Mental Health Hospitals in Croydon area circa 1935/1045

[Chris Doran]

Moving a little further away, but not that far from Croydon, is the Royal Bethlem Hospital. This has an archives section which you can read about here. I see it also has records from Warlingham Park (formerley Croydon Mental) Hospital. But it's closed until February 2015 during a move to new premises, and it's not clear from a cursory reading of the website how much information is available without visiting in person, especially as some of the Answer buttons under the View Online Archives section of the above page won't open in my browser. YMMV.

[bearrpam]

Thanks for your reply Chris.  I have been in touch with Bethlem Royal Hospital and from the Bethlem Museum obtained copies of her hospital records from the Warlingham Hospital in 1920 and 30's  but after her husband divorced her in 1939 due to her mental state I have lost all trace of her.  Not even to be found in BDM Registry.  I have been searching for years and I wonder if it is possible that she was killed in the war and body never found.  I suppose that is possible.
Thanks anyway

[Chris Doran]

Sorry, I'd forgotten or missed the bit about your already having information from Warlingham. Do their records say when and where she was discharged to? She might then be traced through directories and/or electoral rolls (if not disqualified from voting by her mental condition) which Croydon Local Studies have.

On the WW2 possibility, could this be her: Rose Mary Harris? The age is about right; father Charles Harris, address 16 Devonshire Rd (whose occupants could be traced back).

[bearrpam]

Sorry Chris I have this Certificate.  One of the many useless ones I have. Rose was always known as Rose in Census return, Marriage Certificate, D A etc.  Never Mary.  Dad died c1916 and he was an Ag worker not Platelayer and she was not a Spinster!  I have assumed because of her mental state she did not remarry or emigrate  so will keep trying.  Just cannot undersand no mention of her in BDM records.    It does not help that my mother died in 1942 when I was 4 and my grandmother was never mentioned to me and I never saw grandad!   Families sure are weird.

Thanks anyway

[groom]

Just a thought, but if she was in the Mental Hospital in 1939, that was the start of the war. Were any of the patients from the hospital evacuated to get them out of London and the danger of bombing? If so, her death may not be in the Croydon area.

[bearrpam]

Good thinking Groom I will check this out with Croydon History people.

[Kimbrey]

I grew up in Coulsdon surrounded by all these places !

They provided a lot of employment-presumably you have tried Epsom ?

Kim

[bearrpam]

No Kimbrey have not gone out this far.  It seems as though Rose always lived within the Croydon area but I will have to go further afield.  Still puzzles me why no notice in BDM.  I wonder if she changed her name I have tried all the Harris and Cole deaths - both common names unfortunately.

[peb21]

My G. Grandmother died in Springfield Mental Hospital and also an aunt who was in Tooting Bec Mental Hospital in the 1950's.  Both these hospitals are close to Croydon.