The Old Operating Theatre, Museum & Herb Garret

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Newsletter - November 2007

NEWS

HOLIDAY HERBAL:
MUSEUM EVENTS

Following sold-out Half Term Events, the Museum announces details of its Christmas programme, including a children's gift-making workshop on Saturday 1st December.
Full details can be found on the Events Page.

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

The Museum is excited to announce a new exhibition from Daniel Baker, artist in residence at the Museum since 2006, in January 2007. Find out more about The Little Theatre of Disease & Desire as Daniel works on it on Thursday and Friday afternoons in November.

OPERATIONS OF SOUND

SITE-SPECIFIC ART INSTALLATION FOR DECEMBER

Running from 28th November - 15th December, Operations of Sound is a site-specific exhibition and events programme, curated by Claire Staunton (www.inheritanceprojects.org). The exhibition includes new work FLOW by sound artist John Wynne and photographer Tim Wainwright, a 4-screen video installation developed for the Herb Garret using material from the artists’ residency at Harefield Hospital, Middlesex. As part of the Operations of Sound events programme, the artists’ film ITU will be screened with surround sound in the Operating Theatre. See Events for more details.

MUSEUM COLLECTION

The Museum has received several interesting donations recently, including a set of height and weight scales, a baby weighing scale and a doctor's cabinet.

THE MEDIEVAL ST THOMAS' HOSPITAL

In 1357 the Hospital petitioned the Pope to grant an indulgence of 2 years for fund raising. The Pope’s agreement meant that the Hospital could grant donors 2 years remission from punishments - incurred after confessing to sins! Donors also gave money to the Hospital in return for prayers for their souls. Another interesting fact is that, in the petition, the monks of St Thomas’ claimed the Hospital was founded by St Thomas Becket himself.

In 1299, Isaac the Jew gave a house to the Hospital - this is interesting because the Jews were supposedly expelled from England in 1290 by edict of Edward 1st. In 1323 Bishop Asser, following a scandal, ordered that the 'brethren and sisters' should all follow the rule of St Augustine. Since the Hospital was founded from St Mary Overy, an Augustinian Foundation, this is puzzling - was it a reaffirmation?

Finally in 1535, just before the Hospital was dissolved in the Reformation, the Master was accused of closing the Free School which the Hospital used to run with a £4 allocation. This is the first reference we have seen to an educational function for the Hospital which looked after the sick, the poor, the homeless and unmarried mothers.

Kevin Flude, Museum Director (information taken from "The Religious Houses of London and Middlesex", Ed. Caroline M. Barron and Matthew Davies, Institute of Historical Research)