Open House London 2010

Open House London has established itself in recent years as one of the capital's most popular events. A celebration of the diversity of the London's architecture, the event allows free access to many buildings normally closed to the public.

Open House London 2010 takes this place later this month on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th September, with over 700 buildings participating. A good number of these sites have a link to the collections of the Wellcome Library or to the History of Science and Medicine in general, but we’ll take this opportunity to flag up fellow members of the London Museums of Health and Medicine network which are taking part (details of which are available from their website), the Pioneer Health Centre in Peckham (who we have discussed on this Blog before) and the Royal Society (celebrating its 350th anniversary this year).

And last but by no means least, the Gibbs Building, the headquarters of the Wellcome Trust (shown above) will also be accessible on the Saturday of Open House London weekend.

For more details, see the Open House London website.

Open House

Open House London has established itself in recent years as one of the city’s most popular events. A celebration of the diversity of the capital’s buildings, the event allows free access to many buildings normally closed to the public.

Open House 2009 takes this place this weekend – 18th and 19th September – with over 700 buildings participating. A good number of these sites have a link to the collections of the Wellcome Library or to History of Medicine in general, but we’ll take this opportunity to flag up fellow members of the (London Museums of Health and Medicine network which are taking part), and the opportunity to view the Pioneer Health Centre in Peckham (built in the 1930s, converted to private dwellings in 2000, and the subject of a previous post on this Blog).

London Museums of Health and Medicine

If Medical London and Chris Hilton’s Insight talk have developed a taste for the capital’s medical past, then make sure you visit the re-launched London Museums of Health and Medicine website.

There you’ll find information on over 20 museums and libraries (including Wellcome Collection and the Wellcome Library), dedicated in their own way to exploring the health and wellbeing of London through time. The site offers general summaries on the institutions listed, and details of their latest news and events, and specific details for Family Historians and on Group Visits.

To quote the website:

From rare plants, heart surgery, illuminated manuscripts, and helicopter emergency services, to pharmacies, false teeth and Freud, the exhibits in these museums help to place the history and development of medicine and health care in its widest context. Along the way, they provide some remarkable insights into an age-long campaign against illness, disease and injury.

From the Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum to the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries, plan your visit(s) now.