Exhibition taster

Here is just a small glimpse of what we have on display. To learn more about the fascinating story of St Luke’s, come and see our exhibition at the Spike

Some of our display boards — Here are just a few of the 36 exhibition information boards showcasing our research.

Artifacts from Guildford War Hospital 1915 - 1919 — Artifacts from Guildford War Hospital 1915 – 1919

Workhouse issue boot and the original keys

At the latest Spike volunteers gathering, the work of the St Luke’s Hospital Heritage Project was celebrated with the presentation of a plaque, marking the site of the Guildford Union Workhouse and telling of it’s history. This was purchased with grant funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and will be a permanent source of information on an important part of Guildford’s local history for generations to come.

volunteers party April 2014 — Our team of volunteers with the new plaque

Behind the scenes

Our new exhibition continues to attract a lot of attention and we have had many compliments about our research. You know what they say, like a swan on water, it all looks very serene on the surface but here are a few photos of our mad paddling!

This workhouse nurse was putting up a fight, it took two of us to hold her down... — This workhouse nurse was putting up a fight, it took two of us to hold her down…

.....and the parcel tracker says that the information boards are somewhere in Birmingham! — …..and the parcel tracker says that the information boards are somewhere in Birmingham!

Who's turn is it to make the tea? — Who’s turn is it to make the tea?

Now Open! A new exhibition at the Spike

FROM WORKHOUSE TO HOSPITAL

John Redpath welcoming the Mayor of Godalming, Diana Lockyer Nibbs, with Mrs Joan Robinson, Dr Edith Faulkner and Mrs Patricia Morgan — John Redpath welcoming the Mayor of Guildford, Diana Lockyer-Nibbs, with Mrs Joan Robinson, Dr Edith Faulkner and Mrs Patricia Morgan

Researchers and guests enjoying a preview of the new exhibition — Researchers and guests enjoying the preview of the new exhibition

(with thanks to David Rose and Guildford Dragon for the fantastic coverage of the exhibition’s gala opening on 17th March 2014)

The launch night of our new exhibition was a tremendous success with 90 invited guests ranging in age from 12 to 93!

Dr Richard Nottley, our keynote speaker — Dr Richard Notley, our keynote speaker, with other guests

We were delighted to welcome ex-staff who trained and worked at St Luke’s in the 1950’s and 60’s, some travelling from as far away as Norfolk. Diana Lockyer-Nibbs, Mayor of Guildford and a long-term supporter of the Spike Heritage Centre, officially opened the exhibition and retired consultant, Richard Notley gave a fascinating keynote speech.

Guildford Dragon News covered the evening for us and the Surrey Advertiser featured the exhibition in their popular ‘from the archives’ article the same week.
We are also very pleased to be featured in this month’s (April 2014) edition of Family Tree Magazine, available at WHSmith.

P1020616-001 — The Catteshall Band came along to entertain the troops!

Since the launch, we have been busy showing visitors round the new exhibition which, at no extra cost, is part of the Spike tour, making it better value than ever! The tours, no booking required, are available every Tuesday and Saturday. The opening hours are 10 am to 4 pm. To get the most out of your visit, allow at least an hour and a half for the tour and exhibition.

P1020614-001 — Our nurse fully dressed and well behaved for the exhibition. Take a look at our behind the scene photos here.

Thanks must go to the design team of Barry Mazur and Giles Pattison. It was a really difficult task for researchers to go through two years of work and find the pictures and text which would best illustrate the life of the hospital. Barry and Giles worked sensitively with the material and have created a unique and engaging exhibition which has delighted the research team and visitors alike.

Information from the Surrey History Centre, the National Archives and personal photographs and papers create an informative display

The research team would also like to express their great appreciation for the friendly help and professional guidance of Julian Pooley and staff at the Surrey History Centre.

Our keynote speaker, Dr Richard Notley, demonstrating an old surgical device

We are now looking forward to more events over the summer. Also watch the website for more information on ‘Christmas on the Ward’ December 2014.

We hope you will visit us soon!!

A new exhibition for the Spike Heritage Centre

St Luke’s Hospital started as an infirmary ward in the Guildford Union Workhouse. It was a modern NHS General Hospital by the 1960’s.This exhibition traces its history, illustrating a bigger story; how our healthcare services evolved from workhouse infirmaries up and down the country.

(For more information about the exhibition and a press pack please contact jane@charlotteville.co.uk)

The Spike, now an award winning Heritage Centre, is the 1906 Guildford Union Vagrants and Casual Ward. Its long, cold corridor with stone-breaking cells was erected to separate the ‘undesirable’ vagrants and their disruptive influence from the structured routine of the Workhouse. It is entirely run by volunteers and has just completed a major research project into the history of modern hospitals from their Victorian roots, as a workhouse sick bay, to a modern NHS Trust.

To contact The Spike:
The Spike Heritage Centre, Warren Road, Guildford Surrey GU1 3JH
Telephone:01483 569944
Email: heritage@charlotteville.co.uk

Category: News