On Lincoln’s Inn Fields, in Holborn, is what has got to be one of London’s most unusual, at times slightly unsettling, but totally fascinating museums.
It is called the Hunterian Museum, part of the Royal College of Surgeons, and is filled with artefacts and specimens from the worlds of surgery, medicine and natural history.
The History Behind It
The museum is named after John Hunter (1728-1793), an eighteenth century surgeon and anatomist.
He was born in a place called Long Calderwood in Scotland, the youngest of ten siblings. His older brother William was an anatomist and from 1748 John helped him dissect bodies at his anatomy school in London.
John quickly became an expert, spent time as an army surgeon and then in 1764 set up his own anatomy school and private surgical practice.
In 1765 he bought a small country estate at the little village of Earl’s Court, to the West of London. Here he kept a menagerie of exotic animals, such as a jackal, buffalo, leopards and opossums.
In 1767 he became a fellow of the Royal Society and in 1776 he became the personal surgeon of King George III. He also taught and collaborated with Edward Jenner, the pioneer of the smallpox vaccine.
John collected voraciously throughout his life, amassing thousands of specimens, skeletons and artefacts. He ended up purchasing a large home on Leicester Square and subsequently put his specimens on display there as a teaching museum.
Dubious Methods
He is particularly credited with advancing understanding in many areas from gunshot wounds to inflammation to artificial insemination. However, his methods and ethics in many cases are very questionable by today’s and, in some cases, the period’s standards.
For example, he acquired thousands of bodies over the years from body-snatchers, people who would dig up dead bodies from graveyards to sell to anatomists and physicians. This was because the only bodies you could officially dissect for anatomical study in the 18th century were the bodies of executed murderers.
He also carried many experiments and dissections on live animals, sometimes strapped to a table.
Another example is that, in 1783, he nefariously acquired the body of Charles Byrne, an Irishman, who was 7ft 7inches tall.
Charles Byrne, born in 1761 in Ireland, moved to London and lived near Charing Cross, becoming a bit of celebrity for his height. It is thought today to have been due to having ‘acromegalic gigantism’, where the body produces too much growth hormone and he died in 1783, aged 22.
Before Charles’ burial, John bribed a member of the funeral party for the body and then filled the coffin with rocks. John studied and then displayed the body, against the express wishes of Charles himself before he died. The body was on display at the Hunterian until its recent reopening.
Setting Up The Hunterian
After john Hunter died, in 1799, the Government purchased his collection and gave it to the Royal College of Surgeons. This then formed the basis of the Hunterian Museum and they have been on display ever since.
The collection has been enhanced by other collections, such as that of Richard Owen, over the following years.
Sadly an incendiary bomb hit the building in May 1941 and destroyed two thirds of the museum’s collection. Of the original 14,000 specimens collected by John Hunter, the museum still has 3,000 remaining.
Visiting the museum you are immediately struck by the building itself.
The original 18th century building on the site was deemed not fit for purpose and it architect Charles Barry was therefore commissioned to redesign it in 1834. He kept the portico from the original building.
The museum underwent a huge, over £4 million, refurbishment and was shut from 2017-2023.
What To Look Out For
There are so many items in there, here are eight specimens/artefacts that stood out to me.
17th Century Anatomical Models
The Evelyn Tables
A Prosthetic Nose
A Baby Crocodile
Dental Phantoms
Child’s Orthopaedic Boot, Reputedly Belonging to Lord Byron
A Condom Made From Sheep’s Intestine
Winston Churchill”s Dentures
There is so much more to see at the Hunterian and I would highly recommend a visit.
How To Visit
The museum is free to visit (although pre-booking is recommended) and is open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm.
Every Wednesday 2.15pm there is half an hour a curator’s tour, spots allocated on a first come first served basis.
Click here for more details!
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In the US, we have the Mutter in Philadelphia.
I last visited this museum about 30 years ago and in particular, I remember the Irish giant, who was placed next to arguably the tiniest woman. In addition there were scores of glass jars containing assorted life forms and unexpected viscera. Not for the squeamish but definitely worth a visit.
As ever , nice photos.
This was the first museum I took my son to when we visited London in the summer of 2023. He had no interest in museums but I knew this one would hold his attention and I was right. We spend 3 hours there because was so fascinated by the exhibits and read everything. Definitely worth a visit.