1771 – The Coombe Lying-in Hospital, Dublin

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On 10 October 1770 Lord Brabazon laid the foundation stone of the new Hospital in the Coombe. The hospital, known as The Meath Hospital and County Dublin Infirmary, was opened the following year. In 1823, the hospital was purchased by Dr John Kirby and moved to a site known as Dean Swift’s Vineyard in Heytesbury Street. In 1826 Mrs. Margaret Boyle founded the Coombe Lying-In Hospital in the vacated building.

The Guinness family became benefactors and built a dispensary block. From The Building News, March 1866: “The new Coombe Lying-in Hospital is just about to be commenced, from plans prepared by the architect of the institution, Mr. Duncan C. Ferguson. The building will be four stories high, and will have a frontage of 42ft. to Brabazon-street. It is expected to be fit for the reception of patients in about ten months.”

In 1967 the hospital was relocated to new premises in Dolphins Barn. The old building was demolished to make way for a Dublin Corporation housing development, retaining the entrance porch as a monument.