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Lincolnshire Country Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Initially deigned by Hamilton and Medland of Gloucester in 1848 the plans for the asylum were amended following talks with Medical-Superintendent DrPalmer and revisions taking place alongside Thomas Parry, the County Surveyor of Kesteven, due for 1849. By February 1850 John R. Hamilton, the main architect, had signed the new plans and Thomas Parry agreed carry them out in the same month funding was given to the builder George Myers of Lambeth to complete construction of the new asylum.
Following construction the authorities of Lindsay, Holland, Lincoln, Stamford, Grimsby, Grantham and Kesteven managed the asylum until 1893 when Kesteven and Grantham left the union.
Initially the asylum held 250 patients with the wings divided for genders, males to the West and females to the East. The asylum's population grew massively in the 19th century forcing growth of the site and by 1857 Thomas Parry has prepared drawings for extensions to the building. The plans involved construction of another floor on the existing ground floor levels with two-storey blocks built on the ends of the east and west, the construction contracts for this extension were awarded to Young Of Burslem.
By 1872 the asylums population had nearly reached 600 patients. By 1882 construction of two new wings, deigned by FH Goddard Of Lincoln and built by W.Pattison bought the asylum capacity to 680 patients. By 1887 Dr.Palmer had retired.
Further additions were made in 1897 with the construction of six new sanitary annexes designed by FH.Goddard of Lincoln which lead to a small quarry being opened on site to provide the materials for the construction.
By 1900 the asylum held over 750 patients despite being licensed for only 680. Subsequently a major rebuilding programme was designed in 1901 by architect Albert Edward Gough of Strand, London and undertaken by builder William Brown and Son of Salford. The work set out by Gough involved heavy amounts of demolition with new structures put in places such as a large dining and recreation hall as well as new administration offices, kitchen, north entrance, as well as a new workshop yard. A new detached medical superintendents house was built to the North-West with the old one being taken over. Patient accommodation was also increased by construction two L-Shaped wings that were added to the north ends of the areas built in 1882. As well as this, following suggestions from the Commissioners of Lunacy in 1972, a long awaited isolation hospital was built to the east of the main asylum.
Further expansion took place in 1928 after Harold S. Hall unveiled plans to build two "Cronic Blocks" that were completed in 1929. 1931 saw A.Richmond and Sons of Retford build an Admissions hospital, Gate lodge, Workshops, Engine room and Boiler house onsite.
In 1924 a water tower was constructed above the asylum to provide for the laundry that had been enlarged after more expansion. This can be seen in older photos of the asylum above the entrance.
The structure continued operation under several names until closure in 1989 and has since been sold with areas of the Grade 2 structure being converted and demolished for housing.
Sources:
historicengland.org.uk
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk
The Photos and Explore
This was sometime ago, before we could even begin to imagine the potential of a worldwide lockdown and if I'm honest I don't remember much of it. There hadn't been much planning prior to this explore it was more on a turn up and hope for the best approach and with there being to reports of this site for quite sometime we already had a backup planned. After some scouting and debate we gingerly climbed the fence and ran, hoping for the best. Amazingly we were in straight away and spent a good few hours lurking about the corridors before missing the last train home.
Side note. The photos are terrible.
I'll start with externals and then go from there in a random order.
Anyways, That's all I could salvage.
KP
,
Initially deigned by Hamilton and Medland of Gloucester in 1848 the plans for the asylum were amended following talks with Medical-Superintendent DrPalmer and revisions taking place alongside Thomas Parry, the County Surveyor of Kesteven, due for 1849. By February 1850 John R. Hamilton, the main architect, had signed the new plans and Thomas Parry agreed carry them out in the same month funding was given to the builder George Myers of Lambeth to complete construction of the new asylum.
Following construction the authorities of Lindsay, Holland, Lincoln, Stamford, Grimsby, Grantham and Kesteven managed the asylum until 1893 when Kesteven and Grantham left the union.
Initially the asylum held 250 patients with the wings divided for genders, males to the West and females to the East. The asylum's population grew massively in the 19th century forcing growth of the site and by 1857 Thomas Parry has prepared drawings for extensions to the building. The plans involved construction of another floor on the existing ground floor levels with two-storey blocks built on the ends of the east and west, the construction contracts for this extension were awarded to Young Of Burslem.
By 1872 the asylums population had nearly reached 600 patients. By 1882 construction of two new wings, deigned by FH Goddard Of Lincoln and built by W.Pattison bought the asylum capacity to 680 patients. By 1887 Dr.Palmer had retired.
Further additions were made in 1897 with the construction of six new sanitary annexes designed by FH.Goddard of Lincoln which lead to a small quarry being opened on site to provide the materials for the construction.
By 1900 the asylum held over 750 patients despite being licensed for only 680. Subsequently a major rebuilding programme was designed in 1901 by architect Albert Edward Gough of Strand, London and undertaken by builder William Brown and Son of Salford. The work set out by Gough involved heavy amounts of demolition with new structures put in places such as a large dining and recreation hall as well as new administration offices, kitchen, north entrance, as well as a new workshop yard. A new detached medical superintendents house was built to the North-West with the old one being taken over. Patient accommodation was also increased by construction two L-Shaped wings that were added to the north ends of the areas built in 1882. As well as this, following suggestions from the Commissioners of Lunacy in 1972, a long awaited isolation hospital was built to the east of the main asylum.
Further expansion took place in 1928 after Harold S. Hall unveiled plans to build two "Cronic Blocks" that were completed in 1929. 1931 saw A.Richmond and Sons of Retford build an Admissions hospital, Gate lodge, Workshops, Engine room and Boiler house onsite.
In 1924 a water tower was constructed above the asylum to provide for the laundry that had been enlarged after more expansion. This can be seen in older photos of the asylum above the entrance.
The structure continued operation under several names until closure in 1989 and has since been sold with areas of the Grade 2 structure being converted and demolished for housing.
Sources:
Main building at St John's Hospital, Bracebridge Heath - 1205000 | Historic England
List entry 1205000. Grade II Listed Building: Main Building At St John's Hospital. May include summary, reasons for designation and history.
historicengland.org.uk
Records of St John's Hospital, Bracebridge, formerly, the Lincolnshire County Lunatic Asylum. | The National Archives
The official archive of the UK government. Our vision is to lead and transform information management, guarantee the survival of today's information for tomorrow and bring history to life for everyone.
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk
The Photos and Explore
This was sometime ago, before we could even begin to imagine the potential of a worldwide lockdown and if I'm honest I don't remember much of it. There hadn't been much planning prior to this explore it was more on a turn up and hope for the best approach and with there being to reports of this site for quite sometime we already had a backup planned. After some scouting and debate we gingerly climbed the fence and ran, hoping for the best. Amazingly we were in straight away and spent a good few hours lurking about the corridors before missing the last train home.
Side note. The photos are terrible.
I'll start with externals and then go from there in a random order.
Anyways, That's all I could salvage.
KP
,
cheers for sharing.
