Lunatic Asylum, Lancaster 1891 census

[kerbab]

Hi there. Is anyone able to (morbid as it sounds) give me any info on this please. My 2 gt grnadfather was in here 1891 and appears to have died here also. His name was Edward Price aged 38. His wifes name was Alice Price. Thankyou.

[emmsthheight]

Hi

I don't know if this is the only one, but the one that immediately springs to mind is the Lancaster Moor Hospital.  Googling it gives a plan for it's gradual closure and redevelopment of the site and old victorian buildings at Quernmore.

Would that be the right area?

(Link below).

http://www.rootschat.com/links/07z5/

Loks as if there are recrds in Lancashire Record Office.  Links on here - depends on date for closure though.  Might not be here either.

Photo's here

http://www.beyondthefence.fpic.co.uk/c1478819.html

There is a red herring here, I've realised .

Was she definitely in Lancaster.  Many old records give Lancaster for the county, and there was Lancaster County Assylum at Rainhill, too.

Best wishes

Emms


http://www.rootschat.com/links/07z6/

[emmsthheight]

PS

Photo's of all the county asylums here.

Loads of mentions but I've not found a really good history of it and it might not be the right one

Emms
http://www.countyasylums.com/mentalasylums/lancashire.htm

[kerbab]

Hi emms. All it says is Lunatic Asylum lancaster. The Ecclesiastical parish is Christchurch on the print out which I received some time ago by a friend who has access to ancestory.com. I am sure he died there as his wife remarried in 1895.
DEATH
Edward Price / Age 37
June 1891 / Lancaster
Vol No: 8e / Page No: 675

[Barbara.H]

Hi Kerbab & Emms,

You have the right asylum there, looking at the census, it is the Moor Hospital asylum. It is converted into houses now. It was a big place, the census suggests about 2000 people there, staff & patients included.

If Edward died in 1895 he is very likely to be buried in the municipal cemetery which was/is very nearby.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/072i/   links to the cemeteries department, who should be able to confirm this if you email them with date of death.

All the local history books for round here suggest that the asylum was reasonably advanced for its time. Dr Edward De Vitre made many innovations in the 1870s. I seem to recall in one of the old newspapers, seeing a sits vac advert for musicians to work at the hospital, presumably for patient therapy?

Hope that helps
  Barbara

[Luzzu]

Hi,

My 3 x gt grandfather died in Lancaster Lunatic Asylum in 1874 after being admitted there in 1873.

I contacted Lancashire Records Office by email giving all the details from the death certificate and they were able to confirm they had his medical record for the whole time he was there.  They said they could arrange to send a copy as I don't live locally and I think the total cost including the researcher's time, photocopying and postage was £25.00.  However, a friend happened to be going to Preston and collected the copy on my behalf so it cost much less than that in the end.

It was well worth the effort and although the document makes sad reading, I am so pleased I managed to get a copy.

Barbara H - thanks for the info re the municipal cemetery as I hadn't thought where my ancestor might have been buried.  I think I assumed the Asylum had its own cemetery as workhouses sometimes do.  I will have a go at finding his grave now.

Luzzu

[kerbab]

Wow good morning to you both and thankyou!! Well I certainly will be looking ito this.
Hmmmm wonders if you both know about my other posting about Beauchief Abbey and why someone would have been there in 1915??? I posted that in the Yorkshire pages.
Am off to grab brekkie and have a look at the sites mentioned. Thankyou

[Astoria]

This is the site for the cemeteries in the area.

http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/planning-environment/environmental-health/cemeteries/

I have looked at the records for Lancaster Asylum at Preston and they are fantastic, quite detailed, some even have photographs of the patients.

[Hello There]

Hope you dont mind me joining in Kerbab...

I have someone who is listed as being in a institution (1911) in Lancaster - ASHTON AND SCOTFORTH ROAD. Does anyone know what kind of institution this was please. Can i get any info from the Records Office do you think.
Thank You.