The Royal Dental Hospital

The Royal Dental Hospital: 1901

By the turn of the century, its old premises had become seriously deficient and numbers 32-39 Leicester Square were purchased to erect a new hospital, which eventually opened in March 1901. The driving forces behind the move were Joseph Walker, Sir Edwin Saunders' successor as Treasurer and Lecturer in Mechanical Dentistry, and John Pink, the long serving Secretary.

The relocation was not without its problems, however, not least when it was proposed to replace a pub - the Duke's Head - that formed part of the redevelopment, with a more spacious alternative and so procure a regular income for the Hospital. Temperance campaigners alleged in court that the Hospital trustees were seeking to profit personally from the plan. The original pub was retained, although there is no record of a manager having to actually pull a pint!

Teething problems aside, the new Hospital quickly received the plaudits of journalists, one of whom described, 'a building such as was never contemplated in the wildest dreams of those who loved and laboured at their studies in the confined area…of the old school. Everything has been done to make the new Hospital the finest possible'.

Its elevated status was confirmed in October 1901 when the King, Edward VII, consented to become its patron. Henceforth, it became known as the Royal Dental Hospital of London.