St Thomas' Church - Hidden Operating Theatre and Herb Garret

Where?
Near London Bridge tube station, Southwark

What?
 This really appealed to me as a history lover and seemed perfect for Londoner Obscura. This old operating theatre was discovered tucked away in the roof space of St Thomas' Church by a man researching the history of St Thomas' Hospital. One day he decided to climb up into the loft and he came across the shell of the old theatre.


The restored operating theatre



The operating theatre had been lost when the hospital moved from its original site to Lambeth in 1862. The entrances to the operating theatre, which had been built in 1822, were blocked up and the operating theatre and accompanying garret were forgotten.



The herb garret as it would have been used by apothecaries


You can read more about the history of the operating theatre and herb garret here.

Both the operating theatre and herb garret have now been restored and visitors can get a real sense of what it might have been like to be a doctor (or indeed patient) at St Thomas'.

There are some fascinating (and often pretty gruesome) displays and the tiny garret is stuffed with all sorts of medical paraphernalia.

I've left out the bone saws, pickled organs and giant forceps - wouldn't want to ruin it for you before your visit!

How much?
£6 (concessions available)