Plaque for cot, Great Ormond Street Hospital

Metal plaque once attached to a cot at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children, London, England, marking the sponsorship of the cot by the 'The Girl's Realm' magazine, from 1900.

The inscription on the plaque reads “THE GIRL'S REALM COT 1900”. It was presented to the Great Ormond Hospital for Sick Children by The Girl’s Realm, a magazine aimed at middle class girls which ran from 1898 to 1915.

Sponsoring beds became common practice after 1868 when Mrs Margaret Garrett, editor of the Aunt Judy children’s magazine, decided to collect money for the hospital and managed to raise £1,000 (equivalent to £250,000 today). A plaque was put up in her honour. This type of support was important as Great Ormond Street was funded solely by donations. The wards themselves were open every weekday to visitors who were interested in the work of Great Ormond Hospital. It is shown here with two other cot plaques (1986-1445 and 1986-1446).