord Lieutenant at the time. Originally opening with 270 beds, the number was reduced to less than 200. In 1819 men were no longer admitted to the hospital, receiving treatment at Sir Patrick Dun's or Dr Steevens' Hospital instead. The hospital continued to treat women with sexually transmitted diseases, may of whom were prostitutes, partly a result of the large British garrisons in Dublin in the nineteenth century. In 1946 the hospital was renamed St. Margaret of Cortona, but ten years later the hospital closed as its services were no longer needed and the building had fallen into a state of disrepair.
  • Archival History ↴

    The records of the Westmoreland Lock Hospital were donated to the archive on the closure of the hospital. It seems that the majority of twentieth century records were destroyed.
  • Immediate Source Acquisition ↴

    Donation

Content & Structure

  • Scope & Content: Westmoreland Lock Hospital, Dublin ↴

    Papers of the Westmoreland Lock Hospital, from its foundation in 1792 to the beginning of the twentieth century. Records include administrative, financial and patient records created by the hospital.

  • Appraisal Destruction ↴

    Permanent Retention
  • Arrangement ↴

    WLH/1 Administrative Records
    WLH/2 Financial Papers
    WLH/3 Chaplaincy Records
    WLH/4 Patient Records

Conditions of Access & Use

Access Conditions Access subject to the conditions laid out in the Heritage Centre Access Guidelines
Conditions Governing ReproductionCopying of archive material is subject to the conditions laid out in the Heritage Centre Copying Guidelines
Creation Dates1792-1922
Extent Medium10 boxes
Characteristics Tech ReqSome of the volumes are damaged on the spines, and in addition many items have extensive surface dirt.
Finding Aids A collection list is available online and in the reading room Archive Web Link →

Allied Materials

There are no Allied Materials

Descriptive Control Area

Archivist NoteHarriet Wheelock
Rules/ConventionsISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description. 2nd ed. Ottawa: International Council on Archives, 2000. IGAD: Irish Guidelines for Archival Description. Dublin: Society of Archivists, Ireland, 2009. National Council on Archives: Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names. Chippenham: National Council on Archives, 1997.
Date of Descriptions40664