The Royal College of Surgeons of England
There are three museums at The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The Hunterian and Odontological Museums contain collections of historical and scientific interest and are open to the public. The Wellcome Museum is only open to members of the College and to qualified practitioners and students of medicine, nursing and related subjects.
Among the treasures on show at The Royal College of Surgeons of England are over 6,000 specimens of human and comparative anatomy and pathology, 3,500 of which are from the original collection of John Hunter FRS (1728-1793).
The Odontological Collection contains approximately 10,000 specimens in total, including about 3,500 preparations of human material such as jaws, casts and 261 skulls; 200 dentures; and 300 dental instruments. It is particularly famous for its unique collection of specimens illustrating various aspects of non-human dental pathology, which is made up of 2,000 animal skulls and is unrivalled anywhere in the world. In addition, it contains 4,000 normal animal skulls.
The museum also contains paintings commissioned by Hunter from George Stubbs and William Hodges and displays on the work of Joseph Lister (1827-1912), the pioneer of antiseptic surgery. There is also an extensive collection of 7,000 historical surgical instruments, some of which date back to the seventeenth century.
Please note that the Hunterian and Odontological Museums will be closed until late 2004 for a major refurbishment project.
Monday to Friday from 10am until 5pm.
Closed bank holidays and weekends.
Location
The Royal College of Surgeons of England
35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields
Holborn
WC2
Telephone
+44 (0)20 7869 6560
Getting There
The College is centrally located at Lincoln's Inn Fields within easy walking distance of Holborn and Temple underground stations.
Nearest Tube / Rail Station
Holborn