Old Operating Theatre Museum
One of London's weirdest museums must be the Old Operating Theatre. It is entirely original and is in the attic roof of a church. They had to pack the rafters with straw to stop the blood dripping down on the congregation. Tiered seats line the central podium for a good view. Don't miss it, if you've ever in London!
3 Comments:
I think I read about that Operating Theatre in Patricia Cornwall's (is that the right spelling??) non-fiction book about Jack the ripper. The descriptions made me feel ill. Aparently the London hospital was avoided like the plague, and most people took their chances when told they had an incurable disease - or a high number of people did.
Plus I remember reading about Samuel Johnson preparing to have his leg amputated, his biographer BOswell citing it as proof of his courage.
Hmmmm. I think visiting that old theatre might make me feel queasy!
OK, when you come over, I'll take you to my other favourite museum, the Geffrye Museum (Museum of the Lounge Room through the Ages)! Guaranteed not to cause queasiness, especially now our tastes have swung back to the oranges and greens of the sixties. By the way, I saw that groovy orange lamp in an article on the history of Ikea, in the Ikea museum, illustrating fifties decor. Might be worth a fortune!
I love that lamp! I didn't know I needed it until I got it. It's the first thing I turn on when I get home, and bask in it's glow for the whole night!
I was thinking of the descriptions of operations taking place in Victorian London that made me queasy, especially the ghoulish detail that crime author Patricia Cornwell gave it.
At least Dr Johnson didn't have to have his leg sawn off after all.
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