RNH Stonehouse Reunion Website

The Royal Naval Hospital at Stonehouse in Plymouth occupies a unique position in the memories of all who have ever worked or been treated there. Its high grey walls originally designed to keep patients in, now guard against the encroachment of urbanisation. The central buildings of the hospital have changed very little since its completion in 1762, and the grounds have a quiet, almost rural charm that combine to provide it with an air of grace.

Two hundred and thirty five years ago in 1760, the first patients were moved in from the malt houses and warehouses along the shoreline to occupy a hospital whose design was so far advanced as to make it the finest in Europe. Social conditions at the time however, were primitive, and expertise in the fields of medicine, surgery and nursing was in its infancy. It took another century for these disciplines to innovate themselves to begin to achieve the high standards we now take for granted.

The gentlemen surgeons who paraded in high collars down the colonnade, the ladies from every calling who rolled up their sleeves to nurse the dying; and the VAD's and Sick Berth Attendants who took their professionalism all over the world, are the products of the Royal Naval Hospital for the reception of sick and hurt seamen and marines' at Stonehouse in Plymouth, Devon.

Graham Evans

On 31st March 1995, RNH Plymouth ( Stonehouse ) built for the reception of sick and hurt seamen and marines, closed its gates, 235 years after admitting it's first patient.

We lucky few, who served and lived there will remember the old girl with much fondness, the like of which, will never be seen again.

J.R

In a years time with the closure of RNH Haslar, the long RNH tradition of service and eccentricity will finally vanish and thousands of doctors and staff who were part of it, even briefly and sometimes unwillingly, will sense the loss. The charm of the naval hospitals lay in their being just a little behind the times, generally never too busy, and always part of a greater service whose traditions they shared. Clubby, orderly, quaint, and decently resourced, they were everything that the current frontline NHS is not—clearly the reason they had to go, but a reason also to mourn their passing.

Colin Douglas, doctor and novelist

Have a Story about any of the RN Hospitals, Medical Branch or QARNNS related stories, news or articles?

It does not matter if it is old or new 1800's to 2010

Contact me Via the forum message system or email

I am in the process of re vamping the Website so some pages and links may not work. If you spot any mistakes or links are doing weird stuff contact me please and I will sort it out.

We are now on Facebook thanks to Kevin Jennison, Stephen Searby and Philip Hepworth. The link is below Forum on the Left.

All pages to do with the Reunion in October 2010 are working. So book now to avoid disappointment as we only have 330 places.

A deposit sent to Steve Edwards will secure your place.

Some members have stated that they are having trouble with the the Photo album and it asks to update your version of flash and when you do, it still does not work!!

Try this: Go to www.adobe.com

and click on the download Flash button (unclick the google toobar bit) and then download.

The Photo Albums should now work.

Also - if you try to access the albums by NHS or Company intranet systems you may find that for security reasons they have disabled the flash player and you will not be able to view the Pictures in the workplace. Sorry ! can't fix that one

As you go through the News pages you will note that a lot of articles are old news and I can hear you saying to yourself, why keep all this old stuff!

The reason is simple, some of our past colleagues are only just finding this Website, quite a few live abroad, I leave it all on in order for them to catch up and see what's been happening over the past few years, nuff said!

Why Old News?

9th May 2010

Obituaries Updated

Also have a look HERE at this picture and see if you can help Mrs H Webb

New Pictures & Stuff

From the Introduction in Graham Evans Book

Pictorial Record Between the Years 1762 - 1995

RNH Haslar are having their first ever Reunion

Follow this LINK to the Facebook Haslar Reunion Group