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The story of The London Hospital, founded in 1740, is told in the crypt of St Augustine with St Philip's Church behind the main hospital buildings. Exhibits include
Royal London Hospital Archives and Museum reopens to the public The Museum reopened on 14th January 2002. The new look has been designed by Jasper Jacob Associates, and supported by a grant of £50 000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, with additional funding generously provided by St. Bartholomew's and The Royal London Charitable Foundation and Barts and The London NHS Trust. It tells the story of The London Hospital in a concise and approachable way. The layout is divided into three main sections, relating to the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, each colour coded: green, orange and red representing the respective centuries. Click for photographs of the layout and display cases. Exhibits include the Hospital's Royal Charter of 1758, sections on medical education and 18th century health. There is a revamped section on Joseph Merrick (the 'Elephant Man') and his surgeon Frederick Treves, featuring two items currently on loan, a letter by Merrick written when resident at the Hospital and a book of microscope drawings by Treves. A section on Nurse Edith Cavell includes material recently donated by the Belgian Government and people, including her last letter to her nurses written shortly before her execution by firing squad in 1915 and a cross which marked her grave (photograph of display). Details of the donation and more about Cavell can be found on the RCN History of Nursing website. Other nurses featured include the Victorian Matron Eva Luckes and a new section on Florence Nightingale and 19th century nursing (photograph of display). This features portraits of FN and matron Arabella Donne which have been restored thanks to support from the RLH League of Nurses There are also sections on children and health, surgery, Victorian doctors, Dr Barnardo, early work with X-rays and the hospital in the two World Wars. The revamped nursing uniform section features four historic London Hospital uniforms (photograph of display). There is a small display on dentistry featuring a fragment of a denture made for George Washington, together with a letter from GW to his dentist, whilst a section on hospital benefactors includes a letter by another American statesman, Benjamin Franklin. A new display on Forensic Medicine, (sponsored by the crime writer Patricia Cornwell), includes original material on the Whitechapel ('Jack the Ripper') murders, Dr Crippen and the Rillington Place (Christie) murders. There's also a new video (MPEG) facility allowing visitors to easily select and watch four films including appeal films made at The London Hospital and the Queen's Hospital for Children in 1939, a film about nursing at The London entitled 'Not so much a training - more a way of life', which was made in 1967 (which will be of interest to Set 400 and others who appeared in it) and an edited version of the BBC documentary: 'QED -The true story of the Elephant Man' (1997). Photograph of video area. Disabled access has been much improved with almost all displays now being vertical and much more visible to wheelchair users. There is a revamped shop selling general publications along side books and postcards relating to the history of the Hospital and medical and nursing history. We can now accommodate larger group visits than before and the Museum is now brighter and more spacious (although it's still a small museum). Entrance is free, but donations are most welcome. Click for all the photographs of the layout and display cases. Jonathan Evans Former Londoners who can volunteer a few hours of help each week should contact Jonathan Evans. There are gaps in the collection. Please keep an eye on book, junk, art and antique shops, and auctions for memorabilia to do with The London and alert Jonathan to their whereabouts. A range of books, postcards, greetings cards and videos are available for sale or can be ordered by post. This website includes a list of publications written by League members, and other books about The Royal London Hospital. There is a book order form on this website. There are black and white postcards from 1890-1911, 1914-33, 1935-55 and a few coloured postcards and greetings cards. There is an order form on this site. . Monday to Friday 10.00 - 16.30, closed on public holidays. Admission free but donations welcome. Wheelchair access. Special Facilities for Royal London Hospital League Members only;
Contact the Archivist: Jonathan Evans on Tel: 020 7377 7608 e-mail: r.j.evans@qmul.ac.uk or jonathan.evans@bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk Location Map and travel details. The entrance is from Newark Street: walk between Fielden House and the Pathology building, bear right and walk down the ramp between Fielden House and the Church. Underground: Whitechapel
Bus service:25 or 253 Car parking - some meter parking in streets to the rear of the hospital and in Cavell Street. Page last updated by DEB on 10/09/2003 |
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