Original Block Of Richmond Royal Hospital

The original block of Richmond Royal Hospital, dating from the mid-18th century, was initially a private house. It originally comprised a five-bay central section and two-bay wings set back. The south wing was demolished around 1882, when an additional storey was added to the north wing and a projecting two-storey wing partially obscured the north wing’s original facade.

The poet James Thomson resided here from 1736 until his death in 1748, during which time he composed notable works, including "Alfred" (which features the anthem "Rule Britannia"), "The Castle of Indolence," and "The Seasons." Following Thomson's death, the house was purchased by George Ross, who enlarged it. Later, in 1786, it was bought by Mrs. Boscawen, widow of an admiral, and subsequently by the 6th Earl of Shaftesbury, who renamed it Shaftesbury House.

The building is constructed of stock brick, with a roof partially concealed by a parapet and partially tiled. It consists of two sections. The right-hand section is three storeys and five bays, featuring a stone coping that steps up to form a pediment at the centre. The upper floor windows have nine panes, while those on the first floor have twelve. The ground floor bays are largely obscured by a late 19th or early 20th-century projection, but an original Ionic portico is incorporated at one end. The cornice includes a mutule frieze and four-leaved paterae. To the left is a further two-bay 18th-century wing with an early 20th-century mansard roof; the second-floor windows on this wing are early 20th-century replacements within original architraves, although the lower floors are obscured by the later extension. The rear elevation has mainly twelve-pane sashes to the main section and 20th-century windows to the north wing. A mansard tiled roof and 19th-century chimneystacks are present. Contemporary hospital buildings attached to the property are not of special interest.

The interior features an entrance hall with a mid-18th-century staircase, characterized by scrolled tread ends and two turned balusters per step. A doorcase with bolection moulding and a six-panelled door are also present, along with panelling and a dado rail. Other interior details on this floor include a large room with an ovolo-moulded cornice and dado rail, and fireplaces with eared architraves. The first floor contains a mid-18th-century panelled room with a fireplace featuring brackets, a Vitruvian scroll, and an 18th-century tiled surround. A moulded cornice is found in a rear room on this floor. The second floor retains original floorboards.