This house was the home of country doctor Edward Jenner, the man who discovered the smallpox vaccine.
Now a museum, it tells the story of his life and the times he lived in, as well as ongoing issues with vaccination in the present day.
The house is comfortable, what you’d expect for a middle-class doctor.
The living areas downstairs set the scene of his life while upstairs we get to the nitty-gritty of his work.
Smallpox was a terrible disease, known since at least the 10th century, with a 30% mortality rate. Survivors were often left disfigured.
Only inoculation with “true” cowpox protected humans from smallpox so this illustration from 1809 showing how it manifested on cow udders was very important.
The vaccine was initially scraped over a small incision in the arm. Below is a lancet from 1800 used by Jenner
and this little folly in his garden became known as the “Temple of Vaccinia” as it was where he vaccinated the locals free of charge.
