Caring for people’s physical as well as mental health has been paramount through out every single time period. This festival aims to celebrate the people and practices that have made a difference in the past and in the present, painting a picture of a community that has fought and continued to be resilient.
The history and significance of culture and medicine in London Bridge
For the past two millennia, London Bridge and its surrounding area has been a centre of activity.
As the primary means of crossing the river Thames since Roman times, London Bridge came to be frequented by thousands of people a day. The multiple trade networks brought people as well as goods to the area, resulting in London Bridge becoming a melting pot of different cultures and customs.
From its foundation as an Augustinian Priory at the turn of the 12th century, Southwark Cathedral was a place for healing and medical care, becoming one of the first hospitals in London. After Thomas Becket’s martyrdom, the hospital was renamed as St Thomas’ Hospital, and was based around Borough High Street for the next 750 years while a sister hospital was built by Thomas Guy in the early 18th century. Florence Nightingale established her nursing school there in 1859 and since then the area has been home to an innovative medical hub.
London Bridge continues to be a significant hub for medical institutions and industry today. Guy’s Hospital is one of the UK’s leading teaching hospitals and has recently opened a pioneering Cancer Centre on their estate. King’s College London’s prominent Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine is based in the adjacent campus, whilst HCA Healthcare UK has two sites in London Bridge and is a leading provider of cutting- edge treatment across the country.
The area continues to be a vibrant commercial and cultural district, offering theatre and museums as well as culinary exploration at the wealth of restaurants in and around Borough Market. It is a vibrant, diverse part of the capital, and is recognised for its literary, religious, economic, maritime, medical, political, cultural and culinary significance.
Read more about the London Bridge Medi-Culture District
London Bridge Medi-Culture District: Initial Visioning Document