A NEW exhibition at Portland Basin Museum is giving visitors the chance to step back in time and explore how healthcare in Tameside has evolved over the years.
‘An Apple a Day’ shines a spotlight on the borough’s medical past, from herbal remedies and pre-NHS healthcare to the development of Tameside Hospital and the impact of global pandemics such as Covid-19.
The exhibition brings together objects and photographs from the museum and archives collections, alongside loaned items that help tell the story of medicine in the area.
Among the local figures featured is Dr Catherine Emslie Anderson, the first female doctor at Ashton Infirmary, now known as Tameside Hospital, highlighting the pioneering role women played in healthcare.
Visitors can also see displays linked to former Bardsley Vale pharmaceutical manufacturer Thomas Kerfoot & Son, as well as artefacts from local chemist shops. The important work of St John Ambulance and the British Red Cross is also recognised.
Historic nursing and midwifery are explored through objects believed to have been used at Denton Nurses Home, while a colourful display of vintage medical packaging includes familiar household names such as Zubes and Germolene.
One of the more unusual exhibits is a 1950s radionics machine – later dismissed by the medical profession as “quackery” – offering a glimpse into some of the stranger chapters of medical history.
Wartime medicine also features heavily, with items from the Manchester Regiment collections including Boer War dressings and an embroidered First World War tablecloth.
For younger visitors, there is also a dress-up area where children can step into the role of a doctor or nurse and try out play medical equipment.
Tameside Council’s Strategic Director of Housing, Environment and Estates, Julian Jackson, said: “An Apple a Day offers a fascinating insight into the medical history of Tameside and the people, organisations, and innovations that helped shape healthcare locally.
“It’s a rich and engaging exhibition for all ages and a great opportunity for residents to reflect on how far medicine has come and the impact it continues to have on our everyday lives.”
The exhibition runs until January 24, 2027, at Portland Basin Museum in Ashton-under-Lyne.