Artist impression of the design for the Stopford Building, 1973.

In 1814 Joseph Jordan (1787-1873) opened the first anatomy school in Manchester. The early 1800s marked a change in the understanding of disease from an imbalance of the body’s liquids to being localised in tissue and organs. It wasn’t until the Anatomy Act of 1832 that bodies became more available for dissection. A decade after Jordan established his anatomy school, Thomas Turner’s Pine Street Medical School opened in 1825, next to the Manchester Infirmary, now the site of Piccadilly Gardens. The schools later merged to become the Manchester Royal School of Medicine and was incorporated into Owens College in 1872 as the Manchester Medical School.  

In the mid twentieth century the Medical School’s Executive Dean, Dr F.B. Beswick (1925-2019) was the driving force behind the project to building a new medical school. With architect Harry Fairhurst (1925-2011), Dr Beswick travelled the world to research facilities required for a new modern building which would be flexible for teaching and fit for medical research. The Stopford Building opened in 1973.  

Medal

1830

The Museum of Medicine and Health

This medal was awarded by the founder of Manchester Royal School of Medicine, Thomas Turner FRCS (1793-1873), to Henry Player for his distinguished performance as anatomy student. Henry Player was appointed as a physician's clerk at the Manchester Infirmary, where he worked from 1834 to 1837. He died from a fever contracted during the course of his duties. 

Ref. MMH.1978.104

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Anatomy Theatre

[date not identified]

The University of Manchester Library

The interior of the Anatomy Theatre in the University’s Medical School on Coupland Street, between 1873-1973. A steep incline reflects a traditional anatomy teaching setting, students of medicine being able to view dissection and lectures. Graffiti cut into the wood of the benches over the years can be clearly seen.

Ref. UPC/2/456

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