josephmerrick4

The final chapter of my story...
for now....

Whitechapel Road, Sunday morning

I've returned to London once since then, in August of 2001 with Jeff. I have to give him credit, as he was incredibly patient and quite helpful. Of course, we went back to Whitechapel, although this time, being as all together as I usually am, I forgot to take pictures! However, we did bring a video camera this time. As it wasn't a weekend, we were able to visit the museum in the basement of St. Philips, and filmed their display about Joseph. Unfortunately, I can hardly put that on a website! It's a very nice display, although not terribly large. There are a number of photographs - real photographs, as opposed to photocopies or reproductions from books. They're quite a bit smaller than the reprints in books I'd usually seen, and yellowed with age, but fascinating to see in person. There are excerpts of writings about him, and several x-rays, as well as a hospital registry book opened to the page on which his name appears. All of this is kept in glass cases, on top of which is a replica of his hat on a stand. This is actually not in a glass case, I assume to allow it to be moved in case it's blocking anything.

There is another, probably more well known museum in the medical college of the London Hospital. This is closed to the public and is generally used for researchers, and medical students. I obviously fall into neither category, but I thought it couldn't hurt to ask if Jeff and I might be permitted to enter. This museum actually houses some of Josephs' belongings, including the model church, as well as Josephs remains ( as opposed to any rumor you may have heard otherwise, and believe me, I've probably heard them all). I know it may seem a bit odd, but this is a man who has had a profound impact on my life, and on the person I am. I should like to be able to show my respect and thank him for everything he's meant to me - for there is no gravesite to visit.

The workers at the first museum were kind enough to give us contact information for the curator of the medical college museum, however we were unable to get in contact with him during our trip. We spoke to one of the receptionists at the college, who took us straight up to the door of the museum to let us in. The door seemed to have been left unlocked, and as he went to open the door for us, he accidentally pulled the knob the wrong way and locked it! However, it was very kind of him to have tried to help us.

That night, returning to our hotel room, we turned on the TV, and what should be the first thing we see? An orchestra, playing the Adagio for Strings featured at the end of the David Lynch film. I thought it was quite a nice touch to the end of our day. Although we returned to Whitechapel the next day, we had no better luck. However, I certainly can't complain, as it's always an interesting adventure spending a day there. I did manage to get caught in a sudden down pour in Bedstead Square, which was probably a source of amusement to those around me - of course I was wearing a skirt of rather light fabric, and carrying no umbrella.

I'd like someday to visit the city of Leicester, where Joseph was born. I've heard there are some interesting documents in their public records office, and of course a number of historical sites to visit. Maybe someday I'll be able to add my adventures there to this site, but for now, you've reached the end...

Joseph Merrick

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