London, England/london2J-014

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The hospital itself dates from a very early age, named after the famous Thomas Becket. It originally served the destitute sick and homeless and began its legacy as a charity hospital. Soon it created a ward for unmarried mothers, and one of Crawford's responsibilities was to cure diseases of the "oldest profession." Southward was a bawdy area, to become a a sorrowful source of material for Charles Dickens’ tales. The first English version of the Bible was printed by James Nicolson (Nycolson) at St. Thomas Hospital during the reign of King Henry VIII; it was translated by Miles Coverdale (ca. 1488-1569).