The Leper Hospital
Winchester
25 March 2001

Find out more

LEPRA: The Leprosy Relief Association
Fairfax House
Causton Road
Colchester
Essex CO1 1PU
Tel: 08451 212121
Website (special introductory page for Time Team viewers): www.lepra.org.uk/timeteam/

In 1924 the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association was formed with the boldly stated aim 'to rid the Empire of leprosy'. It was set up as a medical organisation to spearhead outpatient work instead of the traditional segregatory methods and to foster research into all aspects of the disease. Today the Empire has gone, but worldwide one new person contracts leprosy every 40 seconds. In Britain, surprising as it may seem, there are 300 patients currently being treated for leprosy.

As well as its work with people with leprosy throughout the world, LEPRA has published a quarterly scientific journal, Leprosy Review, since 1928, aimed at contributing towards a better understanding of leprosy. It also publishes a series of booklets (see Further Reading). Complimentary copies of these (donation requested) are available online at www.lepra.org.uk/timeteam/. This is a special introductory page to the LEPRA website, which has been set up to accompany Time Team's programme from Winchester.

Other websites

LEPRA: The Leprosy Relief Association
www.lepra.org.uk/timeteam/
For full details of LEPRA click here.

A world without leprosy
www.who.int/lep/
World Health Organisation website dedicated to the elimination of leprosy worldwide. Includes FAQs (frequently asked questions) on all aspects of leprosy and its treatment; details of the global leprosy situation; information on treatments, trends and research; a leprosy discussion list; further reading; and other contacts.

Global Project on the History of Leprosy
www.leprosyhistory.org/english/english.html
The Global Project on the History of Leprosy, set up by the International Leprosy Association, seeks to identify and locate all information about the disease throughout history. This will range from old records and personal testimonies of people affected by the disease, to expert documentation, leprosaria records, organisations, archives, museums and books. In this way, a full picture of the past and present of leprosy can be discovered and explored by future researchers. Includes a database search facility.

Further reading
All of the following booklets are available from LEPRA, the Leprosy Relief Association, Fairfax House, Causton Road, Colchester, Essex CO1 1PU (Tel: 08451 212121). Complimentary copies are available to Time Team website visitors (donation requested) online at www.lepra.org.uk/timeteam/.

Leprosy in Britain (LEPRA, the Leprosy Relief Association, undated)
It is only since 1951, when the disease was made notifiable, that accurate figures have been available for the number of people with leprosy in Britain. This booklet traces the history of the disease in Britain from its arrival with the Roman legions to the present day, when there are – surprising as it may seem – some 300 people registered as leprosy patients. Detailed sections cover medieval leprosy, public attitudes throughout history, leprosy and the church, leper hospitals, diet, leprosy in Scotland and the continuing stigma into modern times.

History of Leprosy (LEPRA, the Leprosy Relief Association, undated)
A companion booklet to Leprosy in Britain, this looks at the history of leprosy worldwide, tracing it from the earliest known account of the disease – a treatise written in 600 BC by an eminent Indian surgeon, 'Sushrata' – through to the present day.

Leprosy in the Bible (LEPRA, the Leprosy Relief Association, undated)
The social ostracism faced by lepers (and many people who suffered from skin diseases other than leprosy) throughout much of history was first set out in the Bible. This booklet examines biblical attitudes towards leprosy, and how they have been interpreted and implemented by the church.

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