Leeds is a vibrant tourist destination that attracts numerous visitors every year. The city offers plenty to see and explore, with its museums being particularly noteworthy. Today, we delve into the story of the Thackray Medical Museum, a unique attraction in Leeds. Learn more on leeds-future.com.
The Building’s History: How It All Began
The Thackray Medical Museum is housed in the former Leeds Union Workhouse, a Grade II listed building constructed in 1861. Initially, the workhouse accommodated 784 impoverished individuals and later served as a medical facility for the poor. During World War I, the building was repurposed as the East Leeds War Hospital, catering to military personnel. It later became part of St. James’s Hospital and continued as a healthcare facility until the 1990s.
From Hospital to Museum
Though the building had aged significantly, its historical value prevented its demolition. Parliament approved its conversion into the Thackray Medical Museum, which opened to the public in 1997. Just a year later, the museum won the “Museum of the Year” award. Over time, it has received accolades such as the “Excellence in England Small Visitor Attraction of the Year” and the “Sandford Award for Heritage Education.” The museum features 11 permanent galleries and hosts temporary exhibitions. Visitors can explore topics like the slums of Victorian Leeds, public health challenges of the era, the history of surgery, and the Victorian public health movement. Its collection includes over 47,000 medical objects, 15,000 trade catalogues, and 9,000 books on medicine and healthcare. Highlights include Prince Albert’s personal medical kit, European surgical instruments from the 1600s to the modern era, and a collection of hearing aids. For younger visitors, the museum offers Sparks!, a play area for children under five.
In 2019, the museum closed temporarily for a £4 million refurbishment. While reopening was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, it resumed operations in 2021. During the pandemic, the museum also served as a COVID-19 vaccination centre.
Who Was Charles Thackray?
The Thackray Medical Museum is named after Charles Thackray, a pharmacist and manufacturer of surgical instruments in Leeds. He began his career apprenticing at F. M. Rimmington & Son in Bradford before working at Squire & Son, Queen Victoria’s official pharmacy. In 1902, Thackray opened his own pharmacy in Leeds. Four years later, he purchased a sterilizer to expand into a new line of business, supplying sterilized dressings to Leeds hospitals. Recognizing the city’s prominence as a hub for skilled surgeons, Thackray began manufacturing surgical instruments. By 1914, the Thackray company employed 25 people. In the 1930s, the firm expanded its offerings to include hospital sterilizers and operating tables. Charles Thackray passed away in 1934, and in the 1950s, the company was acquired by the British Cystoscope Co Ltd. The museum was later founded by Charles’ grandson, Paul Thackray.