jame parkinson house
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/14/2019 Jame Parkinson House
1/3
Historical Review
James Parkinsons London
David R. Williams, MBBS, PhD, FRACP
Reta Lila Weston Institute of Neurological Studies and Queen Square Brain Bank, London
Abstract: James Parkinsons London was filmed in 2005 tocelebrate the 250th anniversary of Parkinsons birth, and togive the viewer a glimpse of the streets where he
lived. 2007 Movement Disorder SocietyKey words: James Parkinson; Shoreditch; Parkinsons
disease.
The year 2005 has marked the 250th anniversary of
the birth of James Parkinson (17551824), one of the
more memorable personalities of the Age of Enlighten-
ment.1 He was born, lived, and practiced medicine in
Shoreditch, East London, just north of the Bishops Gate,
at the northern perimeter of London. In the modern
Shoreditch, the building at number 1 Hoxton Square is
marked with a blue plaque signifying the site of the
house where Parkinson lived. He also worked there,
producing a large volume of written material recordinghis research and ideas that were, in part, inspired by the
diverse community in which he lived. He had a broad
range of interests including politics, geology, sociology,
chemistry, medicine, and surgery, and is recognized as
one of the first paleontologists.2 The London of his time
was a rapidly expanding industrialized city, and
Shoreditch was a melting pot of immigrants from the
Home Counties and abroad, as well as a haven for
literary and religious people. It was not uncommon for
the intelligentsia and social elite of the time to pursue
several hobbies and have eclectic interests, but what set
Parkinson apart from many of his contemporaries was
the depth with which he explored these topics, and his
original thoughts. He was a prolific writer and published
many pamphlets, booklets and essays. Some of his land-
mark publications include the standard textbook of ge-
ology of the time, Organic remains of the Former
World (1804),3 a chemistry textbook, The Chemical
Pocket Book (1799),4 an ethical commentary on the
care of the mentally ill, Mad Houses (1811),5 a pam-
phlet on the need for political reform, The Budget of the
People (1793),6 an effort at health promotion The
Villagers Friend & Physician,7 and his Essay on the
Shaking Palsy (1817).8
Parkinsons house has long since been demolished and
number 1 Hoxton Square is now a chic bistro. The alms
houses, dingy courtyards, and alleyways, along with
most of the stately homes of the time were replaced first
by Victorian warehouses and more recently by council
housing and modern offices. Hoxton Square is now a
public garden frequented by artists, musicians (including
The Parkinsons a now defunct Portuguese punk band),
and students, and is surrounded by restaurants, galleries,
and bars. The neighborhood, with its proximity to TheCity, street markets, and music venues remains the vi-
brant district and creative hub that one senses was also
part of Parkinsons London.
I live just off Hackney Road, 500 m from Hoxton
square and my morning bus ride into the National Hos-
pital at Queen Square takes me past the streets where
James lived, and the streets where he observed the indi-
viduals described in his Essay on the Shaking Palsy.8
This article includes supplementary video clips, available online athttp://www.interscience.wiley.com/jpages/0885-3185/suppmat
Correspondence to: Dr. David R. Williams, Neurology Department,Alfred Hospital, Commercial Road, Melbourne, Australia 3004.E-mail: [email protected]
Received 12 December 2006; Revised 28 March 2007; Accepted 23May 2007
Published online 2 August 2007 in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI: 10.1002/mds.21643
Movement DisordersVol. 22, No. 13, 2007, pp. 18571859 2007 Movement Disorder Society
1857
-
8/14/2019 Jame Parkinson House
2/3
-
8/14/2019 Jame Parkinson House
3/3