The Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret, London

A Hidden Gem of Medical History in London

Tucked away in the attic of the early 18th-century St Thomas’s Church, the Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret is a rare survivor of medical history. This atmospheric museum preserves Europe’s oldest surviving surgical theatre, dating back to 1822. Originally the hospital apothecary’s herb garret, the space was repurposed as a women-only operating theatre, providing a separate area for surgical procedures away from the main wards. The theatre was used during a time when anaesthesia and antiseptic surgery were not yet in practice, making the conditions harsh and the procedures often brutal.

Theatre of Early Surgery and Medical Training

The operating theatre features a semi-circular wooden gallery that once accommodated up to 150 medical students who observed surgeries firsthand. Operations were performed on a wooden table, with only alcohol, opiates, or chloroform for pain relief. The theatre specialized in procedures like amputations, lithotomies (removal of bladder stones), and trepanations (drilling holes in the skull to relieve pressure). The museum also highlights the grim realities of the time, including the use of bodies supplied by grave robbers for anatomical study before the Anatomy Act of 1832 legalized body donations.

The Herb Garret: Apothecary’s Sanctuary

Before becoming an operating theatre, the garret was used by the hospital apothecary to dry and store medicinal herbs. Visitors can still see wooden racks and remnants of dried herbs hanging from the rafters, evoking the scent and atmosphere of a bygone era of herbal medicine. The museum’s displays include a variety of dried herbs with handwritten labels explaining their historical and medicinal uses, connecting visitors to the roots of modern pharmacology.

A Century of Obscurity and Rediscovery

When St Thomas’ Hospital relocated to Lambeth in 1862, the operating theatre was sealed off and forgotten for nearly a century. It was rediscovered in 1956 by Raymond Russell, a historian researching the hospital’s past. After restoration, the museum opened to the public in 1962, preserving the original wooden structure, instruments, and gallery seating. The building itself, part of the old St Thomas’ Church, is a Grade II* listed structure, adding architectural significance to the medical heritage.

Immersive Educational Experience

Today, the museum offers visitors a unique and immersive experience into Victorian medical practices. It hosts regular talks and demonstrations, including Victorian surgery reenactments that reveal the challenges and realities of surgery before modern advances. The museum’s compact size and evocative setting make it an intimate space to explore the evolution of medicine, nursing, and hospital care, including Florence Nightingale’s influence on nursing at St Thomas’.

Location and Atmosphere

Situated near London Bridge and Borough Market, the museum is accessed via a narrow spiral staircase, adding to its historic charm. The atmosphere is both haunting and educational, with original oak beams and period medical artefacts creating a vivid window into the past. The museum’s blend of surgical history, herbal medicine, and architectural heritage makes it a fascinating destination for medical enthusiasts, historians, and curious travelers alike.