Facelift for Edinburgh's Surgeons' Hall Museum
Scottish Secretary welcomes National Lottery boost for Scotland's oldest museum.
An artist's impression of the dissecting theatre at Surgeons' Hall museum.
News that Edinburgh’s Surgeons’ Hall Museum is to receive £2.7m from the Heritage Lottery Fund has been welcomed by Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael.
Originally developed as a teaching museum for students of medicine inside the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Surgeons’ Hall Museum has been open to the general public since 1832. Today it houses one of the largest and most historic collections of surgical material in the United Kingdom.
The HLF grant will fund redevelopment work creating a new glass atrium, displays and galleries - doubling the number of items which can be showcased. It will create an enhanced museum that will feature a 17th century dissecting theatre while a dedicated education suite will increase opportunities for learning for schools, families and special interest groups.
Mr Carmichael said:
This is excellent news for Scotland’s oldest museum. Scotland has a rich history of pioneering advancements in medicine and today we continue to be a world leader in research and development. The £2.7m of National Lottery funding announced today ensures a bright future for one of our most valuable collections. It will also provide a spectacle within Scotland’s capital that will inspire visitors, tourists and future surgeons from across the country and beyond.
Having provided £600 million to over 3,300 Scottish projects since its creation 20 years ago, the Heritage Lottery Fund continues to play a vital role in ensuring that important pieces of Scotland’s history can be showcased for generations to come.