1852 Foundation Stone of the Dundee Royal Infirmary

22nd July 1852

The Description of the Laying of the Stone of The Dundee Royal Infirmary

On Thursday the 22nd day of July 1852 the foundation stone of the Dundee New Royal Infirmary was laid with Masonic honours.

The following copied from the ‘Northern Warden’ of 29th July 1852 shews the order of the procession which began to move from the Mid Quay about half past one o’clock afternoon.

The procession then moved along by Castle Street to the High Street, thence by Reform street, Meadowside and the Constitution road. Over the whole line every window was occupied and the streets presented a dense mass of living beings. No interruption however was experienced, the greatest order prevailed amongst the inhabitants and every one seemed more disposed than another to enjoy the scene by giving effect to the arrangements.

The appearance on arriving at the foot of Constitution road was truly grand and picturesque. The front rank of the Masonic bodies had got to the top and turned the corner of Sommerville place before the Grand Lodge, which formed the rear rank, had arrived at the bottom, so that the entire line of road was covered with the masons and every available spot on the declivities on each side was occupied with fashionable dressed parties.

The Junior Lodges being in front on arriving at the entrance of the ground, halted, opened their ranks and allowed the Grand Lodge to enter the ground first, the senior Lodges following. In a short time the whole mass had taken up their positions in the most orderly and regular manner.

The description of the Articles laid behind the Foundation Stone

The Grand Master then called upon the Acting Grand Treasurer David Hunter Esq, Blackness; Secretary W A Lawrie Esq and Clerk Linning Woodman Esq; to place the coins etc in the cavities of the stone; and on the Architect (Edward A Goodwin.) to bring forward the necessary workmen. The coins having been duly deposited, Linning Woodman Esq read the inscription on the plate, which was as follows: -

On the Obverse Side

"This graven plate, deposited on the 22nd day of July in the year of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 1852, and in the 18th year of the reign of her most gracious majesty Queen Victoria, may testify to remote posterity long after the surrounding structures have crumbled into dust, that on that day and in this spot the foundation stone of the New Royal Infirmary of Dundee - an hospital reared for the relief of suffering humanity by the contributions of the charitable -was Laid, with Masonic honours by his Grace George Augustus Frederick John, Duke of Atholl, Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason of Scotland."

The names of the Committee appointed by the Governors of the Infirmary for the erection of the building were then listed and include Matthew Nimmo, “Surgeon to the Infirmary" and James Arrott, "physician to the infirmary". The architects and builders were also listed.

On the Reverse Side

The names are listed of the office-bearers of the Infirmary when the foundation stone was laid, i.e. The President, the six Vice-Presidents, the 19 members of the Weekly Committee, the two physicians, the three surgeons, the resident apothecary, the three outpatient medical attendants, the secretary/treasurer and the four House Visitors. At the foot are the words "Engraved by George Girdwood, Union Street, Dundee.

The place where the foundation stone is laid is in an octagonal buttress immediately to the east of the centre of the building. The glass vase in which the coins were placed was got up in rather a novel style. The beautiful lithograph of the Infirmary was placed around the inside of the vase, the whole of the picture being distinctly seen through the transparent glass.

The Dundee Royal Infirmary and the vast site it occupied has now been turned into flats and housing. The hospital was replaced by the new NINEWELLS Hospital.

The Story of the Dundee Royal Infirmary

©Research by Iain D. McIntosh, 2014