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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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St Thomas's Hospital
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(London SE1) One of the two oldest hospitals in London (the other is *Bart's). It may have been founded as early as 1106, as part of a priory in Southwark. After the canonization of *Becket in 1173 it became the hospital of St Thomas the Martyr, but with the Reformation the patron saint was changed to St Thomas the Apostle. From the early 13C the hospital occupied a site on which *Guy's later became its neighbour; but in 1859 this was sold (to become London Bridge railway station) and St Thomas's moved to a riverside position on the opposite bank from the Houses of Parliament. Florence *Nightingale advised on the new building (1868–71) and set up in the hospital a school for nurses; those trained at St Thomas's are still known as Nightingales.
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