St. Mary's Mary-le-bone and Paddington Hospital - North East View in Cambridge Place

St. Mary's Mary-le-bone and Paddington Hospital is depicted here from the north-east in Cambridge Place.

The hospital was proposed in 1842 and the foundation stone was laid by Prince Albert in 1845. The contractor went bankrupt and building work was delayed but the first ward finally opened in 1851. The hospital was originally going to be called Marylebone and Paddington Hospital, but the name St. Mary's was adopted at an early stage from the nearby church. The hospital plans were by Thomas Hopper, who is credited on the print.

This print by George Hawkins is after a work by the artist George Russell French. Although Hawkins started out as an architectural draughtsman, he became a successful lithographer who focused on contemporary and historical architecture. In 1844 Hawkins started work on a series of plates for 'The Monastic Ruins of Yorkshire', one of his most important undertakings.