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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Lanarkshire => Topic started by: Urbanfox on Monday 12 September 11 21:24 BST (UK)

Title: Bothwell Lunatic Assylum
Post by: Urbanfox on Monday 12 September 11 21:24 BST (UK)
Would anyone have any information/photos of Bothwell lunatic assylum. Two of my relatives lived and worked there.
       Regards, slywright
Title: Re: Bothwell Lunatic Assylum
Post by: hemmy on Monday 12 September 11 22:16 BST (UK)
I used to live near there, but unfortunately have no pics.  Have you tried googling Kirklands Hospital, there's a few write-ups, but no pics.  There is a contact for the university archives you could try them to see if they have any photos.
Good Luck
Title: Re: Bothwell Lunatic Assylum
Post by: lanarkshire lassie on Tuesday 08 November 11 18:45 GMT (UK)
Not sure Kirklands was everly openly called a Lunatic Asylum.

I have recently foung out that my great grandmother died there.


It was always just referred to (certainly in my memory) as Kirklands Hospital.

Gail
Title: Re: Bothwell Lunatic Assylum
Post by: hanes teulu on Tuesday 08 November 11 20:16 GMT (UK)
The Glasgow Herald, April 19, 1872 carries an article about Bothwell Asylum opened "June last and erected at Kirklands". It gives a detailed description of the buildings, grounds and the type of patient catered for ie. "upper and middle classes"

Have sent a PM

regards
Title: Re: Bothwell Lunatic Assylum
Post by: sancti on Tuesday 08 November 11 21:08 GMT (UK)
1958 map it is recorded as Kirklands Mental Hospital

1914 map it is recorded as Kirklands Lunatic Asylum
Title: Re: Bothwell Lunatic Assylum
Post by: MonicaL on Wednesday 09 November 11 12:02 GMT (UK)
Details of NHS archives here www.archives.gla.ac.uk/gghb/collects/lk7.html

Monica  :)
Title: Re: Bothwell Lunatic Assylum
Post by: lanarkshire lassie on Wednesday 09 November 11 17:03 GMT (UK)
I have just found my copy of my gt grandmother's death certificate.

She passed away at Kirklands, October 1938. On closer inspection, place of death does, indeed state." Kirklands Mental Hospital, Bothwell".

I guess that I didn't pick up on it's full name.

Apologies to those posters to whom I might have come across as defensive to your posts.

Hindsight is always rewarding, even if not for the reasons that you are looking for.

Gail
Title: Re: Bothwell Lunatic Assylum
Post by: sancti on Wednesday 09 November 11 17:13 GMT (UK)
There's no shame in mental illness

Many of the patients from those days would not be admitted nowadays
Title: Re: Bothwell Lunatic Assylum
Post by: lanarkshire lassie on Wednesday 09 November 11 17:22 GMT (UK)
Thanks Santi.

As you say, many people today wouldn't be in such a place.

Gail
Title: Re: Bothwell Lunatic Assylum
Post by: scotmum on Thursday 10 November 11 23:23 GMT (UK)
Some general info....not all in-patients in the asylums had mental issues:

http://www.bobbysimpson.org.uk/HARTWOOD_PAGE_2.htm

Title: Re: Bothwell Lunatic Assylum
Post by: harden on Sunday 20 November 11 12:58 GMT (UK)
I worked at Kirklands for two years in the 1960's as a secretary.  At that time a number of the patients came fromj a children's hospital in Lesmahagow - when they reached 18 )I think) they were then transferred to Bothwell.  I remember the main psychiatrist at that time was Dr Ligertwood, who also ran clinics for people referred to him.  There was a lot of emphasis on occupational therapy and a thriving garden which supplied veg and plants to the hospital.
Title: Re: Bothwell Lunatic Assylum
Post by: Haughs Keeper on Wednesday 21 January 15 20:19 GMT (UK)
this is a picture of Fallside Road. It has relevant info regarding Kirklands - Longdale Mental Asylum
Title: Re: Bothwell Lunatic Assylum
Post by: Urbanfox on Sunday 25 January 15 16:45 GMT (UK)
Thanks for this photo.
Title: Re: Bothwell Lunatic Assylum
Post by: Malcolm33 on Saturday 27 June 15 22:59 BST (UK)
I used to live near there, but unfortunately have no pics.  Have you tried googling Kirklands Hospital, there's a few write-ups, but no pics.  There is a contact for the university archives you could try them to see if they have any photos.
Good Luck
    There are some pics on various sites now.    The archivist is also very helpful.  I emailed asking for a search and had an immediate reply with dates of admission and recovery in 1883/1884.
     I then took a look around the Net to get some idea of what it was like and reasons why some were admitted.     From the photos and remarks in this page - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3131630/Harrowing-portraits-Victorian-lunatic-asylum.html it does seem that there were many cases of post maternity depression.    In the case I was researching this trauma was added to by the loss of her husband only 5 months after giving birth leaving her completely on her own - before returning to Scotland and then being placed at Kirklands.
Title: Re: Bothwell Lunatic Assylum
Post by: Stairheedrammy on Sunday 28 June 15 09:56 BST (UK)
Kirklands hospital is still there, albeit a modern version. I was at a meeting there last month.
Title: Re: Bothwell Lunatic Assylum
Post by: Brido on Saturday 13 February 16 15:53 GMT (UK)
 :) I traced a number of photographs taken of the hospital, the board of governors and of Rowans Gardens / Kirklands Cottages on Whitley's Loan / Fallside Road. They were transferred to the Mitchell Library (archives section) by NHS Lanarkshire.

On application to the archivists you can see them - by appointment - and photograph them, (without tripod or flash etc).

The Kirklands hospital was built opposite its predecessor, Langdale Lunatic Asylum and was linked to a lunatic asylum in Cleland near Carfin (Omoa Road) which in turn had been a poorhouse - which posed a source of fear to those living hand to mouth in the area for so many years.