Guy’s court, Playhouse passage, Drury lane.†
Guy’s Hospital.
S. Wale delin. B. Green sc. Oxon.
Guy’s Hospital, in Southwark, for the cure of sick and lame persons, was founded by Mr. Thomas Guy, a citizen and bookseller of London, who from a small beginning amassed an immense fortune, by his industry and frugality; and more particularly by purchasing seamen’s tickets in the reign of Queen Anne; and by his success in buying and selling South Sea stock in the year 1720. He was never married, and had no near relations; and therefore towards the close of his life, considering how he should dispose of his wealth, after many ruminations, resolved to be the founder of the most extensive charity ever established by one man. He was seventy-six years of age when he took this resolution, and having no time to lose, immediately took of the President and Governors of St. Thomas’s hospital in Southwark, a lease of a piece of ground opposite to that hospital, for the term of nine hundred and ninety-nine years, for a ground rent of 30l. a year; and as this was covered with small houses that were old and ill tenanted, he immediately gave the inhabitants notice of his intention, and when they had removed their effects, pulled down the buildings in the year 1721, and proceeding with all the expedition of a youth of fortune erecting a house for his own residence; he caused the foundation of the intended hospital to be laid the following spring, and this vast fabric was roofed before the death of the founder, which happened on the 27th of December 1724.
The only motive that induced Mr. Guy to erect this hospital in so low and close a situation, was his design of putting it under the management and direction of the Governors of that of St. Thomas. But by the advice of his friends he altered his resolution; it was then however too late to think of chusing another situation, for the building was raised to the second story, but he rendered the place as agreeable as possible by its elevation above the neighbouring streets.
The expence of erecting and furnishing this hospital amounted to the sum of 18,793l. 16s. great part of which he expended in his life time; and the sum he left to endow it, amounted to 219,499l. both together amounting to 238,292l. 16s. a much larger sum than was ever before left in this kingdom by one single person to charitable uses.
The edifice is situated at a small distance from the foot of London bridge, and consists of two quadrangles, besides what the print exhibits, which is intended when the old buildings are removed to be made regular. At your approach, which is a very narrow street, you first see the side of the square, which is very elegant, and a noble iron gate, with very handsome piers, but are much disappointed when you come nearer, to find the most contemptible front you can imagine. The whole side could not be represented in the print, as there was not distance in the street to bring it into the visual angle. The iron gates open into a square, in the middle of which is a brazen statue of the founder, by Mr. Scheemakers, dress’d in his livery gown, very well executed.
In the front of the pedestal is this inscription:
Thomas Guy sole founder of this hospital in his life time. A.D. MDCCXXI.
On the west side of the pedestal is represented in basso relievo, the parable of the good Samaritan; on the south side is Mr. Guy’s arms; and on that side of the pedestal facing the east, is our Saviour healing the impotent man.