William Withering (1741–1799) is best known for his work on foxglove, a plant that transformed the treatment of heart disease. Living at Edgbaston Hall (now the Golf Club), next to the plot where Winterbourne was later built, he worked at a time when the study of plants and medicine were closely connected. Through his research, Withering helped move medical practice towards a more careful and systematic approach, based on observation and evidence.

My name is Taiba, and I am a student at the University of Birmingham, studying my MA in Art History and Curating. This term, I was given the incredible opportunity to work with Winterbourne’s Curator Henrietta Lockhart, as a curatorial research assistant to develop a William Withering display. This was created to be part of Winterbourne’s permanent exhibition, ‘The Dry Garden: Treasures from the University Herbarium’. During my placement, I researched various books, medals, prints, and specimens, including items graciously donated to Winterbourne by Peter Allen. Working with the collection has been an amazing experience and I’d love to share what I’ve found!

The foxglove frontrunner

At the centre of this display is foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), shown both as a preserved specimen collected by D. M. Heath (1896) and as a botanical print by James Sowerby (1804). With its tall stem and distinctive purple, bell-shaped flowers, it is a striking plant, but also a dangerous one. Foxglove is highly toxic, and its effects were not fully understood in the 18th century. What makes Withering’s work so significant is that he studied the plant carefully, identifying how it could be used safely to treat dropsy, now understood as a symptom of heart disease.

The botanical engraving included in the display highlights the importance of visual accuracy in this process. Hand-coloured engravings like this were essential tools, allowing plants to be studied in detail even when live specimens were not available. Looking closely at the print, you can see not only the full plant, but also smaller details showing its structure. This level of observation reflects the careful approach that underpinned Withering’s research. 

Fun fact! James Sowerby who drew this also created the engravings in some of the other displays in the room.

Books full of useful findings 

This attention to detail is also evident in Withering’s book A Botanical Arrangement of British Plants (1796), which is displayed open in the case. The pages show how Withering combined illustration and written description to help readers identify plants. On one side, a hand-coloured image; on the other, a detailed classification using the Linnaean system. Seeing the book open like this makes it easier to understand how it would have been used, as a practical guide for studying and identifying plants in the field.

Alongside this, An Account of the Foxglove (1785) represents one of Withering’s most important contributions. In this work, he recorded a series of patient case studies, noting symptoms, treatments and results. Looking at the some of the cases in the book, he records not only the successful cases, but also the failed ones. What stands out most is the level of detail and consistency in his observations. Rather than relying on anecdotal evidence, Withering tested and refined his findings over time. This method helped establish a more evidence-based approach to medicine, something that remains central to medical practice today.

The display also includes Miscellaneous Tracts (1822), published after Withering’s death. This volume brings together his writings across a range of subjects, including chemistry and mineralogy, as well as medicine. It reveals the breadth of his interests and shows how he was regarded by others as a respected and influential figure. Reading about his life through this later publication offers a different perspective, one shaped by reflection and legacy rather than active research. His image shown in the display is also used in one of the medals displayed in the case. 

The University of Birmingham’s Medical School also has this image displayed as an oil painting!

A lasting legacy

Finally, the inclusion of commemorative medals, produced in 1966 and 1999, shows how Withering’s work has continued to be recognised long after his lifetime. One marks the Lunar Society of Birmingham, a group of thinkers who met to share ideas on science, industry and medicine, of which Withering was a member. The other celebrates the bicentenary of his death, created by an American company in New York. These objects may be very different from the books and plant specimens, but they demonstrate how his contributions have been remembered and valued over time.

What I find particularly interesting about this collection is how it brings together different ways of understanding the same story. The plant itself, the printed image, the scientific text, and the later commemorations all offer different perspectives on Withering’s work. Together, they show not only what he discovered, but how that knowledge was recorded, shared and remembered.

Working with these objects has highlighted for me how closely observation and communication are linked in science. Withering’s achievements were not only based on what he discovered, but on how clearly he recorded and presented his findings. These objects make that process visible, allowing us to see the steps behind a discovery that continues to have an impact today.

If you would like to see these objects in person, then please visit the House and head to the first floor.

Taiba Aqeel

MA in Art History and Curating, University of Birmingham