The
Royal Victoria Hospital, or
Netley Hospital was a large
military hospital in
Netley, near
Southampton,
Hampshire,
England. Construction started in 1856 at the suggestion of
Queen Victoria but its design caused some controversy, chiefly from
Florence Nightingale. Often visited by Queen Victoria, the hospital was extensively used during the
First World War. It became the 28th US General Hospital from 1944 to 1945 during the
Invasion of Europe. The main building - the world's longest building when it was completed - was entirely demolished in 1966, except for the chapel and former
YMCA building which still survive. The extensive outbuildings, which once occupied a vast acreage of land to the rear of the main building, finally succumbed in 1978. The site of the hospital can be seen and explored in
Royal Victoria Country Park.