The history of the Bristol Royal Hospital for Sick Children can be traced back to 1866. The building on St Michaels Hill was opened in 1885 and gained ‘Royal’ status by Queen Victoria in 1897.  By the end of the 1980’s it became apparent that the current site had become dated and too small to serve an ever increasing City.  Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal helped raise over £12m towards funding a new site adjacent to the Bristol Royal Infirmary and opened in April 2001.  With the opening of the new site the older building slowly transferred all its services across and the buildings have been sold to Bristol University.  A small unit to the west of the site remains in use.

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25 Comments

  • Mr jason winsley, June 5, 2023 @ 13:02

    I was a patiant from 1971 my name is Jason winsley the operations I had to save my life at the time I would of been 1 or 2 years old my consultant was Mr Webb to him I’d like to say thankyou the nursing staff were so nice when my late mum left after visiting the nurses made me feel safe mind the ward sisters use to scare me to death

  • Mr jason winsley, June 5, 2023 @ 12:54

    I was very unwell I had my stomach re built as I was born without parts to stain life I was so poorly I was christened in Chappel my consultant who saved my life was Prof Webb for him I’m so thankful at the time I was 2 I’m now 52 I still have ongoing issues but am now seen at the ruh bath such a shame the hospitol was ripped apart wards demolished it would of been better kept as a museum towards the nhs and bristol its self

  • Rae Evans, January 12, 2023 @ 18:00

    Anyone know where I can find out more details about the hospital and any records from 1880/90s?

  • Mandy, August 26, 2022 @ 10:11

    I had my appendix it there when I was 5 and had my 6 birthday in hospital but I caught chicken pox on the ward and had to be put in isolation

  • Nicola, February 2, 2022 @ 00:09

    I’m sure I remember a fire at the old children’s hospital I must have been only 5 years so it would have been 68/69 ? I was having my kidney out .would love to know ?

  • Christine Burfitt, September 24, 2021 @ 13:58

    Hello
    I did write a comment on Thursday September 25 regarding my experience as a child at Bristol Children,s hospital. It has not been used on the site as yet, just enquiring should I have done something more than suppling email and name as I do not have a website.
    Kind Regards
    Christine Burfitt

  • Christine Burfitt, September 23, 2021 @ 21:02

    I was a small child as an out patient at the hospital during 1947/1949. I vaguely remember my Mum taking me for “Sunlight Treatment” and having to wear green goggles and lay on a bed where a big warm light was put over me. This was supposed to cure Asthma which I had developed very early in my childhood. Can anyone remember having the same treatment? I would be very interested to have a feedback, thank you

  • Gillian Anne Hodgetts, May 24, 2021 @ 13:56

    I had taken a few pictures from the outside and showed them to my mother yesterday and she could tell me so many stories and on this occasion, unfortunately didn’t have my notepad and pen.
    When I see her next I will show her the inside of the hospital and see what she thinks and can remember from them.
    My grandparents, mother (90 years old this year) and brother lived the during part of 30’s and for part of the late 40’s. My grandfather was the head porter in the hospital

  • Maggie Biggs Kambanis, March 25, 2021 @ 18:29

    I was there for tonsillectomy ’44/’45. In the middle of a large ward with an often screened off bed at the window end. I remember being there surrounded by many other children, both before and after the surgery. But then trauma, I woke up in an empty ward with only the curtained bed at the end. The other beds all empty and cleared of bed clothes. I thoought everyone had died. My tonsils had been so diseased I had to spend extra time there, but no one explained that would happen,
    I was left with weak health re germs, and finally pneumonia left me with a shadow on my lung. I had many visits to the , what seemed to me, emormous X ray machine at the children’s hospital. I think it had a Mickey Mouse oR similar to be cheering.

  • tumbles, March 12, 2021 @ 15:24

    The hospital was on St Michael’s Hill opposite St Michael’s Hospital. The building is still there, reused by the university.

  • June Simons nee Brock, March 7, 2021 @ 21:33

    I was a patient in 1943, just 3 years old. A Mr Cooke operated on my neck. I was suffering from Scofula. I remember the ward I was in had a veranda and we were pushed out there in our beds. It was a ward for tuberculosis. I would have loved to have visited before closure.

  • C, March 5, 2021 @ 08:49

    Can anyone tell me where JCH was please I felt I’d been told it was Bristol but I cannot seem to find any information about it, I’m searching for the time of 50s/60

  • Anne Parnell, November 13, 2020 @ 15:25

    I was a trainee 1957-60 & have fond memories of BCH then staffed at Jan Smuts Convelescent Home in Burnham until 1962 when it closed.I worked on all the wards& Baby Unit & Milk kitchen.Sad to see the old wards before demolition but hope to see the new development.

  • Anne Parnell (nee Farrance), November 6, 2020 @ 08:41

    I trained here 1957/60 then staffed for a few months until moved to Jan Smuts convelascent home in Burnham which closed summer of 1962.Such fond memories of BCH.& Jan Smuts!Sorry to see the Hospital in this state,thought it would have been flats or offices.Iattended some reunions organises by Sisters Reese & Gillette. Anne Parnell (nee Farrance)

  • Sienna Jenkinson, July 16, 2020 @ 21:46

    My Mum was a nurse from 1961 to 1968 ish at Bristol Children hospital her name was Elizabeth Newport

  • Dean gardner, April 27, 2020 @ 19:14

    My sister was at this hospital late 70s until early 80s I was only 4 but can still remember her doctor Tony Oakhill

  • Pauline Reynolds, June 2, 2019 @ 12:55

    Seeing these photos makes me very sad. I trained at the BCH 1970 set. worked in theatres for years and moved down to the new hospital continuing to work in theatres, about 33 years altogether I think.
    I loved the old hospital and could say that you got to know almost everyone that worked in it, a real cottage hospital feel.

  • AJS, March 29, 2018 @ 13:38

    does anyone know where I could find any pictures of Ward 38 it when it was a working hospital in the mid eighties?

  • A B, August 15, 2016 @ 14:24

    This building has recently opened back up, as part of the University.

  • Sue Wycherley, November 15, 2013 @ 21:09

    Meant to say BCH and remembered late passes and sister Gallegher on nights !

  • Sue Wycherley, November 15, 2013 @ 21:07

    I was in the September 67/71 set RMCH happy memories on ward 1 with sue white,my maiden name Riley. Wish I had not lost my hospital Badge
    Am still working more than 40 years later,
    Also happy memories of BRI
    hated nights 9 on 5 off

  • Julia Nolan, September 13, 2013 @ 10:52

    I trained RSCN/SRN 1974-78 and have very fond memories of the Hospital and of Bristol in general.
    Be nice to catch up with anyone who was around at that time.
    Still have connections with Bristol and may well move back again!

  • Ann Bovey (nee Capener), March 28, 2013 @ 21:38

    I trained RSCN and SRN 1960 1964 , Just feeling nostalgic (I live in Scotland now) looking for familiar places from training days… things and places that I THINK I remember. I was gold medallist (much to my surprise) . All the folk live on in my memory: Prof Neil, Sister Beazley, Matron Ellis and so on. Strange if the building is no longer there. Ah well… things change.
    God bless them all.
    Ann

  • amanda hughes, October 27, 2012 @ 22:07

    i was a patient at bristol childrens hospital in 1993 i have a vague pic in my mind of what it looked like inside i would like to see if im right does anyone no where i might find ics of it as a wrking hospital i was on ward 36 and 32 i think thanks

  • Jane Ballard, June 12, 2012 @ 21:04

    I used to be a nurse at the bristol children`s hospital,st michael`s hill from 1981-1985.I worked on ward 37 baby unit & also the adjoining intensive care unit.Brought back memories seeing the cartoon characters on the glass panes,as I remember painting the cubicle windows with nursery rhyme characters.I painted humpty dumpty.Wonder if it`s still there amongst the rubble.

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