Plans unveiled to reopen Royal London Hospital Museum after five-year closure

"After five years in storage, the archive linked to Joseph Merrick - the "Elephant Man" - could finally go back on display as part of plans to reopen the Royal London Hospital Museum in a new larger home. The medical museum, which closed at the start of the pandemic and never reopened, housed some of the most significant artefacts connected to Merrick's final years under the care of Sir Frederick Treves at the Royal London Hospital."

"The museum's collection stretches far beyond Merrick. It tells the story of medicine in London's East End, including material linked to Florence Nightingale and Edith Cavell. It also preserves records relating to the 1888 Whitechapel Murders - commonly known as the "Jack the Ripper" cases - when the hospital's doctors provided forensic expertise to police investigations. Now, a major redevelopment of buildings behind the Royal London Hospital offers a route back."

"If planning permission is granted, the museum would move from its former home in a crypt into a modern ground-floor space about 70% larger than the old museum site. The larger premises, offered on a long-term peppercorn rent, would not only allow the Elephant Man archive and other permanent displays to return, but would also create space for temporary exhibitions and educational events."

The Royal London Hospital Museum closed at the start of the pandemic and has remained closed since 2020. The Elephant Man archive linked to Joseph Merrick has been in storage for five years. The museum's collection also includes material connected to Florence Nightingale, Edith Cavell and records related to the 1888 Whitechapel Murders when hospital doctors provided forensic expertise. A major redevelopment of buildings behind the hospital offers a route for the museum to relocate. If planning permission is granted, the museum would move from a crypt into a modern ground-floor space about 70% larger, on a long-term peppercorn rent, allowing permanent displays, temporary exhibitions, educational events and full accessibility, including a lecture hall for talks and public programmes.

Read at ianVisits