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From Looking at Buildings: This dispensary was "founded in 1849 by the Vicar of St James-the-Less in Bethnal Green. Its foundation followed hard on the heels of a serious cholera outbreak. The dispensary was rebuilt in its present guise in 1865-6 by Lee and Long, a firm who specialised in medical and hospital buildings. Its principal elevation is in a superbly lavish Renaissance style abundantly decorated with carved ornament of fruit and flowers. Elaborate central tower with carved clockface and cupola on columns above. In the broken pediment of the first floor central window is a bust of Queen Adelaide. Converted for flats after 1990 by Cazenove Architects Co-Operative who also restored the demolished cupola."

There are ornate clock faces (all different, and all handless) on at least 3 sides (probably not on the west face which is not visible now and probably never was).