Hidden for almost a century in the garret of St Thomas's Church, Britain's only surviving 19th Century Operating Theatre was rediscovered in 1956. I was tempted to put this very simple image into the 'Horror' genre, but left it in historical hoping that the descriptions may not be too upsetting to some folks. This is a little place I've been meaning to visit for years, the oldest known operating theatre, (surgical, not entertainment!) Apparently, it was reached through a corridor from Dorcas ward in the old St. Thomas's Hospital, and was (is) built in the roof of the little church next door. That way, the still living patients did not have to hear the screams, and patient's exclamations were also muffled by the organ music coming from below them. Note the box of sawdust below the wooden operating table, with it's obvious absorbent uses! The lights you see hanging from the ceiling were originally hissing gas lamps...... The Museum is found at the top of a wooden spiral staircase in the barn-like roof space of the old Church. The Operating Theatre is built beside the old Herb Garret of St Thomas's Hospital. The theatre itself is a shocking reminder of the harsh reality of life before modern science and technology. Many places claim to 'bring the past to life', but this is not Disney cuteness or Heritage complacency. This is the past stripped bare. The actual circular space is only about 10 feet across and is completely surrounded by the high climbing tiers of seating for the surgical apprentices, whose training took 7 years. Keats himself trained as a surgeon here, before he gave it up for poetry! The young surgeons practised on the freshly dug up cadavers, supplied by the body-snatchers, (also known as Resurrection men!) who delivered bodies for a hefty price to the surgeons all over the country. These resurrection men would give themselves up to the police if seen and chased, rather than be torn apart by furious relatives..........(another story) Sorry I don't know how to erase the two white heaters, as they sure seem very much out of place.