Barts900: film

The history of St Bartholomew's

Explore the history of Britain's oldest hospital

Founded in 1123

St Bartholomew's Hospital, in the City of London, is now a specialist heart and cancer centre and part of east London's Barts Health NHS Trust.

St Bartholomew’s Hospital is 900 years old in 2023 with our official birthday (or Foundation Day) taking place on Saturday 25 March.

To mark this amazing milestone, we've launched the Barts900 campaign: a series of landmark fundraising projects across heritage, health care and research which together promise to transform treatments for our east London communities.

The Barts 900 campaign brings together the ‘Barts’ family (Barts Health, Barts CharityBarts Heritage and St Bartholomew the Great church).Throughout this extra special anniversary year, we're working closely with our partners including Barts Guild, our League of NursesQueen Mary University of London, the Rahere Association and our Voluntary Hospital Board.

Read about our incredible shared story or watch the Gresham Lecture exploring 900 years of history delivered earlier this year by hospital chief execuive Professor Charles Knight.

You can also visit the dedicated Barts900 campaign website, where you can hear about news, events and official Barts900 merchandise.

Contact the campaign team

The future of healthcare in east London

To mark the 900th anniversary of St Bartholomew’s Hospital, our hospital charity, Barts Charity, is looking to the future.

They are raising money for two important health projects that will help transform treatment for patients in our community and beyond.

They need your help to bring these two projects to life.

Barts Charity is raising money for a new Breast Cancer Centre that that will give patients like Nell some of best care in the world.

“Having all treatment in one dedicated place with a team of breast cancer specialists would make a traumatic experience so much more bearable. We need this new breast cancer centre here in east London, as the number of women affected by triple-negative breast cancer in the area is high. It would be a gamechanger.”  - Nell, Mile End 

With your support, Barts Charity can also can fund a new Clinical Research Facility right here in east London that will enable more life-changing research for people like Suresh.

“I can say, without any doubt, that my clinical trial gave me my life back. And soon, with a new Clinical Research Facility, we could transform the lives of so many more people in east London and beyond. I’d urge anyone who is able to help support this important appeal to please do so.” - Suresh, Woodford 

Visit the Barts Charity 900th appeal to find out more and watch their film below.

Sharing historic Barts

In preparation for this special anniversary, a dedicated charity, Barts Heritage, was established to rescue and renovate the historic buildings at the heart of St Bartholomew’s, including the Grade I listed North Wing with its spectacular Great Hall and the staircase painted by William Hogarth.

Barts Heritage aims to bring the buildings back to life and back into public use whilst also providing wellbeing facilities for Barts Health staff.

After a successful fundraising appeal, works are set to begin this summer.

Barts900

View Day inspection in 1949
View Day 2023: what is it and how can I get involved?

View Day is back at St Bartholomew’s and the celebrations are extra special for our 900th anniversary year.…

Read View Day 2023: what …
Barts900 outdoor exhibition from the Barts Health Archives service
Anniversary exhibition to go on tour

A free outdoor exhibition featuring previously untold stories from across nine centuries of St Bartholomew’s Hospital is to begin a tour of the capital this month.…

Read Anniversary exhibiti …
Michael Palin at St Bartholomew's Hospital's 900th birthday party
‘Thank you for fixing me up’

Monty Python star Sir Michael Palin pays tribute to Barts Health staff.…

Read ‘Thank you for fixin …
Fiona Martin, St Bartholomew's Hospital patient
‘He got down on one knee’ – your Barts900 memories

Your stories from Britain's oldest hospital.…

Read ‘He got down on one …
Help us rebuild Barts, image from the 1930s
Back from the brink: 10 moments that shaped St Bartholomew’s Hospital

Ten moments that have shaped this iconic institution.…

Read Back from the brink: …
Adam Dant artwork close up
Giant map plots hospital’s hidden history

A huge map featuring stories from across nine centuries of St Bartholomew’s Hospital has been unveiled.…

Read Giant map plots hosp …
North Wing staircase at St Bartholomew's Hospital
North Wing restoration to begin this summer

Work to restore the Grade I listed buildings at the heart of Britain’s oldest hospital will begin this summer thanks to a multi-million pound Lottery grant.…

Read North Wing restorati …