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Historical Review

James Parkinsons London

David R. Williams, MBBS, PhD, FRACP

Reta Lila Weston Institute of Neurological Studies and Queen Square Brain Bank, London

Abstract: James Parkinsons London was filmed in 2005 tocelebrate the 250th anniversary of Parkinsons birth, and togive the viewer a glimpse of the streets where he

lived. 2007 Movement Disorder SocietyKey words: James Parkinson; Shoreditch; Parkinsons

disease.

The year 2005 has marked the 250th anniversary of

the birth of James Parkinson (17551824), one of the

more memorable personalities of the Age of Enlighten-

ment.1 He was born, lived, and practiced medicine in

Shoreditch, East London, just north of the Bishops Gate,

at the northern perimeter of London. In the modern

Shoreditch, the building at number 1 Hoxton Square is

marked with a blue plaque signifying the site of the

house where Parkinson lived. He also worked there,

producing a large volume of written material recordinghis research and ideas that were, in part, inspired by the

diverse community in which he lived. He had a broad

range of interests including politics, geology, sociology,

chemistry, medicine, and surgery, and is recognized as

one of the first paleontologists.2 The London of his time

was a rapidly expanding industrialized city, and

Shoreditch was a melting pot of immigrants from the

Home Counties and abroad, as well as a haven for

literary and religious people. It was not uncommon for

the intelligentsia and social elite of the time to pursue

several hobbies and have eclectic interests, but what set

Parkinson apart from many of his contemporaries was

the depth with which he explored these topics, and his

original thoughts. He was a prolific writer and published

many pamphlets, booklets and essays. Some of his land-

mark publications include the standard textbook of ge-

ology of the time, Organic remains of the Former

World (1804),3 a chemistry textbook, The Chemical

Pocket Book (1799),4 an ethical commentary on the

care of the mentally ill, Mad Houses (1811),5 a pam-

phlet on the need for political reform, The Budget of the

People (1793),6 an effort at health promotion The

Villagers Friend & Physician,7 and his Essay on the

Shaking Palsy (1817).8

Parkinsons house has long since been demolished and

number 1 Hoxton Square is now a chic bistro. The alms

houses, dingy courtyards, and alleyways, along with

most of the stately homes of the time were replaced first

by Victorian warehouses and more recently by council

housing and modern offices. Hoxton Square is now a

public garden frequented by artists, musicians (including

The Parkinsons a now defunct Portuguese punk band),

and students, and is surrounded by restaurants, galleries,

and bars. The neighborhood, with its proximity to TheCity, street markets, and music venues remains the vi-

brant district and creative hub that one senses was also

part of Parkinsons London.

I live just off Hackney Road, 500 m from Hoxton

square and my morning bus ride into the National Hos-

pital at Queen Square takes me past the streets where

James lived, and the streets where he observed the indi-

viduals described in his Essay on the Shaking Palsy.8

This article includes supplementary video clips, available online athttp://www.interscience.wiley.com/jpages/0885-3185/suppmat

Correspondence to: Dr. David R. Williams, Neurology Department,Alfred Hospital, Commercial Road, Melbourne, Australia 3004.E-mail: david.williams@med.monash.edu.au

Received 12 December 2006; Revised 28 March 2007; Accepted 23May 2007

Published online 2 August 2007 in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI: 10.1002/mds.21643

Movement DisordersVol. 22, No. 13, 2007, pp. 18571859 2007 Movement Disorder Society

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