Lunatic Asylum, Lancaster 1891 census

[NicNic]

I have this morning had confirmation after along search, that my Great Grand Father died in Lancaster Lunatic Asylum! He died from  general paralysis on the insane'; which I am aware is the condition of untreated syphilis.
As sad as it is .. I would like to know more about the Asylum and possibly his records, can any body point me in the right direction please.

[Luzzu]

Hi,

Welcome to Rootschat  .

I think you should contact Lancashire Records Office.

http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/education/record_office/

My 3 x gt granddad also died in Lancaster Lunatic Asylum in 1874.  He also died from general paralysis of the insane.  I emailed Lancashire Records Office and they were able to confirm what documents they had which included his medical record (unfortunately it didn't include a photograph but I understand some do).  As I live overseas, the charge was going to be £25.00 to obtain copies but a friend went to Preston in person and was able to obtain copies for me at a fraction of the cost.

I was advised that people who died in Lancaster Lunatic Asylum were buried in the Municipal Cemetery.  I emailed them and they very kindly sent me details of the grave location and number.

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

A very kind Rootschatter went to have a look for me and although the tombstone is long gone, I now have a photograph of the location of the grave.

I hope you have as much success as I did.

Luzzu

[NicNic]

Hi and thank you for your help, I will follow up both your suggestions.
After reading some www pages it was a huge place that cared for hundreds of patients.But what a sad end!
NicNic

[bendywendy]

Records for the Asylums and Hospitals in Lancashire are held at Lancashire County Council Archives dept.

Here is a weblink for you to search for records either by the name of the Asylum or Hospital or by inputting
Patient Registers etc.. some entries are coded, so you have to click on them to read the name.

This link should take you to the Lancaster Moor Hospital record
http://archivecat.lancashire.gov.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=HRL&pos=8
also mentions the Burial Grounds etc..

This weblink will take you to 200 entries for Asylums and Hospitals
http://archivecat.lancashire.gov.uk/CalmView/Overview.aspx?s=register%20of%20patients
you will get codes not names, so click on the codes which will then give you the name of the place. To find these I put in Register of Patients in search bar.

You can search for others in the Search Bar top right

My Great Grandmothers brother died in the Royal Albert Asylum and buried in Scotforth Cemetery, the department for Cemeteries were extremely kind and helpful with finding his burial details, including the time !! and will also assist if I would like to visit his unmarked communal grave with 4 others.

Bendywendy

[emmsthheight]

Hi Bendywendy

Thank you!

I'm going to have a look at that!

Best wishes

Emms

[bendywendy]

Hi Emms
I have just had an email from Lancashire City Council, they have passed my email onto the Archives Dept and they will then contact me for further details for my ancestor's patient records, will let you know how I get on.

This is the email address I sent my request for into to:-
enquiries@lancashire.gov.uk

I have had another go with their Archive Website, tis confusing as to what to type in Search Bar to find what one wants, would have thought they would have just put all info under one heading for the Asylums/Institutions/Hospitals etc., makes it difficult to find things, especially as they are also using coded letters/numbers instead of actual names!!!!

Good luck
Bendywendy

[bendywendy]

I don't think this breaks the Copyright Law, but if it does please remove.

Found this on their website:-
 http://archivecat.lancashire.gov.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=Q/A/M/6/10/1&pos=2


Q - LANCASHIRE COURTS OF Quarter Sessions.
A - Quarter Sessions: Administrative Functions
M - Lunacy
6 - Prestwich Asylum
10 - Registers of Patients
CatID   Q/A/M/6/10/1
Level   Item
Reference number   QAM/6/10/1
Title   Register of Patients - Lancaster Moor Asylum
Date   1891-1904
Description   The patients' register was a schedule of inmates at a certain date listed in order of admission, with notes of discharge, and further admissions as they occurred. It was periodically re-written. This volume is part only of the register as revised in 1890 and contains a schedule of patients in hospital at that date who had been admitted between 1838 and 1884 only, with note of their discharge or death,
AccessStatus   Open

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~#

Also another for Lancaster Moor Hospital, too big to copy
http://archivecat.lancashire.gov.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=HRL&pos=1
CatID   HRL    Date   1826-1954
Includes:-  Lancaster Moor Hospital was Lancashire's first County Lunatic Asylum. Lancaster Moor Hospital closed in December 1999. Lancaster Moor Burial Ground. Some records are closed. And much more detail.

Bendywendy

[EdwardAK]

Barbara H.  Saw your offer to take cemetery photo in your note from Feb

Would like to get a photo of my grandfather and Uncle who are both
buried in Farmoor Cemetery Skerton.  I have the section and row numbers.
I have not as yet figured out how to send a private message.

Any thoughts on how I can do it.

regards

[Barbara.H]

Hi EdwardAK, welcome to Rootschat 

You have to make a number of public posts - three I think - before you can use the PM system, so two more posts and you'll be able to.

Not sure which cemetery you mean: Far Moor cemetery is the big one near the former asylum, whereas Skerton cemetery is north of the river Lune between Lancaster and Halton? Either way I can take a photo for you.

  Barbara