Plaque

Institute of Optometry

Inscription

First refraction hospital in the world.
Founded in October 1922 by the Institute of Ophthalmic Opticians. Enlarged October 1928. Reopened 21st February 1929 by Rt. Hon. The Countess of Mayo.
Secretary: F. T. Gregg, M.A.
Architects: G. A. Sexton & Sons

In the correspondence pages of the 1927 BMJ the man named on the plaque, Francis Gregg, had a spat with Mr Bishop Harman (of St Thomas' Hospital) resulting in Mr Harman comparing the Refraction Hospital with the London dolls' hospital or the hospital for umbrellas! Clearly in those days some of the medical profession considered some eye specialists to be upstarts.

"Refraction" just means the ability of the eye to form an image on the retina so we are unclear how this could be the first such hospital "in the world" since, for example, Moorfields was established in 1805. Perhaps this is part of what got Mr Harman so irate.

Site: Institute of Optometry (1 memorial)

SE1, Newington Causeway, 56 - 62, Institute of Optometry

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Institute of Optometry

Subjects commemorated i

First refraction hospital in the world

Formed as the London Refraction Hospital (or the Institute of Ophthalmic Opti...

Read More

Institute of Ophthalmic Opticians

It really is spelt "ophth...", amazing. This institute doesn't seem to exist...

Read More

G. A. Sexton & Sons

Architect local to Kilburn in 1905.

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Institute of Optometry

Created by i

Francis T. Gregg

M.A. Secretary of Institute of The Ophthalmic Opticians, Refraction Hospital ...

Read More

Countess of Mayo

Active in 1929.

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Samuel Johnson's house

Samuel Johnson's house

EC4, Gough Square, 17, Dr Johnson's House

The house is a museum, open to the public and contains many pictures of Johnson and his friends. The Barber plaque is on the railings bel...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Christ Church Spitalfields - men and ladders

Christ Church Spitalfields - men and ladders

E1, Commercial Street, Christ Church Spitalfields

The inscription is weather-worn particularly at the right so the words "men", "house", "at the", "Vicar" and "43" are all uncertain. Sta...

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
RNH - St David’s Wing

RNH - St David’s Wing

N7, Manor Gardens, Royal Northern Gardens

In 1997, as a condition of developing the RNH site, Bellway Homes (the developer) was required to create one acre of public open space - ...

2 subjects commemorated
German PoWs

German PoWs

N22, South Terrace

The plaques on on the south face of the tower, either side of the entrance. Londonist reported that in the WW2 Blitz (while BBC radio was...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Harrow School - War Memorial Building

Harrow School - War Memorial Building

HA1, Peterborough Road, Harrow War Memorial Building and Speech Room

The Harrow School War Memorial Building, Memorial Shrine, Ceremonial Staircase and Retaining Wall are Listed Grade 2. The Listing summary...

4 subjects commemorated