News

Southwark Dispensary Register Restoration Completed

In 2012-13, the London Record Society funded the conservation treatment of the Southwark Dispensary register of patients admitted, Jan 1787-May 1789 from the collections held by London Metropolitan Archives (reference A/SD/039). The volume was unavailable for public consultation owing to its condition, but the support of the LRS has enabled the volume to be made accessible for research for the first time.

The Surrey Dispensary was opened in 1777. It was originally situated on Union Street, Southwark (then in Surrey), although it subsequently moved to various addresses. The Dispensary aimed to provide medical care for the local poor. The conserved register is one of a series for the period 1782-1845 giving details of patient, condition and treatment.

The records of the Dispensary are an important resource for the history of medicine and social history in particular, and have been used in academic research. They are also of interest to family and local historians and anyone interested in finding out more about London and Londoners.

Dispensary Book before restoration  Dispensary Book before restoration
Dispensary Book after restoration Dispensary Book after restoration

 

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