Hunter House Museum facts for kids
Hunter House Museum was once a museum in Calderwood, a part of East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. This special building has a long history. It is famous for being the childhood home of two very important brothers. These brothers, William and John Hunter, became famous doctors.
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The Hunter Brothers' Home
Hunter House was originally part of Long Calderwood Farm. John Hunter, the father of the famous brothers, bought this farm in the early 1700s. His sons, William and John, grew up here.
William Hunter: A Pioneer Doctor
William Hunter (1718–1783) became a leading anatomist and physician. An anatomist studies the structure of the human body. A physician is a doctor who treats illnesses. William was very skilled and taught many students. His main collection of medical items is now at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow University.
John Hunter: A Skilled Surgeon
John Hunter (1728–1793) followed in his brother's footsteps. He became a very important surgeon. A surgeon is a doctor who performs operations. John made many discoveries in surgery. His main collection is kept at the Royal College of Surgeons in London, England.
From Farm to New Town
The area around Hunter House changed a lot over time. In the mid-1900s, East Kilbride became Scotland's first "new town." This meant many new houses were built. This helped solve housing problems, especially for people from Glasgow. The farm fields around Hunter House were replaced by homes.
Hunter House Museum: Its History and Closure
For many years, Hunter House was a museum. It showed exhibits about the Hunter brothers. It also shared stories about the local history of East Kilbride. The museum was a great place to learn about the past.
However, the museum closed its doors in February 2011. This happened because of money cuts in South Lanarkshire. All the valuable items from the museum were carefully moved to a safe place.
A New Chapter for the Building
After the museum closed, the building found a new purpose. In November 2011, Calderwood Baptist Church took over the property. They renovated the building. In 2013, it reopened as a community space. Today, it is used for many activities. It even has a community cafe run by volunteers.
See also
- List of Category A listed buildings in South Lanarkshire
- List of listed buildings in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire
