A history of the National Hospital, Queen Square: in 10 objects

This compilation contains images of items held within Queen Square Archives, focusing on the development of Queen Square, and the founding and early days of the National Hospital, including the first hospital buildings and early staff members. The Queen Square Archives collections are housed in and managed by the Queen Square Library, and they comprise the archives belonging to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN) and those of UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology (IoN). Also available as a short video compilation Download transcript

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Artwork and objects around Queen Square

Objects, including paintings, sculpture and plaques in Hospital buildings and Queen Square gardens

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Beginning of the End of the Falling Sickness: Epilepsy and its treatment in London 1860-1910

This exhibition, held in Queen Square Library, November 2013- April 2014, includes monographs and journals illustrating the state of epilepsy theory in 1860 and the evolution of the concepts and treatment of epilepsy in London over the subsequent 50 years, including photographs of key figures in Queen Square, several of which are displayed below, and the cover designs of the first series of Epilepsia.

Please see the exhibition handout at http://www.queensquare.org.uk/archives/visiting/exhibitions for further information.

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Charles Edouard Brown Séquard (1817-1894)

Display in Queen Square Library, to commemorate the 160th Anniversary of Brown Sequard’s retirement from the National Hospital, featuring photographs, objects, and documents from Queen Square Archives, including Brown-Sequard memorabilia on indefinite loan from The National Brain Appeal. Please see our displays and events page for further information.

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Children's journals

Five volumes of children’s journals written by William Gowers in the 1880-1890s.

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Embroidered Minds: William Gowers & the Morris Family

Embroidered Minds is a collaboration between artists, writers, doctors and academics. This exhibition ran in Queen Square Library, 23 Queen Square from November 2015 until 26th February 2016. Please see exhibition handouts for further information. Please also see Embroidered Minds website.

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Evolution of epilepsy theory and practice at the National Hospital: The complementary approaches of Sir William Gowers and John Hughlings Jackson.

The display celebrates the 150th anniversary of Gowers’ appointment as Assistant Physician at the National Hospital and will run in Queen Square Library until January 2023. Please see Handout and photos of display for further information. See also other compilations e.g. Hughlings Jackson’s unpublished papers and Gowers’ sketchbooks and Children’s Journals.

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First World War at the National Hospital

These images, from the exhibition held in Queen Square Library from August - November 2014, highlight the treatment of war-related psychogenic disorders at the National Hospital, as well as the wider impact of the War on the Hospital’s work and staff. Please see exhibition handout for further information.

Additional information on the War at the National can be found by searching our collections, including the text of our Annual Reports and Minutes

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Founding and early years of the National Hospital, Queen Square

The first exhibition in the new Queen Square Library, 2010. Featuring original letters and documents, shell ornaments made to raise money, accounts of the earliest patients and examples of some harsh rules!

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Gowers' sketchbooks

Several sketchbooks from the late 19th century. The sketchbooks include detailed drawings of St Ives, Dover, and Southwold, as well as collections of drawings of figures, and some watercolour landscapes. Additional images are available on request. With many thanks to Rebecca Gowers for loaning these to the Archives.

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