Erection date: 1692
IN SUBSIDIUM ET LEVAMEN EMERITORUM SENIO BELLOQUE FRACTORUM CONDIDIT CAROLUS SECUNDUS AUXIT JACOBUS SECUNDUS PERFECERE GULIELMUS ET MARIA REX ET REGINA ANNO DOMINI MDCXCII
{Latin, and translates as:}
For the succour and relief of veterans broken by age and war, founded by Charles II, enlarged by James II and completed by William and Mary in the year of our Lord 1692.
Site: Royal Hospital Chelsea, Middle Court (5 memorials)
SW3, Royal Hospital Road, Royal Hospital Chelsea, Middle Court
In our photo you can see the Latin text on the frieze to the arcade. The statue faces the building and backs the Thames, and the camera. The Carlos plaque is at the base of the statue. You can see that there are dozens of plaques in the arcade along the whole length of the south-facing façade. These are mainly to individuals associated with the Hospital, many of them former Governors. We collected only the plaque that you can see to the right of the entrance, to those killed at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in WW1 and in WW2.
This is a good place to raise the subject of the orientation of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Looked at on a map the strong thrust to the north-west is inescapable - the central axis runs in this direction from the river, through the 'South Grounds', cuts this Middle Court in half, runs through the arch at the centre of the very symmetrical Hospital complex, continues across the private Burton Court into Royal Avenue, finally ending at the Kings Road. This is all that is left (was ever built) of what calls Kensington's lost triumphal avenue, desired by King Charles II, designed by Christopher Wren. See the Royal Avenue plaque.
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