Edward Jenner Heritage Trail - Location 9
James Phipps' Cottage, Church Lane - Jenner's 'thank-you' to James Phipps
James Phipps' Cottage, Church Lane - Jenner's 'thank-you' to James Phipps
James Phipp's Cottage. Image by The Jenner Project 2022 | 23
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Blossom the cow, Image, Credit: © Edward Jenner House and Museum
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James Phipps, the eight-year-old son of Edward Jenner’s gardener, was volunteered by his father to trial Jenner’s vaccination technique in his experiment to prevent smallpox. Jenner made a small cut in his skin and introduced the pus of an infected cowpox pustule from the hand of a milkmaid, Sarah Nelmes.
She had told Jenner that one of her milking cows, a docile animal called Blossom, had recently been infected with cowpox. Sarah’s pustules were on the part of the right hand that handled the animal’s teats. After a short period of a mild illness, James recovered and six weeks later Jenner tried infecting Phipps with smallpox, but it had no effect, proving his theory. Thus Jenner started out on the road to developing vaccination.
In later years, in recognition of Phipps's heroic act of being the first to trial vaccination, Jenner granted the leasehold of the property now named Phipps Cottage to James and his family.
James Phipps was buried in St Mary’s churchyard, a stone’s throw from the cottage on 25 April 1853, aged 66.
Prior to the opening of Dr Jenner's House Museum and Garden, Phipps's Cottage housed a small museum of Jenner's life and achievements.
Go back up Church Lane and turn right, returning to the Churchyard. Pass the Belltower and turn left along the boundary wall continuing along the path to the wrought iron gate which is the private entrance to Dr Jenner's House, Museum and Garden.
You can click the QR code on the Plaque or click here for information on Location 10.
She had told Jenner that one of her milking cows, a docile animal called Blossom, had recently been infected with cowpox. Sarah’s pustules were on the part of the right hand that handled the animal’s teats. After a short period of a mild illness, James recovered and six weeks later Jenner tried infecting Phipps with smallpox, but it had no effect, proving his theory. Thus Jenner started out on the road to developing vaccination.
In later years, in recognition of Phipps's heroic act of being the first to trial vaccination, Jenner granted the leasehold of the property now named Phipps Cottage to James and his family.
James Phipps was buried in St Mary’s churchyard, a stone’s throw from the cottage on 25 April 1853, aged 66.
Prior to the opening of Dr Jenner's House Museum and Garden, Phipps's Cottage housed a small museum of Jenner's life and achievements.
Go back up Church Lane and turn right, returning to the Churchyard. Pass the Belltower and turn left along the boundary wall continuing along the path to the wrought iron gate which is the private entrance to Dr Jenner's House, Museum and Garden.
You can click the QR code on the Plaque or click here for information on Location 10.
