The Herb Garret is the garret of St Thomas Church, Southwark. It was called the Herb Garret in 1821 when the Grand Committee of the hospital ordered that an operating theatre be built in the garret of the church to serve the patients of St Thomas' Hospital, Southwark.
Little is known of its function beyond its name and the discovery of poppy heads in the rafters. It was presumably to store and dry herbs for the Hospital's apothecary. At about the same time as the Operating Theatre was built the roof was reroofed and dormer windows inserted. It has been conjectured that this may suggest the garret changed use, perhaps becoming a recovery ward.
In 1862, the hospital moved, and the Herb Garret and Operating Theatre were closed down.
It is now part of the Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret, Southwark and was reopened to the public in 1962.
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Last updated: 05-15-2005 13:55:06
