Medical London walk

Herbrand Street, which runs between Tavistock Place and Bernard Street, has an eclectic mix of buildings. These range from the Friend at Hand pub, built in 1735 and claiming Charles Dickens as one of its patrons, to the 1931 art–deco Daimler garage. The Horse Hospital, built in 1797 and standing further down the street, is a fine example of a two–floor, purpose built stable for 24 horses, while this rather unassuming brick shed was home to London’s first public ambulance station, built in 1915 by what was then the London County Council.

Before 1915 many hospitals and asylums had their own horse–drawn ambulances, and the LCC service was established to deal with the growing number of street accidents caused by motor–cars. This innovation points us to the most important development in the twentieth century – the involvement of the state in the provision of healthcare.