The Home Hospital for Women was orignally established in Stoke Newington in 1825 by Mary Lister, an aunt of Lord Lister (the founder of modern antiseptic surgery.). Mary Lister was a quaker and donated her house in Paradise Row, Stoke Newington, for use as an invalid home. Originally Miss Lister had thought to make her home a place of rest for servants, but when the first hospital was demolished and another opened in Stoke Newington High Street, its doors were open to all. Applicants had to present a letter of introduction from a subscriber and unless they were under twelve years of age or suffering from an infectious disease, consumption, fits, an incurable malady, or 'decrepitude' they were admitted. In February 1940 the hospital was evacuated to The Firs, London Road, Stevenage, and when the Hospital autorities were offered a large sum for the property in Stoke Newington, they sold the building and the hospital moved permanently to Stevenage. On 5 July 1948 the hospital became part of the National Health Service.