Lunatic Asylum, Lancaster 1891 census

[Barbara.H]

Hi to everyone,

The Asylum on Ashton/Scotforth road was the Royal Albert Asylum for Idiots and Imbeciles (I think it had an even longer title than that originally).  In modern terms, the Royal Albert catered for people with learning disabilities while the Lunatic Asylum catered for people with mental health problems.

We had some chats about the Royal Albert a while back, so if you put Royal Albert into the Rootschat search at the top of the page, they should reappear.  Patients were usually young people withi disabilities, it was a kind of specialist boarding school, they would stay for about seven years or so.

If anyone finds ancestors in any of the Lancaster cemeteries and would like photographs, I am in that area & very happy to take photos.  Just send me a PM or ask if you need help with location. The cemeteries department on Astoria's link are great for the town cemeteries, and the local library has have lists of MIs done by the FH groups for several local churchyards

  Barbara

[kerbab]

hello there - no definetly not, this is how we all make a connection in the land of cyber space. I may have to write/email the lancaster records myself. barbara thankyou for your information. I have a picture of edward actually as well. This was also on the ancestory.com.

[Hello There]

Hiya Barbara, thanks ever so much for this info, i will have a search now, thats a very kind gesture as well 

Kerbab, thanks for this.

Great thread with great help by the way 

[gilesc]

Hi,
Lancaster Moor Hospital is in the ecclesiastical parish of Christ Church. So it does look as though this is the hospital where your family member died.
The hospital is now totally closed, with the patients being returned to the community. The administration block has been tuned into very upmarket apartments, whilst the forbidding and very scary main building is being turned into more apartments.
Carolyn.

[Hello There]

hello there - no definetly not, this is how we all make a connection in the land of cyber space. I may have to write/email the lancaster records myself. barbara thankyou for your information. I have a picture of edward actually as well. This was also on the ancestory.com.

I've just emailed them - keep you updated 

I have never seen any of my Grandfathers or thier familes - hope i touch lucky 

[Luzzu]

Hope you get lucky with the Asylum records and find a photograph of your ancestor.  Unfortunately I didn't find one but was very happy with what I did find.

Barbara - that is a very kind offer re the Lancaster cemeteries and if I manage to locate my ancestor's grave, I would very much like to ask for a photo.

 

Luzzu

[emmsthheight]

Hi all

Looks like you're finally in with a chance of some good information, kerbab.  I hope it works out!

Thank you for all the great links and offers everyone.  I'll definitely be investigating those.

Best wishes

Emms

[elin]

I was about to start a very similar thread when I happened on this one!  I have been looking for
my gt grandfather on the 1911 census, as he didn't appear with his family. There had also been rather odd entries about him on both his daughters marriage certificates and on a death certificate.

This weekend I think that I found him in the 1911 at Rainhill County Lunatic Asylum.  I've found a 1916 death that might be him and have sent for the certificate. 

I am just incredibly sad though and can't stop worrying about how awful it must have been both for
him and his family.    I didn't even know his name 2 years ago!

Elin

[lancs-lassie]

Just looked at this thread with interest as I have a relative who died in Lancaster lunatic asylum in 1908.
 I visited Preston RO last year to seek out info but was unable (not allowed!) to see anything because of the 100 year thing! (my relatives records would have been more than 100yrs old, but other records in the same box were not).
 I was interested to see Astorias post about how good the asylum records are with some photos of inmates/patients.
Last week I contacted PRO again to find out if I'm any nearer being able to access my relatives records. They have replied saying they will look into it for me. I don't really want to have to pay a lot of cash for a researcher to find everything for me if within a few weeks or something I could go to Preston and find the stuff myself.
Perhaps i'm being a bit cynical here, but the record office were VERY quick to tell me (last year )that their researchers would be happy to look up the information for me!