Dr Jenner's House

About the museum

Dr Edward Jenner lived for 38 years in The Chantry at Berkeley, a Queen Anne style house built in 1707 and later altered by Jenner himself in 1785. In 1796 he carried out the first vaccination here, using material from cowpox to protect against smallpox. A small thatched summerhouse in the garden, known as the Temple of Vaccinia, is where he vaccinated local people who could not pay.

After the World Health Organization declared smallpox eradicated on 8 May 1980, physicians raised the money to buy the house and garden as a memorial to Jenner. The Jenner Trust, a registered charity, was set up to run the property, and it opened as a museum and education centre in May 1985. The house is listed Grade II*.

Today the ground-floor rooms present Jenner’s life, career and legacy with period furniture, objects and archives. The first-floor rooms explain the science of vaccination and immunology and the story of smallpox eradication, and an attic exhibition can be seen on pre-booked guided tours. The garden includes a physic garden with raised herb beds and a Vinery. The museum is carrying out a long-term programme called Re-Jenner-ation to repair the historic buildings, improve the visitor experience and create new learning opportunities, with completion planned for 2030, the fiftieth anniversary of smallpox eradication.

Highlights

• House where Jenner gave the first vaccination in 1796
• Temple of Vaccinia, the thatched garden hut used as a free vaccination clinic
• Exhibitions on vaccination, immunology and the eradication of smallpox
• Physic garden with herbs a Georgian country doctor might have used
• Guided attic tours and the Jenner Trail around Berkeley

Permanent exhibitions

• Edward Jenner’s life and legacy – Ground-floor rooms with period furniture, objects and archives on Jenner’s life, career and achievements, and first-floor rooms on vaccination, immunology and the eradication of smallpox.
• Garden, Physic Garden and Temple of Vaccinia – A garden with raised herb beds, a Vinery with interpretation panels and the thatched hut where Jenner vaccinated people free of charge.

Founded

1985

Operated by

The Jenner Trust

Admission & discounts

All tickets are annual passes. Members of Historic Houses are admitted free, and Gift Aid is encouraged.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The garden, the shop and the ground-floor rooms are step-free; wheelchair users enter by a side door with a removable ramp near the Blue Badge space, while the main entrance has three steps. The first floor is reached by 16 stairs, so a folder describing the first-floor displays is provided, and the attic can be visited only by guided tour and is unsuitable for wheelchair users. The garden paths are level gravel. Visitor toilets, including an accessible toilet, are in the Old Cyder House; the accessible toilet is small and has no alarm cord. A portable hearing loop is available at reception and a Braille version of the guide leaflet can be borrowed. One Blue Badge space can be reserved. A full access statement is published on the website.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

A family ticket covers up to two adults and three children, and the museum is a Kids in Museums accredited venue. Worksheets and trails for different ages are available for school and group visits, and lawn games are sometimes put out on the lawns in summer.

Getting there & parking

Church Lane, Berkeley, sat nav GL13 9BN. The museum is on National Cycle Route 41 and has cycle racks. A gate from the grounds of Berkeley Castle gives pedestrians a shorter route and can be unlocked on request.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The shop is in the former Breakfast Room and sells souvenirs, gifts and books. There is no cafe on site; visitors can picnic in the garden or in the indoor picnic area in the Old Cyder House, and seating in the garden is limited. Toilets are in the Old Cyder House; there are none in the main house.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

The Old Dining Room and other period rooms, the garden and the adaptable Old Cyder House can be hired for parties, conferences, business training, weddings, micro weddings and receptions. Special rates are offered for local community events.

Plan your visit