BADR GHULUM AND TURABI HOUSES

This is the property of barber Badr Ghulum, who settled in Muharraq in 1912. This Bahraini played an essential role for the whole community. While the few foreign missions that provided basic health care were all based in Manama, Badr Ghulum gradually became the doctor for the people of Muharraq. In fact, this was the first building designed to accommodate the sick. Abolishing the divisions between rich and poor, everyone went to him for treatment. But it's true that fishermen were his first customers. Spending a lifetime diving to depths of several meters, 12 hours a day, leaves its mark on a man. Damaged lungs, eye and skin diseases were the most common afflictions. The Ghulum family still owns this house, which preserves the memory of the various expansions it has undergone throughout history. The consultation room has recently been refurbished using the original materials, mainly coral limestone. The liwan, the three rooms in the west wing and the medical wing are all original. During the restoration work, several period objects were found: a bronze mirror, glass flasks and barber's tools, testifying to Badr Ghulum's dual role as carer and barber. Today, the house is one of the most remarkable on the Pearl trail, as a tribute to the man who cared for entire generations.