Following a £1.4 million redevelopment, the Florence Nightingale Museum re-opened on May 12, 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.

Famous for being the ‘Lady with the Lamp’ who organised the nursing of sick and wounded soldiers during the Crimean War, Florence Nightingale’s far-sighted ideas and reforms have influenced the very nature of modern healthcare.

Her greatest achievement was to transform nursing into a respectable profession for women and in 1860, she established the first professional training school for nurses, the Nightingale Training School at St. Thomas’ Hospital. She campaigned tirelessly to improve health standards, publishing over 200 books, reports and pamphlets on hospital planning and organisation which are still widely read and respected today, including her most famous work “Notes on Nursing: What It Is and What It Is Not”. 

Photograph album of Nightingale Nurses. The album containing 31 carte de visites, is inscribed “To Miss Florence Lees, given by the Sisters, Nurses and Probationers of St Thomas’s Hospital in affectionate remembrance of the time which she spent as a Nightingale Probationer amongst them. Easter day 1864″. It is an early record of the nurses trained at the NTS.
[Image © Florence Nightingale Museum]

Situated in the grounds of St. Thomas’ Hospital on the site where Florence established her very first Nightingale Training School for Nurses, the Florence Nightingale Museum tells her story via three pavilions, focusing on her Victorian childhood, the Crimean War and her later years as an ardent campaigner for health reform.  The Museum also celebrates the profession of nursing and explores Florence’s legacy to today’s nursing practice.

Florence’s Dress.  Florence is most often depicted wearing black. From the age of 30 she made a decision to devote herself to work, a serious attitude which was reflected in her dress. As the dress was made for her and worn by her, it helps conjure an accurate image of her.
[Image © Florence Nightingale Museum]

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.

The highly visual and engaging interpretation features interactive and touchscreen 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.  Visitors even use a pair of stethoscopes to hear the audio tour.

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.”

Helena Riddicks’ Nightingale Uniform: This is an example of a Nightingale nurse’s uniform as worn at St Thomas‘ Hospital. This one belonged to Helena Riddick, and dates from around 1896. [Image © Florence Nightingale Museum]

The project has been funded by a number of funders including The Wellcome Trust, Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity, and Garfield Weston Foundation.

 

Opening hours: Daily, 10am – 5pm
Address: Florence Nightingale Museum,2 Lambeth Palace Road London SE1 7EW
Website: http://www.florence-nightingale.co.uk/