Building Neurosurgery exhibition celebrates 100 years of pioneering progress

The Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) Library is hosting Building Neurosurgery, an exhibition celebrating the centenary of the Society of British Neurological Surgeons (SBNS) and a century of progress in neurosurgery.

Curated by SBNS Archivists Jonathan Pollock and Richard Gullan, the exhibition traces the evolution of the specialty from its origins in the 19th century to the advanced neuroscience and research shaping its future.

Visitors can explore the breakthroughs that transformed neurosurgery, from early discoveries in cerebral localisation and the pioneering work of David Ferrier to the international influence of Harvey Cushing and the founding of the SBNS in 1926.

The exhibition also highlights the impact of wartime innovation, the development of modern neurosurgical services and the advances continuing to shape the field in the 21st century.

Alongside the exhibition, visitors can discover more about the history of the specialty in Jonathan Pollock’s new book, A Short History of Neurosurgery in the UK and Ireland: Influences, Founders and Units, published by Routledge.

Building Neurosurgery is open to the public in the RSM Library until Thursday 24 December 2026. Admission is free. Visitors are welcome Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm

Find out more about the RSM Library and its collections here.