The Elephant Man - The Royal London Hospital Museum Whitechapel

Just across the road from The Blind Begger Pub stands the world famous Royal London Hospital.
It has many claims to fame including being the birthplace of yours truly.

What many people may not know is that the hospital has it's own museum with artifacts from it's long and illustrious history. It's a bit macabre but fascinating.

Our subject today is Joseph Carey Merrick (5 August 1862 – 11 April 1890), an English man known for his severe physical deformities. Sometimes misnamed as John Merrick.

Joseph Carey Merrick

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As you can imagine Joseph had a very hard life due to his condition and was first exhibited at a freak show under the stage name "The Elephant Man".

The irony that I am publishing this is not lost on me.

People are interested in gawping at what they think is odd hence the fascination with modern day freakshows like the kardasians or rich housewives of wherever.

I've been meaning to write something about the London Hospital as it was known when I was born here just 60 odd years after Merrick lived there. Not much had changed in those 60 years.

Royal London Hospital

Merrick's condition was extremely painful and limited his mobility. He had to sleep in a sitting position as his head was so heavy and he would have choked himself if laid out flat.

Curiously Merrick's condition is still not completely understood and there are two possibilities.

Proteus Syndrome A rare disorder causing overgrowth of skin, bones, and other tissues.

Or

Neurofibromatosis Previously thought to be Merrick's condition, characterized by tumors on nerves.

Joseph exhibited several notable physical features, including:

An extremely large head, measuring nearly three feet in circumference.
Spongy skin hanging from his face and head.
Deformation of the jaws, affecting his ability to express emotions and speak clearly.
Significant asymmetry in his limbs, with one arm being much larger than the other.

The current opinion is that Joseph probably had both of these conditions simultaneously.

Replica of Merrick's Skeleton

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When Joseph went to live at the London Hospital after meeting the surgeon Sir Frederick Treves. His troubles were not over. He became a celebrity and would be constantly visited by many wealthy and famous people.

One of the nurse's would charge not so well off people to gawp at him.

So basically Joseph went from living in a tent to living in the hospital but nothing changed as far as people wantng to see "the freak"

Sir Frederick Treves

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Treves did try to limit the number of visitors but he also needed the wealthy patrons to support Joseph. It was not ideal but at least Joseph had gained some dignity, autonomy and a roof over his head.

Despite his challenges, Merrick never lost his humanity and was always polite and grateful to Treves for getting him off the streets basically and out of the hands of unscrupulous people that just wanted to exploit him.

The nurse who had been exploiting Joseph was caught and fired.

If you find yourself in the area pop in and have a look around the museum but check out the opening times first because they change often.

Below is the current opening times.

All photos and text are mine unless indicated.

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