Genealogy Chat

Katherine- There are a couple of threads on here which you may find interesting, one about 'Life in a Lunatic Asylum' and the other about obtaining records form Sheldon Mental Hospital, I think. I've copied a bit I put in one of them about life there in the 1930's - 1970's...... 'I have some knowledge about mental hospitals, as I trained in one in the late '60's, and my Dad worked in the same one from the mid '30's so I heard quite a lot from him. The one I had knowledge of had its own infirmary for sick patients, pharmacy, and even an operating theatre - presumably the General Hospitals didn't want 'loonies' lowering the tone at their establishments! They provided occcupational therapy in that many patients worked in the laundry, which took in work from other hospitals, on the wards doing mainly menial cleaning etc, the large hospital kitchens and the gardens and grounds. Some places with more land even had a small farm where patients could work growing food and flowers for the wards, as well as livestock for the kitchens. Leisure time was catered for - a small library, a cinema/theatre hall, dances and outside entertainers once a week, and bingo (I hated bingo evenings!). There was even a church in the grounds - many mental hospitals had one, and they were well-used with services and seasonal celebrations such as carol services. There were regular visits by chiropodists, shoe-makers, hairdressers etc. and a small physiotherapy department on site as well as such things as basket-making with (mainly untrained) occupational therapists - that's where the term 'basket case' comes from! (If you want to REALLY annoy an OT, just mention baskets!) In fact, they were like self-contained communities, with hospital facilities tagged on! They even had their own mortuaries. And although the word 'asylum' had negative connotations, the larger places did provide asylum - a place of safety - for the inmates - safer there for many than in the 'outside world'. My gosh - I've almost written a book! Sorry if I've rambled on, but maybe it will help to have some idea what things were like, and toknow that they weren't totally bad.' Bx

Thanks Tracy Will have a look and see. Kathy

I typed a quick message into the old thread to make it reappear on the front page. It should be near this one now. Hope it helps, Tracey

The Asylum is in Cheshire and I think its still there but a mental hospital now. Sorry I am a bit thick what do you mean by nudged??? Kathy

Hi Kathy, I've nudged an old thread 'Life in a lunatic asylum' for you. Tracey

I've seen a site somewhere - an official one. I think it was part of a2a or the National Archives. It gave a list of hospitals and which years records exist for them. I found it by Googling the hospital I was interested in. Sadly I'm miles away from the archives where they were kept, but its on my 'to do' list. Anne

Are you on Ancestry ? if you enter the county or even better the parish and enter AA you will come up with the local workhouses and asylums for that area. Quite often there,s not much info ,but i,s worth a go. Good luck...

Hello Kathrine You could try here. http://www.mdx.ac.uk/WWW/STUDY/4_13_TA.htm

Kathy- You may find some useful info in the thread I'll nudge up for you. Do you know which asylum it was? Is it still there, still functioning? It would probably have been renamed if it is - certainly it won't have 'asylum' in the title any more! Bx

Thanks I have been on this site before, they only give you the history of the Asylums not where I can find the patients names etc. Kathy

Can anyone tell me where I can find records of Lunatic Asylum, I need to look up a patient who may have been one of my Ancesters. Regards Kathy