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Queen Mary Heritage

London Hospital Medical College Information

This page contains all information displayed on the virtual tour.

London Hospital Medical College Information

Garrod Building

In 1854, the Royal London Medical College moved to the Garrod Building, which allowed for extra space to keep up with demands from more students and more modern teaching facilities. However, even this was not enough, and the building was rebuilt and enlarged in 1886-1887, as well as again in 1898.  

The expansion in 1887 allowed for a range of subjects to be taught over a four-year course, including lectures in anatomy, chemistry, surgery, medicine as well as specialist subjects such as forensic medicine and midwifery.  

The building was named after the physician Sir Archibald Garrod, who spent most of his career at St Bartholomew’s Hospital.  

Today, the Garrod building is used by Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry students, equipped with a lecture theatre, seminar and classroom facilities, a café and a student’s common room.  

Inside, there is a small pathology museum, home to a collection of Victorian pathology specimens. This is not open to the public; however students may have an opportunity to visit.  

od building is used by Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry students, equipped with a lecture theatre, seminar and classroom facilities, a café and a student’s common room.  

Whitechapel Library

Whitechapel Library was formerly known as St Philips Church. This church was built in 1818-1821 and was dedicated to St Philip. After the Second World War, St Philip’s church merged with St Augustine’s church. However, the church was declared redundant in 1979. In 1985-1988, it was converted into a medical and dental library for the London Royal Medical College, to account for the overcrowded and inadequate college that was previously being used by students.  

Today, the former church is still being used as a study space for students with an extensive collection of medical school research materials. This building is also used for creative activities such as rehearsals for concerts or shows as well as housing The Royal London Hospital Museum.  

Barts and Royal London Student Association

The Barts and Royal London Student Association building is the home for all medical and dental students' clubs, societies and social facilities. It contains a bar, shop, cafe as well as social and study spaces. 

The building recently underwent a £1 million refurbishment. This upgrade provided better facilities for the students. 

Abernethy Building

This building was opened in 1995-1997 as a medical research centre for Barts and London School of Medicine and Dentistry. It was named the Blizard Institute’s National Centre for Bowel Research and Surgical Innovation. This building contains offices, laboratories, and teaching spaces. This building is named after John Abernethy, the instigator of St Bartholomew’s Medical College 

Queen Mary Innovation Center

The Queen Mary Innovation Centre was opened in 2010. It provides semi-bespoke laboratory and office space for science and technology start-ups. Some of these include life science, clinical, environmental, clean-tech and nanotech companies. It is the largest purpose-built innovation centre available for rent in London. This facility is owned entirely by Queen Mary University of London. 

Blizard Building and Center of the Cell

The Blizard Building of The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry is named after Sir William Blizard, who led the foundation of the London Hospital Medical College (See Animation page for more). It was opened in October 2005 by HRH The Princess Royal, Chancellor of the University of London, but the foundation stone was laid by Professor Colin Blakemore FRS in November 2003. 

Features of this building includes open-plan laboratories, office space and the 400-seat Perrin Lecture Theatre. Also housed within the building is a public ‘understanding of science facility’; the Centre of the Cell, which was opened in 2009. This interactive education centre is aimed at children in the local community who are encouraged to develop an interest in science and research. It operates both as a physical centre where children can learn about science and medicine and has a stand-alone website. The centre aims to: 

  • inspire the next generation of scientists and healthcare professionals. 
  • raise career aspirations and improve educational attainment. 
  • help young people fulfil their potential. 

“Cells are the building units of your body. Cells are so tiny you can't see them with your eyes and there are so many in your body you can't count them. Cells work together to make you think, move, talk, laugh and be you. You started life as a single cell, smaller than the dot at the end of this sentence.” (Taken from their website). 

Wingate Building

This building was originally built in 1978-1981 and financed by the Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation for the Gastrointestinal Science Research Unit of the London Medical College. It contained laboratories and offices essential in adding in their research. However, in 2002-2004, the building underwent renovations and was since renamed the Wingate Institute of Neurogastroenterology 

Yvonne Charter Building

The Yvonne Carter Building was built in 1975-1977 for the London Hospital’s Department of Medical Microbiology and the Arthritis and Rheumatism Council. This building contains over 8,000 square feet of laboratories to aid in research, teaching and diagnosis work.  

64 Turner Street

This building is home of the Life Sciences Initiative Office. This was housing that was converted to offices for research purposes.  

Empire House

The Empire House was originally designed and built in the 1930s for a dairy firm, Morris Israel and Sons Ltd. However, after years of neglect, the building was in a desperate state. Therefore, a renovation was undergone in 2017 to not only preserve many of the original features, but to add modern attributes that would improve the buildings usability. Today, this building contains office space for staff of Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry 

Floyer House

Floyer House was built in 1933-1934 as student accommodation for the Royal London Medical College students. Extensions were added in 1930 and in 1958-1959 to account for increasing number of students. The building is still being used today as student accommodation. 

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