The Portland Royal Dispensary was established 1840, and is under the direct patronage of Her Majesty Queen Alexandra. Originally the Dispensary was founded by the Quarry Owners and principal Stone Merchants to afford relief to their Quarry Workers with large families especially in times when the trade of the Island was fluctuating and the men were working on short time ; but in recent years the staple trade of Portland has been in such a flourishing condition, and the men in full work and earning large wages, that the quarrymen have mostly ceased to be recipients of the Dispensary bounty owing to the action of Rule 3 which states that " A family in which the united wages amount to 25s per week is not to receive relief." Of late years, however, in connection with the Government and other large public works going on there has been a great increase of the working-class population, large numbers of unskilled labourers - men engaged in rubbling and more or less connected with the quarry industry - have come to reside in the district.

Physicians and surgeons:-

Dr H. R. Henley
Dr Thos. Howard, M.B.

Committee:-

The rector of Portland (Rev. Canon Beazor) chairman
Vicar of St. John's (Rev. Dr Ottley)
Churchwardens of S. George's
Churchwardens of S. John's
Overseers of the parish, Mr F. J. Barnes, Mr H. Sansom, Mr J. Lano, Mr J. P. Scriven
Hon. Treasurers: The Capital and Counties' Bank Limited
Hon. secretary: Mr Alfred Score, 103, Fortune's Well

In 1903 there were 61 cases attended by Dr Henley on Tophill ; and l21 cases were attended by Dr Howard and the late Dr Lawson in Underhill district. The Dispensary sustained a great loss in the death of Dr. Lawson, who was for nearly 11 years one of the Medical Officers of the. Institution. Dr Howard was appointed his successor. The receipts were �127 (including �20 brought forward from 1902), and the expenditure �102, leaving a balance in hand of �25.