History of Psychiatry in Bristol (2)
Bristol Lunatic Asylum and its enlargement
The new asylum
The medical appreciation of the new asylumin the annual reports was almost unbridled. There can be no doubting the genuine happiness of Dr Stephens in observing the effect of the “light airy and cheerful residence” which greeted his patients on transfer from St Peters. On February 27th 1861 “a boon to suffering humanity” was delivered when 50 men from St Peters Hospital were transferred. Six days later 63 women joined them. Dr Stephens’ regime was liberal. He stressed the importance of employment, the intention of which was to benefit the patients more than to provide gain for the hospital. He disapproved of mechanical restraint which was not employed nor was the straight waistcoat.
Dr Stephens over time tried to improve the social organisation of the hospital. There were country outings, Summer picnics, evening gatherings and dances, sometimes attended by visitors from outside the hospital together with ladies and gentlemen members of the family or friends of the officers who provided cheerful evenings “with comic songs, readings, recitations and humorous scenes in character, songs and lyrical pieces varied by overtures and other lively music performed on the pianoforte by the ladies and much enjoyed by the large numbers of patients.” A pianoforte to be used in the Chapel or Hall had been presented by the Chairman of the Committee of Visitors.
By 1863 the asylumhad been filled with patients much more quickly than was anticipated and a new extension for 15 males and 20 females was completed during 1868.
Mr George Thompson L.R.C.P. London, of the West Riding Wakefield Asylum took over from Dr Stephens on the 19th May 1871. Excess of admissions over discharges and deaths crept up relentlessly by ten per cent per annum so that by 1872, the place was 'inconveniently overcrowded' and further extensions for 60 male and 60 females were completed by 1878. These extensions and increase in patient numbers made the existing dining hall and chapel too small for the hospital. A new church, now the Glenside Museum, was opened for worship in August 1880.
Numbers continued to increase and more extension were needed. By the end of 1888 the 2 large wings (2 x 117patients) and 2 small wings (2 x 42 patients) were finished. Temporary offices, stores, kitchens etc were provided in 1889 to replace the administration block, which was demolished in 1890. The chaos surrounding the demolition and reconstruction of the central block was unimaginable. This entailed a massive upheaval including Dr Thompson having to vacate his hospital house and find outside accommodation whilst bemoaning “the extensive pulling down and building up.” In his last, sad annual report he wrote of the admission of a more and more hopeless class of patient which included 16 general paralytics, 15 epileptics over 60 years of age and 7 congenital idiots. Of the hospital population of 508 patients he considered that “out of this vast concourse of effete human material, there are altogether 15 cases which present a reasonable prospect of recovery.”
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The enlargements of the Asylum to 1894
first extensions of 1868)
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Building work to
1868 (back wings are the
Extensions 1878
Extensions 1888
Rebuild of
central facilities 1890 - 4
Click image for larger one of Asylum in 1890
The final decade of the 19th Century began under new medical direction. After 19 years as medical superintendent, to the plaudits of the Commissioners, Dr Thompson was liberally pensioned and Dr Harry Benham assumed his mantle. The building works were at a standstill caused by a strike of the workmen engaged in the construction of the new administrative and ward blocks. When they returned to work late in spring (1890), their action was emulated by a dissatisfied male nursing staff. They all withdrew their labour, except Male Nurse White who was off sick and the Head Attendant, and were promptly sacked. The new Lunacy Actcame into force in May 1890 and caused considerable additional administrative work.
In February 1895, Dr Benham reported that the extensions were finally finished and opened, comprising of the Committee room, the new Superintendents house, the assistant medical officers apartments, the patients’ visiting and receiving rooms, the mess rooms for nurses, attendants and servants, a room for photography and a room for pathological research. Wards 2 and 10 were converted into hospital wards each with a padded room and having additional nursing staff at night.
Already the female beds were again full. A further 30 acres of land were bought and by 1897 plans for the accommodation of up to 1,000 patients were being considered. The Commissioners were urging that female beds be built. The extension of the City boundaries imposed by the Bristol Corporation Act 1897 added 80,000 more inhabitants to the City and laid on the Committee the necessity of providing for 139 additional patients, 65 males and 74 females. It was hoped that the amalgamation of Parishes into one central Authority might ease the pressures on the hospital but that was not to be. It added to them. The extra 150 beds from newly planned wards 17,18,19 and 20 would not be ready until 1900.
By the end of 1900, the buildings sanctioned in May 1897 were completed. In 1901 the Night Nurses annexe and the isolation hospital were occupied and Female Wards 17, 18, 19, and 20 were completed. The new dining hall for males had a theatrical stage built in it.
