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Royal College of Physicians of London Heritage Centre
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The Royal College of Physicians
11 St. Andrews Place
Regent's Park
London
NW1 4LE
England
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William Hunter lecturing at the Royal Academy by Johan Zoffany, c.1772 © The Royal College of Physicians of London
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Collection details
Archives, Coins and Medals, Decorative and Applied Art, Fine Art, Medicine, Personalities, Science and Technology, Social History
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Contact details
General information (Tel)
:
020 7224 1539
General information (Fax)
:
020 7486 3729
E-mail
:
heritage@rcplondon.ac.uk
Website
:
www.rcplondon.ac.uk/heritage
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Open
Mon-Fri 9.00-17.00 by appointment
Tours available
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Closed
Public holidays
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Admission charges
Free.
Charges may apply for tours - please contact us for details
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Description
The Royal College of Physicians is the oldest medical College in England. Since the College's foundation by Royal charter of Henry VIII in 1518, it has engaged in a wide range of activities dedicated to its overall aim of upholding and improving standards of medical practice.
The College has had five homes in its history and moved to its current building in 1964 - a Grade I listed modern masterpiece in Regent's Park created by the architect Sir Denys Lasdun.
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Collections description
The collections of the Royal College of Physicians relate to the history of the College and the history of the Physician’s profession. They include; portraits, silver, medals, medical artefacts and instruments. They are on display throughout the College's building.
The portraits form a record of the most eminent figures in the history of medicine from the 16th century to the present day. We hold 350 oil portraits and 4000 prints. The collection includes outstanding pieces such as the busts of Baldwin Hamey Junior (1600-1676) by Edward Pierce and Richard Mead (1673-1754) by Louis François Roubiliac. Major painters represented include Godfrey Kneller, Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Hudson, Johann Zoffany and Thomas Lawrence.
The silver collection reflects events in College history as well as the lives and generosity of its Fellows and Members. Few pieces pre-date the Great Fire of London in 1666 because of a robbery during the previous year. Baldwin Hamey’s inkstand bell and William Harvey’s demonstration rod are two of the pieces that survive. Many pieces of silver are ‘working’ objects and are used to this day for formal occasions in the College. Special objects include the President’s staff of office, the silver caduceus and the silver-gilt College mace.
The College also owns six seventeenth century anatomical tables, made by drying and mounting the blood vessels and nerves of the human body onto blocks of wood which were then varnished and used as a teaching aid for the study of anatomy. The Symons Collection of medical instruments began as a group of objects relating to self-care in Georgian times and expanded to include items that would have been used by physicians when treating patients in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
The College also holds extensive library and archive collections. For further information go to www.rcplondon.ac.uk/heritage
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Key artists and exhibits
medical instruments
;
anatomy
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medicine
;
physician
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Doctor
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William Hunter
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William Harvey
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Articles
Newly-Accredited Medical College Invests In Mysterious Portrait
MGM 2008 - May Is Museums And Galleries Month 2008!
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Trails
From Apothecaries To Florence Nightingale - A Medical Museums Trail
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General Information
Information point provided
Guided tours
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Collections
Object identification and/or written enquiry service
Object study facilities available (enquire in advance)
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Disability Access
Wheelchair access to all public areas
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Children and Families
Baby changing facilities
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General Education
Academic publications and resources available
Adult lectures and courses held
Loan service
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Facilities
Auditorium
Facilities for private functions and events
Library with public access
Licensed for weddings
Object study facilities available (enquire in advance)
Research facilities for academics
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Visit our City Heritage Guides for more
listings in London
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Copyright © 24 Hour Museum
Information published here was believed to be correct at the time it was prepared. Welsh language pages developed with CYMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.
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