EUROPE

by Caroline Worthington, Director

Following a ￡1.4million redevelopment, the Florence Nightingale Museum re-opened on 12 May 2010 the birth date of the “Lady of the Lamp”. Located on London’s South Bank, the transformed Museum marks the centenary of Florence’s death, telling the real story of the woman behind the legend as well as how modern nursing began.

Situated in the grounds of St Thomas’ Hospital on the site where Florence established her very first Nightingale Training School for Nurses, the Museum tells her story via three pavilions: The Gilded Cage covering the story of her privileged childhood and her struggle against stifling social conventions. The Calling (clad in Turkish tiles and lined with strips of bandage) is dramatic and moving, explaining how Nightingale and her team coped with the crisis in the military hospitals where the legend of the lady with the lamp was born. While Reform and Inspire shows the other side of Florence, the reformer who campaigned tirelessly for health reform at home and abroad.

The Museum also celebrates the profession of nursing and explores Florence’s legacy to today’s nursing practice. A ribbon of images and films wraps around the Museum, detailing her legacy to nursing today and visitors meet the thousands of men and women who followed in her footsteps, including those who travelled internationally to set up nurse training schools, the Caribbean nurses who came over to the UK in the 1950s as well as the personal stories of nurses today whose career choice was inspired by Florence.

The Museum features an unparalleled collection of Nightingalia, with highlights including the writing slate Florence used as a child; the medicine chest she took to the Crimean war; a rare Register of Nurses which lists the women who served under her in the military hospitals in Turkey and the Crimean; and her pet little Owl Athena who travelled everywhere in her pocket.

Stethoscopes are provided for visitors to hear the voices of Florence and her contemporaries, as well as her critics through audio hotspots. The cast of characters includes the Jamaican-born nurse Mary Seacole who was famous for her herbal remedies and, the Jamie Oliver of his day, Alexis Soyer who transformed the soldiers’ diet with his travelling stove.

The highly visual and engaging interpretation features interactive and touch screen exhibits, films, a creative programme of free arts activities for children, and regular contemporary art exhibitions which will see artists respond to different aspects of Florence’s life and legacy.

Caroline Worthington, director, Florence Nightingale Museum, “This is a special year for Florence and the new Museum is a very fitting tribute to someone who has contributed so much to modern day nursing. Florence has inspired so many men and women to join a profession which we all rely on and it is fascinating to see that the issues she tackled such as hospital hygiene, caring for soldiers and the training of nurses are still hugely relevant today. We are excited about welcoming a wide range of audiences to discover more about this iconic Briton.”

Address:　Gassiot House, 2 Lambeth Palace Road, London, SE1 7EW
Phone:　 +44 (0)207 -620-0374
Homepage: 　http://www.florence-nightingale.co.uk/cms/index.php/visitor-info
Days closed:　Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day
Admission: 　Adult ￡5.80, Child (under 15) ￡4.80, Concessions ￡4.80, Family (two adults and up to five children) ￡15.00

(Originally published on October 4, 2010)