South Wharf River Ambulance Station, Rotherhithe
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South Wharf River Ambulance Station, Rotherhithe
The South Wharf River Ambulance Station, Rotherhithe, from where smallpox patients travelled by river to a hospital at Long Reach near Dartford. Date: circa 1900
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Media ID 14352354
© Peter Higginbotham /Mary Evans Picture Library
Ambulance Dartford Patients Reach Rotherhithe Smallpox Travelled Wharf
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the South Wharf River Ambulance Station in Rotherhithe, London, circa 1900. The station played a crucial role in the transportation of smallpox patients during an era when the disease was a significant public health concern. Smallpox, a highly infectious viral disease, caused fear and panic in Victorian London. Isolation and quarantine were essential measures to prevent its spread. Hospitals were established outside the city to care for the sick, and the Thames River provided a convenient means of transporting patients. The South Wharf River Ambulance Station, located in Rotherhithe, was the departure point for smallpox patients bound for Long Reach Hospital near Dartford. The journey by river was a necessary precaution to prevent the spread of the disease in the crowded city streets. The patients, often weak and ill, were transported in specially designed boats manned by dedicated ambulance crews. The photograph shows the ambulance station with several boats moored alongside, ready to embark on their vital missions. The scene is one of quiet efficiency, with the calm waters of the Thames reflecting the industrial buildings along the South Bank. The ambulance station, with its red-brick façade and tall chimney, stands out against the backdrop of the river and the surrounding warehouses. This photograph is a poignant reminder of the vital role the South Wharf River Ambulance Station played in the public health response to smallpox in Victorian London. It is a testament to the dedication and courage of the ambulance crews who risked their own health to transport the sick to safety and care.
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