St Bartholomew’s Hospital Mortuary

August 2024 | England | Extant

The last remaining derelict section of St Bartholomew’s Hospital in Rochester, Kent, is the little white building on its northern side: the former mortuary. The hospital was founded in 1078 by Bishop Gundulf of Rochester, and it was rebuilt numerous times, with the last time in the Victorian era to designs by Sir George Gilbert Scott. The original 11th century (albeit heavily restored) Norman chapel of Gundulf’s hospital still survives and is in use as a gym. The hospital closed in 2016 and has been redeveloped into flats. The quality of these is absolutely shockingly bad, I have to say. The mortuary, built in the Strawberry Hill Gothick style, survives. No slab though.

The Explore:

A quick one with a friend of mine who lives in the area. There isn’t much to this building anymore as the back of it has been ripped out to facilitate the redevelopment of the hospital. What’s left though is somewhat interesting, and caked in bird crap. Enjoy the photos.

Exterior:

Slab Room:

Other Sections: