who were you ?

In January 2005, Chelsea College of Art and Design relocated to Millbank, next to Tate Britain. In fact, the history of the College goes back much further, to the late 19th century when the old academies of fine art were being challenged. So what was our college before?

The answer is Queen Alexandra's Military Hospital.

Information about the Queen Alexandra's Military Hospital (QAMH) in Millbank, London.

The Queen Alexandra's Military Hospital Millbank (QAMH) opened in July 1905. It was situated by the River Thames in SW1 London adjacent to the Tate Gallery. As with other military hospitals built in this era it was constructed to the Nightingale pattern.
Queen Alexandra's Military Hospital Millbank was officially opened by King Edward VII and his wife Queen Alexandra, the President of the QAs cited in the book  Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (Famous Regts. S) by Juliet Piggott).
One of the first Matrons at the QAMH Millbank was  Dame Maud McCarthy. 
The Army Medical School moved to a temporarily location in London in 1902 from the Royal Victoria Military Hospital Netley and then into Millbank College in 1907.

During World War Two the Muster point for Number 3 British General Hospital (BGH) was at Millbank and their destination was Offranville (cited in  Quiet Heroines: Nurses of the Second World War) by Brenda McBryde. The wards of the QAMH were named after RAMC holders of the Victoria Cross. For example this included the Martin Leake Ward for senior officers. 

Millbank Hospital Kitchen Photo

The Millbank Hospital kitchen photo below shows the staff of the Queen Alexandra's Military Hospital Millbank kitchens. The lady on the right of the photograph is Elizabeth Floodgate (nee Axten) who was a cook. Her grandson recalls a humorous family story which tells of her carrying a pot of custard from the kitchen to a ward and bumped, quite literally, into the King who was visiting! 

Memorial Plaque 

Mill Bank held a memorial tablet to the matrons, sisters and nurses of the military nursing services. This included members of the QAIMNS (Queen Alexandra Imperial Military Nursing Service), the Reserves (QAIMNSR) and TANS (Territorial Army Nursing Services) 
This marble memorial plaque was unveiled by Field Marshal Sir William Slim the CIGS. The memorial plaque was dedicated by the Chaplain General in the Millbank Chapel in 1949 (cited in the book Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (Famous Regts. S) by Juliet Piggott). It was situated in the North West corner of the Chapel of the Queen Alexandra's Military Hospital Millbank. The 33 names on the memorial span death dates from 1924 to 1934 but we are unsure why some of the names are on the memorial since many of the Sisters did not serve in France during the Great War and few named died in service.

The Tate Gallery hoped to purchase these Grade I and II listed buildings and they were eventually sold off to the Chelsea College of Art and Design. 

George Wright (RAMC) has been kind enough to research what was on the site of the former QAMH and share his memories: The actual hospital site itself now forms part of Tate Britain while the part that housed the Chelsea College of Art and Design was in fact the fine Royal Army Medical College (where I trained as a Lab Tech from 1970-72 before being appointed to QAMH, and which served not only as the training establishment for doctors but as the Officer's Mess for the RAMC/RADC stationed at the Millbank complex).