Henry Currey FRIBA (1820–1900): Leading Victorian Hospital Architect, and Early Exponent of the “Pavilion Principle” G C Cook
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352 Postgrad Med J: first published as 10.1136/pmj.78.920.352 on 1 June 2002. Downloaded from HISTORY OF MEDICINE Henry Currey FRIBA (1820–1900): leading Victorian hospital architect, and early exponent of the “pavilion principle” G C Cook ............................................................................................................................. Postgrad Med J 2002;78:352–359 The “pavilion plan” for hospital design originated in was a greater degree of separation and segrega- France in the 18th century and was popularised in tion, than was provided by earlier designs, together with greatly improved “ventilation”. England by John Roberton and George Godwin in the mid-19th century; the underlying rationale was that with BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES improved ventilation the mortality rate (at that time Henry Currey was born in October 18203–8;hewas the third son of Benjamin Currey, a solicitor of exceedingly high) was significantly reduced. Among the Old Palace Yard, Westminster, who had for “many enthusiasts for this new style, was Florence Nightingale years [been] one of the Clerks of the Table” in the (herself a miasmatist)—who had experienced House of Lords.7 Educated at Dr Pinckney’s School at East Sheen, and later at Eton, he held the dis- astronomically high death rates in the hospital at Scutari tinction of having rowed in the school eight during the Crimean War (1854–6). One of the leading against Westminster. For five years, he was exponents of this style of hospital architecture was articled to Decimus Burton (1800–81)9 who had himself designed the new Charing Cross Hospital, Henry Currey (1820–1900) whose greatest built in 1831–4; following this he “went into the achievement was undoubtedly the design for the new St officeof...William Cubitt [1791–1863] & Co, Thomas’s Hospital on the Lambeth Palace Road. Gray’s Inn Road”, for nine months.67 He then travelled in Germany and Italy, and following his .......................................................................... return began practice as an architect (from his residence in Brook Street, Grosvenor Square) in he Architect and Contract Reporter for 30 Novem- 1843. He “obtained the first premium” in compe- ber 1900, recorded1: titions for “the erection of houses and terraces in “The profession of architecture in London has Toxteth Park, Liverpool”, and also “the enlarge- http://pmj.bmj.com/ T 67 been deprived of a prominent representative by ment of the Surrey County Lunatic Asylum”. the death of Mr HENRY CURREY (fig 1). His St. In 1847, Currey was appointed architect and Thomas’s Hospital [built in 1868–71] is an endur- surveyor to the Governors of St Thomas’s Hospital ing evidence of his skill, for, as it was one of the (a post which he held until his death) and moved first to exemplify the advantages of the pavilion to offices at 4 Lancaster Place, Strand; when that principle, it continues to be, after a quarter of a century, referred to as the [my italics] type of a modern hospital. Numerous as were the buildings on September 24, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. Mr CURREY designed, they represented only a part of his activity. He was recognised as a sound adviser on all questions relating to property in building, and as an arbitrator his experience was of much value. Mr CURREY was indisposed to seek after prominence outside the professional limits he had fixed for himself, but as an architect he won the respect of all who consulted him or were associated with him in business”. The “pavilion principle” (which was introduced into England in the mid-19th century—before ....................... the “germ theory” of disease was accepted—and continued, without serious challenge well into Correspondence to: Dr G C Cook, Wellcome the 20th) had been advocated by, among others, Trust Centre for the History Florence Nightingale (1820–1910) (who was of Medicine at UCL, 183 essentially a “miasmatist”) following her nursing Euston Road, London, experiences in the Crimean War (1854–6).2 This NW1 2BE, UK; [email protected] form of construction significantly improved the patients’ chance(s) of survival (which had hith- Submitted erto been depressingly poor in hospitals through- 3 December 2001 out Britain). The “pavilion plan” was both Accepted 20 February 2002 sanitary for the patient, and convenient for the Figure 1 Henry Currey FRIBA, 1820–1900 (The ....................... nurse.2 It was dependent on the fact that there Building News 1890;58:169). www.postgradmedj.com Henry Currey: leading Victorian hospital architect 353 Postgrad Med J: first published as 10.1136/pmj.78.920.352 on 1 June 2002. Downloaded from Figure 2 Ground plan of the Lariboisière Hospital.18 http://pmj.bmj.com/ building was acquired by the Metropolitan Board of Works sea walls, terraces, &c”.67 He built “sundry houses at (for an approach to the Embankment), he transferred to 37 Eastbourne, the Pavilion and Theatre at Devonshire Park [also Norfolk Street, Strand.5–7 Currey’s architectural practice was at Eastbourne], the College Building Chapel, &c”. Among “very considerable and varied”,7 his major work being the new other works, Currey designed “some warehouses in St. St Thomas’s Hospital following its removal from the Borough Thomas-street, Southwark . .; St. Paul’s Church [near (as a result of the enlargement of London Bridge Station). This Chiswick railway station]; and a lych-gate at St. Bartholom- new terminus had been designed by Henry Roberts in 1843–4, ew’s Church [Sydenham]”.5 Togetherwith his son (see below), on September 24, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. and the expansion “occasioned the destruction of nearly all “he carried out, in 1898, repairs and superintended the resto- the St. Thomas’s Hospital buildings ...towhich [Sir Christo- ration of the church of St. Clement Danes [Strand], and pher] Wren, in 1692–1711, [the hospital’s surveyor] Samuel prepared the plans and designs for the . reconstruction and Robinson, [and his partner] James Field in 1814–42, Sir Rob- extensive enlargement of the Queen Anne’s Bounty Offices in ert Smirke [1781–1867] . ., and Sir Charles Barry [Westminster], established in 1704”.5 This father-son partner- [1795–1860] . ., had in succession contributed various ship “acted also as honorary architects in respect of the plan- portions”.5 He also became architect and surveyor of the ning and designing of the St. Clement Danes and Clare- Foundling Hospital—where he “carried out extensive works market Parish Hall, 1897–8”.5 in the schools, chapel, and new infirmary”.67 Another Currey also seems to have been in great demand as an appointment was as architect and surveyor to the Magdalen “assessor [to the Metropolitan Asylums Board (MAB) which Hospital, Streatham. had come into existence in 1867]5 in important competitions, Among other works (not connected with hospitals) were: in valuations for compensation, and as an arbitrator”.67 “sundry country houses”—including one at Leigh, near His association with the (Royal) Institute of British Reigate (for James Freshfield), and one at Buxton (for John Architects (RIBA) began in 1848; he was elected Associate on Shaw, 1803–70); he was also responsible for hotels at Buxton, 20 November of that year, and on 14 April 1856 the fellowship Eastbourne, and London Bridge (1861–2),610 a large bathing [he was proposed by Decimus Burton,9 John Shaw and establishment and pump room at Buxton (1875), and the Charles Barry Jr] followed; he was a member of Council for Peninsular and Oriental Company’s offices in Leadenhall many years, and served as Vice President on two occasions: Street, together with “many other commercial buildings in the 1874–7 and 1889–93.5 He was also a Fellow of the Surveyors’ City and Southwark”.67Currey also erected “churches at Bur- Institution and an Associate of the Institution of Civil bage [Derbyshire], Buxton, Chiswick, Notting Hill, and St. Engineers (from 4 April 1848).56Currey was later a trustee of Peter’s, Eastbourne”. He laid out the Duke of Devonshire’s the RIBA, and “took an active interest in the work of the building estate at Eastbourne, and “executed large works on Architects’ Benevolent Society”. www.postgradmedj.com 354 Cook In 1845, Currey married the youngest daughter of Sir Postgrad Med J: first published as 10.1136/pmj.78.920.352 on 1 June 2002. Downloaded from Charles Price Bt (1800–72).67 Percivall Currey (1851–1918),8 one of his sons, also became an architect. Currey died at his home, The Chestnuts, Lawrie Park, Sydenham on 23 November 1900.4–6 Although it is widely assumed that architects and members of the medical profession have always worked closely together, satisfactory examples of close cooperation are few and far between2; Currey was an excellent example! SANITATION, VENTILATION, AND THE “PAVILION PRINCIPLE” Nightingale was anxious to incorporate sanitary reforms (espe- cially improved ventilation) into hospitals (earlier advocated by Southwood Smith11), probably largely as a result of the very high mortality rate (due principally to poor hygiene—as first suggested by the statistician William Farr FRS [1807–83]12)in her hospital at Scutari. She had initially attributed the fact that the mortality rate at that hospital was up to three times higher than in primitive front line hospitals in the Crimea, to overcrowding and/or the advanced state of the cases, rather than to poor sanitation.13 Nightingale was by no means the originator of the “pavilion principle” however; in Britain this must go to the surgeon (appointed to the Manchester Lying-in Hospital in 1827) John Roberton MRCSE (1797–1876)14 15 together with the editor of The Builder, George Godwin FRS (1815–88)—who publicised the “plan”; both blamed inadequate ventilation and poor planning for the prevailing high mortality in British hospitals. Figure 3 Title page of Florence Nightingale’s Notes on Hospitals 16 Roberton began his first paper14: published in 1859.