The West of England Eye Infirmary was a specialist ophthalmic hospital in

Exeter Exeter () is a city in Devon, South West England. It is situated on the River Exe, approximately northeast of Plymouth and southwest of Bristol. In Roman Britain, Exeter was established as the base of Legio II Augusta under the personal comm ...

Devon Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devon is ...

History

Foundation

A meeting was held on 11 August 1808 at the

Royal Clarence Hotel The Royal Clarence Hotel is a former hotel in Cathedral Yard, Exeter, Devon, England. It is often described as the first property in England to be called a hotel; however, The German Hotel, London, was described in this way in 1710, so it is p ...

where plans were made for a dedicated eye hospital in Exeter. The hospital was set up in a house on Holloway Street, with seven beds. The West of England Eye Infirmary was the first dedicated regional eye hospital outside London, although at least 18 others were set up in the following 25 years, including one at Taunton. The hospital opened on 1 November 1808, under the patronage of the

Prince of Wales Prince of Wales ( cy, Tywysog Cymru, ; la, Princeps Cambriae/Walliae) is a title traditionally given to the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. Prior to the conquest by Edward I in the 13th century, it was used by the rulers ...

(later

George IV George IV (George Augustus Frederick; 12 August 1762 – 26 June 1830) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from the death of his father, King George III, on 29 January 1820, until his own death ten y ...

), and in its first year treated 815 patients.

Move to Magdalen Street

Only 5 years after opening, the Holloway Street property was too small for the patient demand, and the hospital moved to larger premises at Magdalen Street in 1813. The new property was a three storey house, which was extended over the years. A second surgeon was appointed in 1836. In 1880, the hospital acquired additional land between the infirmary and Bull Meadow, until a large continuous plot was in possession of the hospital. A number of extensions and alterations to the building were made in 1882, and twenty new beds were added, making a total of 50 inpatient beds.

New building

The committee of the hospital proposed a new premises in 1892. An appeal was launched in 1896 to fund a new building, although progress was initially slow. The foundation stone of the new building was laid on 11 April 1899, with a design by Sir Alfred Brumwell Thomas. By October 1900, two sections of the new building were nearing completion, although the committee did not raise as much money as had been hoped, and therefore had to take loans against capital to complete the work. The new buildings were opened on 10 October 1901 by Margaret, Lady Clinton. At the time of opening, over £6,000 still remained to be raised that has been advanced from capital, and this was mentioned in Lady Clinton's opening speech.

Closure

In 1992, the hospital closed, with the services moved to a unit at the newly built

Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (commonly referred to as RD&E), and with a main site sometimes known as Wonford Hospital, is a large teaching hospital situated in Exeter, Devon, England, and is run by the Royal Devon University Healthcare NH ...

Wonford site.

Subsequent use

After a period of vacancy, the University of Exeter used the building. In 2001, following a refurbishment, the building was opened as the Hotel Barcelona. It has subsequently remained a hotel, and been the Magdalen Chapter Hotel, before becoming the Hotel du Vin.

References

{{Reflist Exeter Hospitals in Devon Hospitals in the United Kingdom