In the mid-18th century, Alured Clarke, the newly appointed Dean of Exeter proposed the idea of a new hospital in Exeter to local gentlemen. Through their funding, construction of the new hospital in the city centre area of Southernhay was completed and the hospital opened in 1743.
1841 Ricard Bealy is resident apothecary. 22 staff resident. 173 patients.[1]
1851 William Clapp is house surgeon. 21 staff resident. 185 patients.[2]
1861 Charles Bainbridge Rendle is house surgeon. 29 staff resident. 174 patients.[3]
1871 Richard Ley is house surgeon. 30 staff resident. 189 patients. [4]
1881 Arthur George Blomfield is resident surgeon. There were 168 patients listed[5]
1891 Reginald Martyn is resident surgeon. 55 staff (mostly Nurses); 168 patients.[6]
1899 The Duke of York, and his wife visited the hospital and granted it permission to use the "Royal" title.
1901 Percy H. Stirk is House surgeon. 80 staff resident. 157 pateints resident.[7]
1906 Staff included A. Drake, Consulting Physician; Henry Davy and William Gordon, Physicians; John Delpratt Harris, Edward James Domville, Charles Edward Bell, Arthur C. Roper, Surgeons; Reginald Vaughan Solly, Registrar and Pathologist; Henry Andrew and Brennan Dyball, Anaesthetists.[8]
1948 Became part of the newly formed National Health Service.
1974 The hospital moved to a new building on the Wonford site.