GCSE History pupils visit The Old Operating Theatre
Wednesday, 19th March 2025
Year 11 GCSE History pupils had an insightful and immersive visit to The Old Operating Theatre, located in the attic of the Old St Thomas' Hospital in Southwark. This unique museum, with its rich history, offered pupils a first-hand look at the evolution of medicine and surgery, a key topic in their forthcoming Medicine Through Time GCSE History exam. The visit was arranged by the history department over two days (11th & 19th March) due to the number of pupils following the course.
The Old Operating Theatre, housed in a building dating back to the early eighteenth century, provides a rare glimpse into medical practices of the past, from medieval times to the 19th century. It once functioned as a herb garret where medicinal herbs were stored and dried for patients. In 1822, an operating theatre was added, making it the oldest surviving surgical theatre in Europe dedicated to female patients.
While exploring the exhibits, pupils were particularly struck by the historical operating theatre itself. This was a space where, in the absence of anaesthetics and antiseptics, up to 150 medical pupils would have gathered to observe surgeries. The chilling reality of what a patient experienced during these procedures was brought to life through an informative explanation. The pupils were even encouraged to imagine themselves in the shoes of 19th-century patients, recreating the dramatic, and at times harrowing, experience of medical learning from a time when surgery was far more dangerous than it is today.
This visit not only helped pupils visualize historical medical practices but also provided a deeper understanding of the drastic medical advancements that would later shape modern healthcare.
