Over two centuries of care in Plymouth

Eminent local people met in the old Guildhall in Whimple Street to discuss establishing a Public Dispensary to provide medical care for the poor.

The Dispensary opened in rooms at the Mayoralty house in Woolster Street, later moving in February 1799 to rented rooms in How Street owned by Richard Cleverton.

Supported by donations, covenants and subscriptions, the Institution grew quickly — offering services such as inoculation against smallpox and breathing apparatus for respiratory problems.

A garden in Catherine Street was purchased for £235; building began in 1806. After Dr Charles Younge’s £1,000 bequest in 1807, the committee held its first meeting in the new building in November 1809.

Dr William Woolcombe was the first physician (1798–1816), succeeded by Joseph Collier Cookworthy — great nephew of William Cookworthy — until 1863, followed by many other eminent local doctors.

Land on Notte Street was acquired for a hospital that opened on 27 May 1840 with twelve beds as the South Devon and East Cornwall Hospital. It later grew to well over 100 beds.

With the Notte Street hospital considered inadequate, it was decided to build a new hospital at Greenbank.

The Catherine Street dispensary building was leased to the National Health Service from 1948 to 2013, and more recently to the British Red Cross. Today the charity continues its mission through carefully considered financial grants.