Deep Foundations
1540 to 1962
1540
King Henry VIII endows the first Professorship of Physic and appoints Dr John Blythe.
1719
Dr John Addenbrooke leaves £4,500 in his Will to establish a hospital in Cambridge, aimed at providing care for the poor.
1766
Addenbrooke's Hospital opens on Trumpington Street with just 20 beds, 3 surgeons, 3 physicians, 1 matron, and a resident apothecary.
1829
University of Cambridge introduces comprehensive medical curriculum and exams.
1839
Physician George Paget arrives at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
1946
School of Clinical Research and Postgraduate Teaching established.
1948
National Health Service created.
1962
Queen Elizabeth II opens the new Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology.
From Tudor England to the 19th Century
The School of Clinical Medicine’s foundations are deeply rooted in the University of Cambridge’s past.
King Henry VIII endowed the Regius Professorship of Physic in 1540, but for centuries only one or two medical students were registered each year.
Regius Professor of Physic coat of arms.
From Tudor England to the 19th Century
The School of Clinical Medicine’s foundations are deeply rooted in the University of Cambridge’s past.
King Henry VIII endowed the Regius Professorship of Physic in 1540, but for centuries only one or two medical students were registered each year.
Regius Professor of Physic coat of arms.
Sir George Paget. Photograph by A. G. Dew-Smith.
In 1829, the University introduced a more comprehensive medical curriculum and examinations, and the arrival of physician George Paget at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in 1839 heralded the first major expansion of clinical medical education at Cambridge.
Paget was a persuasive and far-sighted administrator, as well as an outstanding teacher and physician. Together with the surgeon George Humphrey, Paget set medical education in Cambridge on a firm footing. The strength of the Natural Sciences Tripos, established in 1851, led to the development and formalisation of pre-clinical education in Cambridge.
Griffith Ward, Old Addenbrooke’s circa 1896. Image: Cambridge University Hospitals.
The NHS and New Addenbrooke's
TThe creation of the National Health Service in 1948 provided impetus for the next chapter in clinical teaching at Cambridge.
By the 1950s, it became clear that across the country more doctors would be needed to meet the growing demands of the fledgling NHS. At this time, the old Addenbrooke’s Hospital on Trumpington Street was nearing the end of its life. Cambridge needed a new hospital on a new site, and in 1951 a 44-acre greenfield site on the fringe of the city was bought from the Pemberton Trustees for £4,350. As Dame Mary Archer reflects, this purchase of such a large area of land showed great foresight.
Queen Elizabeth II opens Addenbrooke's Hospital in 1962. Image: Cambridge University Hospitals.
Queen Elizabeth II opened the new Addenbrooke’s Hospital on Hills Road in 1962. Stage Two of the hospital opened a decade later. At a cost of £12 million, it was the UK’s largest hospital contract at the time and the first major teaching hospital in the UK to be rebuilt since the 1930s.
In those early days, Addenbrooke’s neighbours were the University’s Department of Radiotherapeutics and the Medical Research Council’s Laboratory of Molecular Biology.
The School has a very strong partnership with the NHS – we are the only place I’m aware of where the head of the medical school and NHS chief executive have co-located offices.
Patrick Maxwell, Regius Professor of Physic and Head of the School of Clinical Medicine
Queen Elizabeth II opened the new Addenbrooke’s Hospital on Hills Road in 1962. Stage Two of the hospital opened a decade later. At a cost of £12 million, it was the UK’s largest hospital contract at the time and the first major teaching hospital in the UK to be rebuilt since the 1930s.
In those early days, Addenbrooke’s neighbours were the University’s Department of Radiotherapeutics and the Medical Research Council’s Laboratory of Molecular Biology.
The School has a very strong partnership with the NHS – we are the only place I’m aware of where the head of the medical school and NHS chief executive have co-located offices.
Patrick Maxwell, Regius Professor of Physic and Head of the School of Clinical Medicine