Our Heritage

In 1978, the ground-breaking collaboration between Mr. Patrick Steptoe, Professor Robert Edwards, and embryologist Jean Purdy reached its pinnacle with the birth of Louise Brown, the world’s first baby conceived through IVF treatment.

How we can help

1978: The world’s first baby conceived through IVF treatment

This historic event, initially celebrated as a miracle, also stirred significant controversy, drawing criticism from various quarters, including politicians and religious leaders. It’s remarkable to reflect on how contentious this breakthrough was perceived at the time.

1980: The world's first IVF clinic was established at Bourn Hall

Following their success with Louise in 1978 and the first IVF baby boy, Alastair MacDonald, born in January 1979, Steptoe, Edwards, and Purdy, undeterred by the challenges and controversies, pursued their vision with unwavering determination, establishing the world’s first IVF clinic at Bourn Hall in 1980. Their pioneering efforts paved the way for millions of “miracle births” worldwide, as their discoveries were shared generously with medical practitioners and scientists globally.

2010: Robert Edwards was awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine

2010 saw the ultimate recognition of their work in the award to Robert Edwards of the Nobel Prize for Medicine.

Although IVF is no longer as contentious or taboo a subject, it remains an intensely personal journey for individuals grappling with infertility, necessitating specialised care and empathy. This ethos remains central to our mission at every Bourn Hall clinic.

2022: Wellcome Collection’s archivists began cataloguing our archival material.

In 2022, Wellcome Collection’s archivists embarked on a project at Bourn Hall, Cambridge, cataloguing and preserving a significant portion of our archival material. While this is still being worked on by the collection archives team, you can see the summary of the online catalogue here.

The papers of Sir Robert Edwards, which include records relating to the establishment and activities of Bourn Hall Clinic, are held at Churchill Archives Centre. The papers of Lesley Brown, the first mother to conceive by IVF, are held at Bristol Archives.

Several current members of Bourn Hall staff, including several of the senior management team, worked with Steptoe and Edwards in those early days. Our collective experience and expertise – as well as the skills and dedication of all of our healthcare professionals – will help guide you on your journey towards parenthood.

Joy: Official Trailer

We’re proud to be home to the pioneers of IVF, Jean Purdy, Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards. You can now watch on Netflix the beginning of their story and their life before Bourn Hall.

A Matter of Life

On July 25th 1978, Louise Brown, the world’s first test-tube baby, was born.

This dramatic medical breakthrough, which was hailed in every country throughout the world, was the climax of 10 years of painstaking research and heart-breaking trial and error by three remarkable people – scientist Robert Edwards, gynaecologist Patrick Steptoe and embryologist, Jean Purdy.

Extraordinary, fascinating and compelling, A Matter of Life is testimony to sheer determination to bring hope and joy to thousands of childless couples throughout the world – it is, without doubt, a miracle in the history of medicine.

A Matter of Life was written by Bob Edwards & Patrick Steptoe in 1979 (and published in 1980). The second edition was edited by Ruth Edwards and Andrew Steptoe in collaboration with Fiona Bennett.

Purchase your very own copy on Amazon UK.