RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Yorkshire (West Riding) => Topic started by: LoopyLil on Saturday 28 August 10 06:15 BST (UK)
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Hi
I am just wondering which hospital was a mental hospital in Wakefield in 1937?
I have a family member who died in 1937. Registered in Wakefield and it just gives the location of death as 'mental hospital'
Does anyone know the name of the hospital? Could it be Stanley Royd?
Many thanks x
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Hi
I would think it was almost certainly Stanley Royd. Two of my relatives died in there: my great-grandfather in the 1870s (when it was known as the West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum) and my great-uncle in 1960.
Although the records for Stanley Royd (held by West Yorkshire Archive Services at Wakefield) are subject to 100-year closure, if you state your relationship to an individual who died more recently, WYAS will give you a contact address to write to for access to that person's records, which I did in the case of my grandfather's brother. The records are quite detailed and in the case of my great-uncle, included a photograph, which I was pleased to have as no other image of him survives.
Regards,
Lesley
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Hi.
You may find this link interesting.........
http://www.thetimechamber.co.uk/Sites/Hospital/StanleyRoyd/StanleyRoyd.php
...............and there is plenty more information on Stanley Royd on GOOGLE.
The original, huge buildings that you see in the video have been converted into apartments.
You wouldn't get me to spend a night in one of those apartments for a gold pig.
David
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Hi Sunlaws,
Glad someone has had some luck with WYAS, I found them to be most obstructive. I am currently researching my Mother's side of the family and found that my Gt Aunt died in Wakefield in 1931. Her death certificate, like Loopy Lil's, just said "Mental Hospital UD". When I wrote to WYAS and asked them if they had any records for my Aunt they said they had not. Having done a bit of research and finding that Stanley Royds was indeed the West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum and finding that my aunt's death certificate was signed by their Medical Director, I then wrote and asked them if they would look again for my Aunt's records. They then said they had managed to establish that my aunt was a patient at that hospital between 1923 and 1931. They further said that they had carried out an extensive search to locate any surviving medical casenotes or reception order but unfortunately without success. Only post mortem notes had been found for my aunt but I would still need to proceed with the application as if for any other medical records.
They went on to say that they may have further records but these are exempt from disclosure under Section 41 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. If I was requesting personal information about a deceased relative I would have to provide proof of my ID and the familial relationship. (So far so good!!). Now this is what to me is the stupid bit, they go on to say that if I want to continue further they would require proof of my ID and permission in this case from the patient's personal representative (please bear in mind here that we are talking about a person who was born in 1897). In the first instance this would be the executor of the will of my Gt Aunt. If this person is also deceased then we would also need proof of your familial relationship to (my gt aunt) in addition to your proof of ID. We would also require letters of permission from anyone with a higher claim than yourself to any patient information (such as surviving siblings or children). If these individuals are also deceased then we would require copies of their death certificates as proof of this - photocopies or printed scanned images of certificates are acceptable in this case.
My Gt Aunt was the youngest of 9 children, and WYAS are telling me that they want me to provide proof of their deaths, the eldest being born in 1880. Surely common sense should prevail here. Apart from anything else, it would cost a fortune. I think they're just being awkward because I asked them to look again for me.
Busybod
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David
I've just watched the video on your link. I recently found the medical record of an 18 year old member of the family who died in Stanley Royd of TB in 1863.
It looks a depressing place in 1960 - I can't begin to imagine how awful if must have been in 1863 :(
Sandra
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thank you all for your replies, I am really grateful.
I have had a look around this site http://stanleyroydhospital.fotopic.net/
It must have been absolutely horrific to have to stay there.
I shall contact WYAS, hope I don't hit too many obstructions.
Thanks again. x
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Hi
I thought it was only me that had had trouble with WYAS. I have tried to get my great-granfathers medical records for ages. Every time I see the WYAS stand at a family history fair I ask them about the records and they tell my just to write in and apply and when I write in and ask for the records they give me the same run around.
My grandmothers family lived across road from the asylum and she said the inmates seemed to be well treated and they would get the kids in the area to run to the shop for them.
If I remember right there is a museum and they might have some records could be worth a try.
John
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Hi
I want to get my Great Aunt's medical records from WYAS, hope I will be successful!
Have just found out she was buried in a hospital grave with a few other people.
Aguaazul
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Hi Aguaazul
I wish you the very best of luck with your quest!!!
Busybod
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Thank you busybod.
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Hi,
To those people having trouble getting hold of records. There is a history research project looking at women's history that has put a lot of medical records on line from Stanley Royd Hospital, besides other materials.
Have a look at http://www.herstoryuntold.org.uk/
You need to go to the Gallery and search for the person by name. I think it only contains women's records, but half of my ancestors are women....
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Hi Aguaazul
I too offer lots of good luck wishes. You will need them!
Loops x
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Hi All
Reply from WYAS gives me only the date of admission of my ancestor and a web site for mental health NHS as they don't hold any other records of my relative!
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Hi all yes I am going to say the same thing my previous dealing with them isn't the best to me they just lazy and don't want to help. Anyway I am going to ring tomorrow and see what they say see if they is any case files for my ancestor
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For Stanley Royd there are 643 males and 249 female photographs of inmates uploaded on Yorkshire Burials website. yorkshire burials.uk
Lynn
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good morning i too have appiled for my ggrandmas notes at stanley royd but i have got her death certificate and it says address as jacob wells which is where stanley royd is has anyone else had this many thanks andrea