From Scutari Hospital to NHS Nightingale: the British Hotel to Seacole Recovery Centres

Image of two people in historic nursing outfits depicting Mary Seacole and Florence Nightingale, holding a frame to their faces
People dressed as Mary Seacole and Florence Nightingale at the Florence Nightingale Museum. Credit: Florence Nightingale Museum.

National Lottery Grants for Heritage – £10,000 to £250,000

Date awarded
Location
Waterloo & South Bank
Local Authority
Lambeth
Applicant
Florence Nightingale Museum Trust
Award Given
£98955
Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole were pioneers in British military nursing and social care, following their work in the Crimean War in the 1850s. This project by the Florence Nightingale Museum explores their achievements and legacy.

An exhibition of the history of British military nursing will be created, featuring the voices and stories of military nurses, veteran patients and historians. This will explore the collections and include objects from the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps. An online exhibition will be created alongside this so everyone can explore the stories. A pop-up exhibition will be taken on tour to community venues.  

As part of the project, the relationship between these two iconic women will be explored, particularly comparing and contrasting how history has treated them. This will be brought to life through a new dramatic performance at the museum and online. The project will also look at how they continue to inspire the NHS today, including the recent NHS Nightingale Hospitals and Seacole Recovery Centres.

This project received funding through our Dynamic Collections campaign.

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