Nathaniel Heckford
Encyclopedia
Dr. Nathaniel Heckford was a paediatrician in Victorian
London
, who founded the East London Hospital for Children. He met his future wife, Sarah Goff, during the 1866 cholera
epidemic in Wapping
, where he first determined a need for a children's hospital in East London. Heckford himself died of consumption
at the age of 29.
The hospital started in 1868 in a warehouse in Ratcliffe
, and moved after Heckford's death to Glamis Road, Shadwell
. It was the first London hospital for children under two years of age. It was described in some detail by Charles Dickens
in a piece called 'A Small Star in the East', published in The Uncommercial Traveller
. The name of the hospital was changed to the Princess Elizabeth of York Hospital for Children in 1932, and later became part of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children
in 1942. It was closed in 1963.
Heckford Street, off the east end of The Highway
, commemorates Dr. Heckford. Created in the early 21st century, it is a small business park, mostly occupied by electrical and building trades.
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, who founded the East London Hospital for Children. He met his future wife, Sarah Goff, during the 1866 cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
epidemic in Wapping
Wapping
Wapping is a place in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets which forms part of the Docklands to the east of the City of London. It is situated between the north bank of the River Thames and the ancient thoroughfare simply called The Highway...
, where he first determined a need for a children's hospital in East London. Heckford himself died of consumption
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
at the age of 29.
The hospital started in 1868 in a warehouse in Ratcliffe
Ratcliff
Ratcliff or Ratcliffe is a former hamlet lying by the north bank of the River Thames between Shadwell and Limehouse. It is now a district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, and is located to the south of Stepney.-Etymology:...
, and moved after Heckford's death to Glamis Road, Shadwell
Shadwell
Shadwell is an inner-city district situated within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets located on the north bank of the Thames between Wapping to the south and Ratcliff to the east...
. It was the first London hospital for children under two years of age. It was described in some detail by Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
in a piece called 'A Small Star in the East', published in The Uncommercial Traveller
The Uncommercial Traveller
The Uncommercial Traveller is a collection of literary sketches and reminiscences written by Charles Dickens.In 1859 Dickens founded a new journal called All the Year Round and the Uncommercial Traveller articles would be among his main contributions...
. The name of the hospital was changed to the Princess Elizabeth of York Hospital for Children in 1932, and later became part of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children
Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children in London, England was formed from the 1942 merger of the Queen's Hospital for Children in Bethnal Green and the Princess Elizabeth of York Hospital for Children, Shadwell. The Shadwell site was closed in 1963. In 1996 the hospital became part of The Royal...
in 1942. It was closed in 1963.
Heckford Street, off the east end of The Highway
The Highway
The Highway, formerly known as the Ratcliffe Highway, is a mile-long road in the East End of London, with several historic landmarks nearby. The route dates back to Roman times. In the 19th century it had a very notorious reputation for vice and crime and was the site of the infamous Ratcliff...
, commemorates Dr. Heckford. Created in the early 21st century, it is a small business park, mostly occupied by electrical and building trades.
Sources
- "East London Hospital for Children" by V.A.J. Swain (PDF file--contains artist's rendering of the East London Hospital around 1900)
- Portrait of Dr. Heckford