Foundling home and hospital for expectant mothers. Old walls revealed to archaeologists

The hospital grounds housed several facilities, including an anatomical theater, a cemetery, a mortuary, and a chapel, reflecting its multifaceted role in both healthcare and community support.

As the Warsaw Road Authority (ZDM) reminds in its statement, the hospital had witnessed the births and deaths of thousands of Warsaw residents.

"Its origins lie in the Dom Podrzutków (Foundling Home), a charitable institution founded in 1732 by Father Gabriel Baudouin, now the patron of a nearby street (Boduena Street - ed.) Initially located on Krakowskie Przedmieście, the Home provided care for abandoned infants and had a feature resembling today’s 'baby boxes.' The building’s gate contained an opening with a tray that could be pulled out by a cord. An infant would be placed on the tray, and upon sliding it back into the gate, a bell would ring to alert the staff to a new ward. The facility also cared for older children," the statement recalls.

The Foundling Home was relocated to a new site at Plac Warecki (today's Plac Powstańców Warszawy) in the mid-18th century. It was then merged with the General Hospital, and the institution was renamed the General Hospital of the Infant Jesus (Szpital Generalny Dzieciątka Jezus).

The hospital’s grounds once spanned plots bordered by Przeskok, Zgoda, and Marszałkowska Streets. "At the time, these were outlying suburbs, but as Warsaw grew, the hospital continually expanded," notes the statement. While the institution was founded to provide aid, it also bore witness to suffering and death.

On its premises was an anatomical theater - a facility for studying anatomy, resembling an amphitheater. At its center, instead of a stage, stood a table for conducting dissections. Adjacent to the theater were a mortuary and a cemetery. The cemetery, closed in 1797, was later commemorated with an obelisk to mark its historical significance.

The obelisk commemorating the cemetery was relocated in the early 20th century when the entire hospital complex moved to a new building on Lindleya Street. The hospital continues to operate there to this day, with the historic sculpture standing nearby as a reminder of its origins.

In 1939, near the former site of the Infant Jesus Hospital, a makeshift cemetery was established, its traces resurfacing just weeks ago. Archaeological work during the reconstruction of Zgoda Street uncovered the remains of five individuals. According to city officials, these were likely victims of World War II.

Another relic of the hospital’s past was found in front of the Dom pod Orłami (House with Eagles). This was a cargo seal, once used to secure crates of medical supplies, offering a tangible connection to the history of the hospital and its operations.

After the hospital moved to its new location, the abandoned buildings near Plac Warecki were demolished, and the land was subdivided. In 1902, new streets were laid out in the area, now known as Moniuszki, Sienkiewicza, and Boduena. Additionally, Jasna Street was extended to connect with Zgoda Street. Tenement houses were built along these newly established streets.

The ongoing roadwork and archaeological studies in the area have fueled hopes among road workers and historians that more artifacts and relics of Warsaw's past might still be hidden beneath the surface, waiting to be uncovered.

"The walls uncovered during construction have been subjected to archaeological examination. Are there only stones left? So far, we haven’t found any artifacts here. However, archaeologists are continuing their work, and we hope that soon relics of the past will emerge from the ground, allowing us to learn more about this fascinating place," the ZDM concluded.