Historic hut where vaccination was pioneered is now saved

Summarised from Gloucestershire Live's report · Updated 5 Nov, 14:36 · Archive

The hut where Dr Edward Jenner performed the first vaccinations against smallpox in 1796 has been restored and removed from the Heritage at Risk Register.

The humble hut in the garden of The Chantry in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, is where Dr Edward Jenner performed the first ever vaccinations against smallpox on 14 May 1796. Jenner, acknowledged as having saved more lives than any other human, christened the building the 'Temple of Vaccinia' in recognition of its importance as the birthplace of vaccination and immunology.

The hut was added to Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register in 2025, but restoration work has now been completed with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. It has been removed from the updated Heritage at Risk Register issued on 5 November. James Rodliff, museum director at Dr Jenner's House and Museum, described it as 'a proud moment' and said the restoration had been 'a collective effort' involving staff, volunteers, trustees, craftspeople and specialist advisers.

Read the report

• Centuries-old Gloucestershire hut where history was made is now savedA "proud moment" for this tiny but "remarkable" piece of living historyGloucestershire Live · 5 Nov, 11:50

In this story: Dr Edward Jenner · Gloucestershire · The Chantry · Historic England · National Lottery Heritage Fund · Dr Jenner's House and Museum

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