Netley

Netley, a place on the east side of Southampton Water, 3 miles SE. of Southampton, with a ruined Cistercian abbey, founded in the time of Henry III., and the Royal Victoria Hospital. The latter superb building is for the reception of invalids from the army on foreign service, and from among the troops serving in the adjoining military districts. It nominally has accommodation for 878 patients, but for a few months during the trooping season room has usually to be found for over 1000. The medical staff consists of a surgeon-general as principal medical officer, a registrar and secretary, and medical officers of various ranks. The invaliding depot attached consists of a colonel on the staff ranking as an assistant-adjutant-general, a paymaster, and a quartermaster. The total cost of the construction of this hospital, whose foundation-stone was laid by Queen Victoria on 19th May 1856, was about £350,000. Attached is the Medical School for candidates for the army medical staff (see MILITARY SCHOOLS). Netley is also the headquarters of the female nurses of the army. A direct line from Portsmouth, the port of disembarkation of invalids, has been opened, and they can now be brought to this hospital in thirty minutes.