Old Operating Theatre Museum

As far as creepy and strange things go, I usually try to stay far away from them.

But for some reason, once I found the website for the Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret, I wanted to visit.

As with the Museum of Brands, my National Trust Card also allowed me half price entry here.  Be warned, entry to this museum is up a steep and narrow spiral staircase, so not suitable if you can't manage this.

At the top of the stairs is a small shop, packed with general kids toys and also books etc for adults relating to the theme of the museum.  Up to the next floor and you come to the herb garret, which is packed full of herbs, and jars of body parts, along with explanations of how the herbs might have been used to cure ailments.  This also contains some devices which I can only say look like instruments of torture.  If you follow this trail around, you see some of the surgical equipment that used to be used (truly horrendous looking, some of it) and books and explanatory pamphlets about how certain procedures would be carried out.  Yes, it was pretty gruesome.

Finally you reach the Old Operating Theatre itself.  A photo probably best shows what this is like.

I stood there and imagined how horrible it must have been to lie on a tiny wooden operating table without today's modern anaesthetic, surrounded by students watching what was happening.  I'm sure you can picture the scene also.  It would be quite interesting for school trips also and they do run educational sessions if you wanted to get even more of a feel for things.

Overall, something a bit different, but very definitely wanted a drink afterwards.  The place is not that big though, so don't expect to spend more than about 45 mins to 1 hour there unless you are attending one of the organised sessions or talks.

Guildhall Art Gallery and London's Roman Amphitheatre

For years, I worked in the city, close to the Guildhall and yet did not even realise it was there.

Then, one day, I went on a photoshoot and the Guildhall was the meeting point.  I couldn't believe I'd never even walked through it.  The square is big and peaceful and there is some beautiful architecture surrounding it.

The buildings around the square also house a free art gallery.  Since I like free, I dragged my friend along to pay it a visit.

The gallery houses a number of interesting artworks, many of them taking up whole walls of space, and painted with interesting scenes.  There is plenty of seating provided, which is good because you have to sit there for a while to take in everything in each piece.

Queen Victoria seated on the throne
in the House of Lords
Sir George Hayter (1792-1871)

There were also some really beautiful commissioned pieces of stained glass.

Both pieces created by Stella Timmins to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of HM the Queen.

After starting at the top of the gallery, you work your way down through portraits and further down to some sculpture pieces.  The exhibitions change every few months and some are ticketed so it's worth checking the website before you visit.

Main piece by Edward John Poynter (1836-1919)
Israel in Egypt

Finally, at the very bottom, you walk into a Roman Amphitheatre, including some of the original walls which were discovered.  It is quite a strange feeling to imagine what must have gone on in there, and I wish I'd managed to get a decent photo on my camera but sadly not.

Very much worth a visit if you are in the area and have some free time.  I'd say it probably took around an 1hr-1.5hr to walk through the whole gallery.

Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising

Since I live here in London, I like to look for things which are perhaps off the standard tourist trail.  For two reasons really - firstly, because there is so much here to be discovered and secondly because the more obscure, the more I hope it won't be full of people and I'll be able to enjoy it more.

So, after a day of hunting for things I could go and do with a friend in tow, we decided to visit the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising, which is situated within walking distance of Notting Hill.  This museum has been built up over many many years by Robert Opie, who started collecting age 16.

Although the website looks really interesting, I wasn't sure what to expect, or if we'd be in and out of there within half an hour.  One of the important things to note is that if you are a member of the National Trust, they have a promotion at the moment for half price entry, and having visited I thought it was actually worth the full price of £6.50.  Sadly, no photography allowed and so this post can't really show you all the interesting things in there.

The website also seems to be geared a little towards school groups, with a number of worksheets provided.  This being the case, we decided to arrive shortly after opening at 10am, and only came across one smallish school group.

The museum was much larger than I expected, with all the items separated into different rooms from different eras, from Victorian and Edwardian through to present day.  Since we weren't on a time limit, we pottered slowly and took time to talk about how it must have been to live with what people had in the different ages.  In all we were there over 2 hours and had a fascinating time.

I'd have to say my favourite thing in the whole place and one to look out for because it's easy to miss, was in the first room, in a case in the middle of the room - from one side it looked like a concertina box, but from front on there was just a hole.  When you peeked through, there were layers of papercuttings, making up some really wonderful scenes.

I think what also fascinated me was how people managed to entertain themselves before the days of the high tech that we have today.  When we started to reach the things that I recognised and remembered from seeing my parents or grandparents using them (co-op stamps, anyone?) that was wonderful.  It was also interesting to see how brands have changed (or not) through to today.  The things we have now seemed quite tacky and gaudy in comparison to some of the older items.

Although the teenagers on their school trip raced through and looked pretty bored, we found everything in this place truly interesting and thought it was well worth a visit.  I'd like to go again with my parents and to see which things they remember.  I'd say it's definitely aimed at adults and also for schools and learning, and probably more so for the Brits, since they are most likely to recognise the things in there and to know some of the history.