Blue Plaque For Homoeopathic Pioneer Dr Margery Blackie

Homoeopathic pioneer, Dr Margery Blackie (1898-1981), was commemorated with an English Heritage Blue Plaque on 12 October at 3pm at 18 Thurloe Street , London , SW7, where the homoeopathic physician lived and worked from 1929 to 1980. The Blue Plaque was unveiled by HRH Princess Alexandra.

Margery Blackie was born in Hertfordshire in 1898, the daughter of a leading homoeopath. At the age of five Blackie declared that she wanted to become a doctor, such was the influence of her uncle Dr James Compton, a leading homoeopath himself, and his work upon her. Blackie entered the London (Royal Free) School of Medicine for Women in 1917 and before qualifying became a Resident at the London Homeopathic Hospital . Her experiences at the hospital confirmed her belief in homeopathy, and in 1926 she set up her own practice in Kensington. Here, she developed sound consulting-room methods and encouraged patients to tell their story in their own way, while also making a clinical diagnosis of her patients, using conventional methods such as x-rays and pathological tests. Her aim was simple - to understand her patients as deeply as possible.

During the 1930’s, Blackie continued to work at the London Homoeopathic Hospital, but spent most of her time developing her own practice. Her flair for diagnosis had become legendary. Patients included a number of public figures such as Dame Myra Hess and Lady Namier. In 1949, Blackie was elected President of the revitalised Faculty of Homoeopathy. This was a major achievement; she was the only woman office-holder in the Faculty – and marked a phase in her life. She took the lead amongst her British colleagues and mixed frequently with homoeopaths from all over the world.

In 1964, Blackie was elected Dean of the Faculty of Homoeopathy, with responsibility for all teaching. It was from this position that Blackie influenced a whole generation of homoeopathic doctors.

In 1969, in a moment which marked the climax of her career, Blackie was appointed Physician to the Queen. By the mid-1970’s, Blackie’s own health was in decline, but she continued to see patients at Thurloe Street until 1980, when she left London to retire to Hedingham Castle in Essex . It was there that she died on 24 August 1981 .

18 Thurloe Street was ideally suited to Blackie and served as her home as well as her consulting room. It had a homely atmosphere, and there was always an open fire in the consulting room to welcome patients, students and homoeopaths, who would travel from all over the world to sit in during her surgeries.

Margery Blackie was the most outstanding homoeopathic doctor of her generation; admired by homoeopathic and conventional physicians alike. Her sound medical practice and enthusiasm for homoeopathy led to its increased acceptance by the wider medical world.

For further press information, please contact Helen Bowman, Corporate Communications on 0207 973 3250 / 077 1421 3388 / helen.bowman@english-heritage.org.uk

For further information about Margery Blackie and her work, please contact the Margery Blackie Foundation at The Blackie Foundation Trust