Latest News

New Year, Exciting New Venture - Bristol based Heritage Marketing specialists Copper Phoenix have exclusively booked The Chantry, The Old Cyder House and Dr Jenner's Garden on Sat 28th January for a fascinating twilight event that explores the celebrated history and mystery of the site - Berkeley Ghosts: The Chantry.  Places are limited to 30, and must be booked in advance. Click here for futher details on how to book.

Become our Friend Help keep the legacy of Edward Jenner alive by signing up as a Friend of Dr Jenner's House. As a small independent museum, we receive no state funding, so your help is vital. Give the gift of friendship and join us in our important work. Sign up here. 

The Lancet  - NEW article on the Birthplace of Vaccination by Professor Gareth Williams of University of Bristol published in The Lancet, pp 307-308 Vol 378, Issue 9788

Did You Know? Mysterious World War Attic Graffiti Solved (November 2011)

The Attic Rooms in Dr Jenner’s House, Berkeley are known to be the former Servants’ Quarters of Dr Jenner’s House, rumoured to have at least one ghostly inhabitant!  We also know that the Attic Rooms were occupied by soldiers during the Second World War.  For several years, staff at Dr Jenner’s House have been baffled by graffiti that details snippets of names, rank and regimental emblems left by these soldiers on the doors of the attic.  Attempts to find out who they were and which regiment they belonged to have brought little success, until recently...

We have just discovered that soldiers from the Monmouth Militia were stationed in Dr Jenner’s House to work the Anti-Aircraft Batteries in the area.  We also know now that along with the Monmouth Militia a number of Scottish soldiers were resident in Dr Jenner’s House, leaving their national emblem of a Thistle etched in another room.  These young men were not old enough at the time to fight so instead were drafted in to assist with the Aircraft Batteries until they reached 18. Tim Davies of Copper Phoenix who chanced across this information said “Although still within living memory, this important part of local history and The Chantry had been lost. Hopefully now we’ll find out more about those who stayed in the house!”

The One Show - Wednesday 5 October

Did you spot us?

Dr Jenner's House made a surprise appearance on The One Show this week. A BBC film crew came to visit earlier this summer and we were expecting the footage to air next month. But after a quick change around, the footage was unexpectedly shown on 5 October. Sorry that we werent able to let you know in advance. You can still catch the show on the BBC i-player. We hope you like it!  

 Dr Jenner Goes to Washington DC

In September 2010, a bronze statue of Edward Jenner was officially unveiled at the Pan American Health Organization, (PAHO), the regional headquarters of the World Health Organization, in Washington DC at the 50th Directing Council conference. In attendance were many of the world's health ministers and health professionals. The Edward Jenner Museum's Director, Sarah Parker, was invited to the unveiling and gave a speech translated into three different languages. Sarah commented: 'It was a privilege and honour to be invited to the conference and ceremony and to address distinguished international delegates, such as DA Henderson & Ciro de Quadros about Jenner and the work of the museum. Jenner is hailed as a hero around the world but sadly not in his own country'.

This is the only statue of Jenner in the Americas and is a smaller replica of a full-sized version standing outside the National Museum in Tokyo, Japan. We hope to continue working with PAHO and the international health community in general to promote better understanding of vaccination as well as celebrating the legacy of Jenner.

Descendants of James Phipps visit Museum on the 214th Anniversary of his vaccination

We were very pleased to welcome the Humphreys family to the museum on Friday 14th May, 214 years to the day after their ancestor James Phipps was famously vaccinated by Dr Edward Jenner. Although now living in Gloucestershire the family had little knowledge of their famous relative until they began researching their family tree. With a little help from Gloucestershire Achives, they got in touch with the museum and by co-incidence visited on this special anniversary day. Are you a descendent of the Phipps, Nelmes or Jenner families? Would you be interested in meeting other descendants at a special event here at the Museum? Sign up to our FREE e-newsletter or contact us with your details.

The Eradication of Smallpox - A Landmark in Medical History

2010 marked the 30th anniversary of one of the most world-changing events in history: the official World Health Organization declaration of the eradication of smallpox, the only disease to date to ever be eliminated. The last case of smallpox occurred in Somalia in October 1977. During the 1960s when the WHO launched the worldwide eradication campaign smallpox victims were estimated at 10-15 million each year, the disease affecting no fewer than 30 countries. Famous historical victims who suffered from smallpox include Queen Elizabeth I, Joseph Stalin, and Mozart. Were you involved with the WHO's smallpox eradication programme?

If so, please contact us. We are keen to gather as many reminiscences and letters/diaries as possible for a new exhibition.