Astral House , Gray Road, Liff

[colanne]

Does anyone know the history of Astral House? Was it an old people's home?
My great-great aunt died in Astral house in 1953 , aged 91.
She had been in the Dundee Royal Lunatic Asylum until 1932 then was moved to the Dundee East Poorhouse.
I can't find any information on this house other than other deaths in the early 1950's.
I would like to find out about it.
Maybe someone has heard of it?
Thanks

[stanmapstone]

Dundee District Mental Hospital was in Liff, became the Royal Dundee Liff Hospital (now closed). Perhaps Astral House was part of the Mental Hospital.  See http://www.studymore.org.uk/4asylums.htm#Dundee

Stan

[colanne]

Thanks for your reply Stan.
I will look into that.

Anne

[MonicaL]

Some background on the East Poorhouse here www.workhouses.org.uk/Dundee/  Additional sources to follow up showing at the bottom of the page.

Also, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords/details.asp?id=2764

Monica

[colanne]

Thanks Monica. That's very helpful.
I will read up on this topic.

Anne

[MonicaL]

There was a move away in the 20th C from giving on BMDs full names/descriptions of some institutions to protect people privacy and out of respect to them (a baby being born in the workhouse for example). Addresses were used which did not give any clue to the actual place. It may be that Astral House was such an address?

Hopefully, local archives will help with this.

Monica

[colanne]

That makes sense Monica.
By that time there would be a stigma attached to being in an institution.

Thanks again.

Anne

[Carlton2020]

Hey, I'm wondering is you had any luck finding out more information about Astral House. My Great Uncle passed away there as well in 1961.  We cannot find any records to say he was in a lunatic aslylum but family letters indicate that he was. We are at a bit of a loss really. If you can shed any light that would be fab.  cheers thank thank you