Blind Asylum at Spittal Tower, Newcastle

[alan.h]

In the 1841 census there is a ten year old named John Whitfield listed as a resident at the Blind Asylum in Spittal Tower in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Any information about this place would be welcome. For child residents, would there be information about their families and their health conditions anywhere? And how could such information be accessed?

Would there have been the possibility of  residents of the Asylum not actually being blind, but being there (even temporarilly) for other reasons?

This boys father died before he was born, and his mother then remarried. The age and name fit, as does the location - but there is no later mention of him being blind.

Thank you

[Mowsehowse]

In the 1841 census there is a ten year old named John Whitfield listed as a resident at the Blind Asylum in Spittal Tower in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Would there have been the possibility of  residents of the Asylum not actually being blind, but being there (even temporarily) for other reasons?

...... - but there is no later mention of him being blind.


Thank you

Not an expert but....

I am guessing entry would be restricted to the blind as the asylum would have been funded by others who would want their money spent "wisely", (so to speak).

You have used the 1841 census.... no mention of blindness in the later census details? That would be strange.

I would hope there should be documents at the local or county records office.  You might try an enquiry at the library.

[Ruskie]

I can’t find mention of this particular blind asylum, but others do mention that the residents are blind.

How many censuses do you have John on? What was his occupation?

Whitfield is a common surname in the area and there are likely to be several Johns. 

[stanmapstone]

See http://www.rootschat.com/links/01pk5/

The Royal Victoria Asylum for the blind was established from a fund to mark the coronation of Queen Victoria in 1837 and was originally located at the Spital before moving to premises in Northumberland Street.
 https://co-curate.ncl.ac.uk/royal-victoria-school-for-the-blind-1838-1985/
Stan

[JenB]

Tyne & Wear Archives hold some records relating to the Royal Victoria School for the Blind.
https://twarchives.org.uk/collection/user-guides-and-information (check on School records - Newcastle upon Tyne) but few go back to dates that would be relevant to your enquiry.

[AllanUK]

In case anyone is interested, attached image is a drawing of the blind asylum when it was on Northumberland Street.

[stanmapstone]

You can see it on the 1/500 Town Plan at https://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/424856/564693/13/100511

Stan 

[alan.h]

Thanks everyone.

I was asking for a cousin in Canada so will pass on all the helpful replies.

Again, many thanks.

Alan