A University-led ‘medical history brought to life’ project has entered a new realm of reality, with students taking it into the third dimension.
Visiting Professor Andrew Williams is leading the charge on a project that allows the viewer to walk through an infirmary that was last in use in 1793, to visit 1778 pioneering paediatric inpatient Sarah Harris.
This project will, over time, create a mosaic of stories connecting local families with child relatives who were treated at the former Northampton Infirmary (now Northampton General Hospital) in the 18th-century.
For the latest phase, students Ali Bonham, from Coventry, and Elizia Pereira, from southeast London, lent helping, tech-savvy hands when Andrew asked them to animate and showcase the old infirmary for modern-day eyes.
Supported by lecturer Lewis Sanderson, this was part of a module on their degrees – Ali and Elizia made a walkthrough recreation of the children’s wards of the Infirmary. Ali focused on the ground floor and stairs. Elizia created the remaining sections.
They were also tasked with adding as many 18th-century details as possible. Working from original period plans, Ali and Elizia have added carpets, fireplaces, candles, and portraits on the walls.
Ali said: “What I had to work off the most was the real-life environment, as the structure of that section of the building is pretty much as it is today.
“We spent about two months on the environments. After getting the ‘easier’ bits right, we both wanted to represent the building and interiors realistically, such as how wood reacts to the lights, rather than creating a cartoon look or a stylised horror environment.
“It’s great to see the final product ‘done’, although they are never really done. You’re constantly retesting that, so it feels realistic to the real location. I’ve been happy to work on this project because it’s been interesting, something different and it will be a good addition to my CV as I hope to work in the games industry soon.”
Elizia added: “There have been extensive renovations to the upper sections of the building, giving me a slightly trickier job! Aside from that, I made the nurse and Sarah, the child patient, animating them as well.
“For the details of the infirmary, I researched how items looked ‘back in the day’. The lights on the wall are like candlewick ones, and I also created argon lights as they existed during that historical period. Ali and I were both in close contact with our client – Prof Williams – who gave us invaluable feedback about things like the curtains around the hospital beds.”
This follows recent news about exciting updates to the team’s work, including, through genealogy research platform Findmypast, connecting modern descendants with the children who were treated between 1744 and 1801.
Professor Andrew Williams sums up how the project, involving collaboration from local and international teams, is proceeding: “The project continues to grow, and we hope one day for funding to recreate the entire Northampton Infirmary on the George Row site.
“There is also sadness as Frederick O’Dell, from the Archive team at Northampton General Hospital – sadly passed away recently. Fred leaves an indelible legacy and was instrumental in this project’s development as he first identified Sarah Harris. I know he was greatly cheered by the evolving production of this virtual experience from the University’s talented students, which he also had a hand in developing.’’
“This film is now hosted online by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, which adds much prestige to the project.”