"A Twopenny Box of Pills": Quacks and Medical Mountebanks in the North East by Dr Jo Bath

Fri, 17 Apr, 2026 at 06:00 pm UTC+01:00

The Black Gate, Castle Garth, NE1 1RQ Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom | Newcastle Upon Tyne

Newcastle Castle
Publisher/HostNewcastle Castle
"A Twopenny Box of Pills": Quacks and Medical Mountebanks in the North East by Dr Jo Bath
Advertisement
Join us in the Harbottle Suite of the Black Gate where we will dive deep into our Rogues & Vagabonds season with Dr Jo Bath as she explores all things Quack Doctors!
In 1761, the Newcastle Courant advertised for a "Merry Andrew" able to serve a travelling doctor in entertaining the crowds (preferably with a violin). A hundred years later, the press was publicising an arsenic-based "fatal case of quack doctoring" in Elswick. Who were these people - the "self-taught professors" and "botanical doctors" - and what were they really getting up to?
_______________________________________
Jo "the historymonger" Bath is a Doctor of Crime (well, seventeenth century crime), but is equally at home in all periods of history, as long as she gets to mess around with the gory, sexy, spooky, wild, weird or wonderful bits of it. She teaches history to anyone of any age who stays still long enough to listen, and has recently braved doing so via this "internet" thing as well.
______________________________________
Doors will open at 17:45, come to the Black Gate reception on Floor 1 to check in and visit our gift shop, and then head up to Floor 2 for the talk.
Timings
Doors open at 17.45
Talk starts at 18.00
Advertisement

Event Venue

The Black Gate, Castle Garth, NE1 1RQ Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, Improvisation Foundation, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1, United Kingdom

Tickets

Icon
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Ask AI if this event suits you:

More Events in Newcastle Upon Tyne

Deeper Purple
Thu, 16 Apr at 09:00 pm Deeper Purple

Times Square , NE1 4EP Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

PLATFORM (Newcastle) - 17 April 2026
Fri, 17 Apr at 09:00 am PLATFORM (Newcastle) - 17 April 2026

Crowne Plaza Newcastle - Stephenson Quarter, an IHG Hotel

Lunchtime Jazz | Russ Morgan Quartet
Fri, 17 Apr at 01:00 pm Lunchtime Jazz | Russ Morgan Quartet

The Lit & Phil

Beginner Blooms at East End Library - 'Give it up for'
Fri, 17 Apr at 01:00 pm Beginner Blooms at East End Library - 'Give it up for'

East End Library

Diablo Gig (Unplugged) - The One Eyed Stag
Fri, 17 Apr at 04:00 pm Diablo Gig (Unplugged) - The One Eyed Stag

The One Eyed Stag

Undr The Cosh LIVE Tickets
Fri, 17 Apr at 05:00 pm Undr The Cosh LIVE Tickets

Tapyard

Old Skool Bingo Fri 17th April Newcastle
Fri, 17 Apr at 06:30 pm Old Skool Bingo Fri 17th April Newcastle

Tyne Bank Brewery

Chris Ramsey Newcastle Upon Tyne Tickets
Fri, 17 Apr at 06:30 pm Chris Ramsey Newcastle Upon Tyne Tickets

Newcastle City Hall

Chris Ramsey - Here Man
Fri, 17 Apr at 06:30 pm Chris Ramsey - Here Man

O2 City Hall Newcastle

Robbed Zombie (Rob Zombie Tribute UK) + Six Sins Till Sunday
Fri, 17 Apr at 07:00 pm Robbed Zombie (Rob Zombie Tribute UK) + Six Sins Till Sunday

Trillians Newcastle

'Fontaines DC v Two Door Cinema Club' Tribute Double Header
Fri, 17 Apr at 07:00 pm 'Fontaines DC v Two Door Cinema Club' Tribute Double Header

Times Square , NE1 4EP Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

'Fontaines DC v 2 door cinema club' Tribute double header
Fri, 17 Apr at 07:00 pm 'Fontaines DC v 2 door cinema club' Tribute double header

Think Tank?

Newcastle Upon Tyne is Happening!

Never miss your favorite happenings again!

Explore Newcastle Upon Tyne Events