Hanwell Asylum
TitleHanwell Asylum
ReferenceGB 2087 RCPSYCH/X/1/3
Date
1848
CreatorHanwell Asylum
Production date 1848
Extent1 folder
LanguageEnglish
Archival historyThe Middlesex Asylum at Hanwell opened in June 1831 as the first pauper lunatic asylum for the county of Middlesex. It was originally built to accommodate 500 patients, but the building was enlarged in 1831, 1837, 1857 and 1879 to cope with the increasing demand for beds. By 1888, the Asylum had 1891 patients. Hanwell achieved great prominence in the field of psychiatric nursing due to the work of two of its first Medical Superintendents. Dr (later Sir) William Ellis, the first Medical Superintendent at Hanwell (1831-1838) was known in his lifetime for his pioneering work which encouraged patients to use the skills and trades, which they had acquired before entering the Asylum, to occupy themselves. Such therapies speeded up recovery at Hanwell, and are seen as a forerunner to occupational therapy and industrial therapy.
Dr John Conolly, the third Medical Superintendent at Hanwell and later its Visiting Physician (1839-1852), abolished all use of mechanical restraints to control patients at the Asylum. Although, he was not the first to use more humane methods of treatment, it was the first time the idea had been used on such a large scale and on so many different types of patients. It was a huge success and attracted visitors from all over England and encouraged the abolition of mechanical restraints in other Asylums. By using Ellis's system of employment for therapy, alongside padded rooms and periods of seclusion or solitary confinement and some sedatives, Conolly was able to control even the most violent patients without resorting to mechanical restraints. No mechanical restraints were used at Hanwell between 1840 and 1890.
In 1889, the Asylum was taken over by the newly formed London County Council and became the London County Asylum, Hanwell. In 1918, it became a County Mental Hospital, before changing its name to St Bernard's Hospital in 1937. From 1948 to 1974, it was part of the North West Metropolitan Region with its own hospital management committee. In 1974, it became part of North West Thames Regional Health Authority and was within Ealing Health District. In 1980, it was absorbed into Ealing Hospital and is now known as the Psychiatric Unit, St Bernard's Wing, Ealing Hospital. It still functions as a psychiatric and psycho-geriatric hospital for long stay patients with 950 beds.
Dr John Conolly, the third Medical Superintendent at Hanwell and later its Visiting Physician (1839-1852), abolished all use of mechanical restraints to control patients at the Asylum. Although, he was not the first to use more humane methods of treatment, it was the first time the idea had been used on such a large scale and on so many different types of patients. It was a huge success and attracted visitors from all over England and encouraged the abolition of mechanical restraints in other Asylums. By using Ellis's system of employment for therapy, alongside padded rooms and periods of seclusion or solitary confinement and some sedatives, Conolly was able to control even the most violent patients without resorting to mechanical restraints. No mechanical restraints were used at Hanwell between 1840 and 1890.
In 1889, the Asylum was taken over by the newly formed London County Council and became the London County Asylum, Hanwell. In 1918, it became a County Mental Hospital, before changing its name to St Bernard's Hospital in 1937. From 1948 to 1974, it was part of the North West Metropolitan Region with its own hospital management committee. In 1974, it became part of North West Thames Regional Health Authority and was within Ealing Health District. In 1980, it was absorbed into Ealing Hospital and is now known as the Psychiatric Unit, St Bernard's Wing, Ealing Hospital. It still functions as a psychiatric and psycho-geriatric hospital for long stay patients with 950 beds.
Persons keywordHanwell Asylum, Dr John Conolly, Dr Hitchman
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