You should now be in front of the old Royal London Hospital building. Walk slowly along the front of the old hospital building looking at the building’s façade and its situation in the busy thoroughfare. Stop when you reach the corner of East Mount Street, where there are signs to the new hospital. Remain on Whitechapel Road.

Since its foundation in 1740, The London Hospital had grown in size and reputation to become the largest voluntary hospital in the country. The Hospital was at the forefront of medical innovation in the nineteenth century. In 1880, a young woman named Eva Lückes was appointed as the new Matron. During the 1880s she set about reforming and professionalising the nursing school. Her pioneering work had a lasting impact on the training of nurses. By 1886, Joseph was destitute and, having made his way back to London from Europe, he arrived at Liverpool Street Station where an excited and curious crowd gathered. Treves was called by the police as fortunately Joseph was still carrying Treves’ calling card. At the behest of Treves and the London Hospital Chairman, Francis Carr-Gomm, Joseph was admitted as an in-patient.

Now turn right into East Mount Street and follow signs to the main entrance of the new Royal London Hospital. Before you reach the entrance, turn to face the back of the old hospital buildings. In the nineteenth century, the hospital also had an east wing, which was situated in the spot where you are now standing. Begin part 4.

THE FORMER ROYAL LONDON HOSPITAL

Turn right and take the first left turning into the hospital campus. You are now in Turner Street. Head past the Royal London Dental Hospital on your left. Stop outside the entrance to the Garrod Building, which is the old London Hospital Medical College. You may be able to enter the Garrod Building. Continue through the double doors into the hall and stop by the staircase where you can see the portrait of Frederick Treves on the first landing to your left. If you look at your app screen now you can see the portrait.

 In 1785, the first purpose-built Medical College in England opened. In its first century it had trained many notable doctors and surgeons such as John Langdon Down (who classified Down’s syndrome) and Thomas Barnardo (founder of the children’s charity). The College kept an extensive collection of specimens as part of the pathology and anatomy museums. Former curators of the collection include Frederick Treves and Thomas Horrocks Openshaw. Joseph was first taken to this building in 1884 and studied by Treves who was interested in his condition. Joseph’s skeleton is still part of the collection today but only accessible to researchers who have an interest in medical humanities, the genetics of Proteus syndrome (believed to be Joseph’s condition) or the changing social attitudes to disability.

Leave the Garrod building and retrace your steps, walking back up Turner Street to the junction with Whitechapel Road. Stop here and look across to the shops on the other side of Whitechapel Road.

From the corner of Turner Street and Whitechapel Road, turn right to walk along the front of the old Royal London Hospital building. Find a place to stop and begin part 3.

THE OLD LONDON HOSPITAL MEDICAL COLLEGE (GARROD)BUILDING

Begin outside 259 Whitechapel Road, facing the old Royal London Hospital buildings which stand on the other side of Whitechapel Road. Amid the hustle and bustle of the market, find a place to stand.

We begin our trail in 1884, in the heart of Victorian Whitechapel. A young London Hospital surgeon, Frederick Treves, is informed of a curious exhibit in a former shop at what is now 259 Whitechapel Road. This chance encounter would alter his life forever and that of Joseph Carey Merrick, ‘The Elephant Man’. Joseph was born in Leicester in 1862 and his early life was filled with tragedy and hardship. He spent time in the workhouse in Leicester before joining a travelling freakshow which brought him to the East End of London. Frederick Treves had been a student at The London Hospital Medical College in the 1870s and was a rising star in the medical profession, destined for greatness.

Now face the old hospital. Turn right and walk along Whitechapel Road until you reach the pedestrian crossing by Court Street. Use the pedestrian crossing to cross Whitechapel Road. When you reach the other side of the road, begin part 2.

259 WHITECHAPEL ROAD

We end our journey at the former church of St Philip with St Augustine. The building is now the Medical Library and has been extensively restored. The church was completed in 1892 shortly after Joseph’s death. The museum is located in the crypt at the eastern end of the church and tells the story of the Royal London Hospital and the development of medicine in the East End. Joseph Merrick is featured in the display amongst notable figures such as Edith Cavell, Eva Lückes and there is material on the Whitechapel Murders of 1888.

You are now at the end of the walking tour. If you are here during opening hours, please come in to the museum where you can see objects connected to this story and find out more about the history of the Royal London Hospital and medicine in the East End. Enter through the gates and go down to the door at the bottom of the ramp.

THE ROYAL LONDON HOSPITAL MUSEUM

Now return to the reception area just outside the atrium and exit the hospital. Cross over the road and stop in front of the statue of Queen Alexandra.
In 1887, the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) and Princess Alexandra visited the hospital to open the Medical College building and nurses’ home. Princess Alexandra paid a visit to Joseph which touched him deeply. This statue also features a relief which shows the Finsen Light department, made possible by Princess Alexandra who acquired the first Finsen lamp for the hospital in 1900. She became the hospital’s President in 1904. In 1902, shortly before Edward VII was to be crowned, he was diagnosed with appendicitis. Frederick Treves performed the very risky operation which saved the King’s life.

Walk behind the statue and continue to the road ahead. This is Newark Street. Turn right and continue along Newark Street until you reach the entrance gate to the Royal London Hospital Museum which is in the former St Philip’s Church. Stop when you reach the gate, and begin part 6.

THE NEW ROYAL LONDON HOSPITAL AND QUEEN ALEXANDRA'S STATUE

The appeal to keep Joseph at the hospital raised a considerable sum of money and he was moved from Cotton Ward to his own rooms in the basement of the East Wing of the hospital. He was not always confined to the hospital. On occasions he was taken to the countryside and also the theatre. His relationship with Frederick Treves became much closer; Treves grew to understand Joseph as a person rather than a patient and his visitors included notable members of society such as the actress Madge Kendal and even royalty.

Enter the new hospital through the main entrance and walk down the main corridor between the pharmacy and the café until you reach the back entrance reception area. Turn to your left and enter the atrium where you can see the London Hospital bell of 1757. When you get there, begin part 5.

THE BACK OF THE FORMER ROYAL LONDON HOSPITAL

Museum located in former church crypt which tells the story of England's largest voluntary hospital from 1740 and the history of healthcare in London's East End.

The Royal London Hospital Museum

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