Medical dates:

Medical character:

The Camberwell Workhouse opened in 1818 in Havil Street, in the parish of St Giles.

Work began in 1873 to build a large infirmary to the north of the workhouse, at the junction with Brunswick Road (later renamed St Giles Road).

The Camberwell Workhouse Infirmary opened in 1875.  It had a 5-storey central administration block, which contained offices, accommodation for staff, and special wards.  On either side of this central block was a 3-storey wing - the north side one for men and the south side for women.

In 1890 a new 4-storey ward tower fronting onto Havil Street was opened.  Circular in design (which was fashionable at that time), it had cost about £14,500.  Each storey contained 24 beds radiating around a central shaft, in which heating and ventilation services were located.  

The infirmary was extended again during 1899-1903, when more ward blocks, an operating theatre and a Nurses' Home were added.  An administration block on the Brunswick Square side was also built, as well as new Guardians' offices on the southeast part of the site.

In 1913 it was renamed the Camberwell Parish Infirmary.

In 1930 its administration was taken over by the LCC.  At this time it had 828 beds.

During WW2 the Infirmary was damaged by a V1 flying bomb, which also partly demolished Bentley House, an apartment block on the corner of St Giles Road and Peckham Road.

In 1948 the Infirmary joined the NHS and was renamed St Giles' Hospital, coming under the administrative control of the Camberwell Hospital Management Committee, which included St Francis' and Dulwich Hospitals.

By 1962 it had 343 beds.  In 1966 it became part of the King's College Teaching Hospital Group and, four years later, the Nursing Schools of both Hospitals merged.  In 1967 it had 384 beds.

By 1974 the Hospital had 283 beds.

The Hospital closed in 1983, and services were transferred to St Francis' and Dulwich Hospitals.  It became a psychiatric Day Hospital in association with King's College Hospital.

Present status (January 2008)

Many buildings were not required and were demolished.  The Grade II listed circular ward block built in 1889 has been converted into apartments - St Giles Tower.  The NHS uses a small Arts & Crafts style building as a medical centre.