Construction of the Royal Victoria began in May 1856 at the behest of Queen Victoria who, like many others, had been appalled at the reports of the inadequate medical facilities during the Crimean War. The site was selected at Netley, near Southampton in Hampshire as the port had ready links throughout the Empire. A railway line linking the port and the hospital was in use by 1866. 
The hospital came in for criticism, from, amongst others, Florence Nightingale, who considered it to be poorly ventilated and a breeding ground for infection. None the less the hospital was in use throughout the 19th century and both World Wars, being used by the US Army in 1944/45.



The building was used to house Hungarian refugees in 1956. It was badly damaged by fire in 1963 and all except the chapel has since been demolished.

And what was the land used for after the fire. Trike? We often have fires hereabouts that do away with places with preservation orders but  are otherwise either in someone's way or ripe for development. Unknown yobs get the blame. No one ever  rebuilds the destroyed building.

I think it's a park, Priscilla. There was a bit about it on Great Railway Journeys last night, there is definitely a cemetery there.


Yes, it is now the Royal Victoria Park;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Victoria_Country_Park