History St Luke's Hospital for Lunatics

1896 map of old street showing plan of hospital.

the first chief physician dr william battie renowned ‘an eccentric humorist’. believed ‘the patients of hospital shall not exposed publick view.’ medical treatment consisted of cold plunge baths shake lunatics out of insanity. system of non-restraint professed, manacles , other restraints used.

the hospital housed in converted foundry in windmill street, upper moorfields, close bedlam. designed george dance elder in 1750-1; after death son george dance younger succeeded him surveyor hospital. built 25 patients, enlarged , 1771 overcrowded. decision made build larger hospital on new site. design put out competition, novelty @ time. none of competition entries successful however, , dance asked design new building.

in 1786 hospital moved dance s purpose-built premises on old street, between bath st , city road roundabout. building had magnificent frontage of clamp brick, 500 feet (150 m) long, had central entrance, male wards left , female wards right. building contained single cells 300 patients, each small windows set high in wall, no heating, , loose straw on wooden bedsteads.

by 1865 had population of 150 160 patients, taken middle classes, original purpose of supporting paupers having been abandoned. proportion of cures @ st. luke s 67 70 per cent compared of 15 per cent @ pauper lunatic asylums .

behind main building 2 gardens exercise of less disturbed inmates, 1 men , women. more dangerous residents kept inside, or in cells. treatment regime consisted of cold plunge baths, , focus on gastrointestinal system administration of anti-spasmodics, emetics (to induce vomiting) , purgatives.

all patients transferred other institutions or homes in 1916, , buildings acquired bank of england become st luke s printing works, used printing bank notes until 1950s. building demolished in 1963.

in 1922 suggested psychiatric unit should instituted original st luke s charity in cooperation general hospital. led funding charity of both out-patient clinic , psychiatric in-patient ward @ middlesex hospital. new st luke s, third, opened @ woodside avenue, muswell hill, in 1930 princess helena victoria. variously known woodside nerve hospital, st luke s woodside hospital functional nervous disorders , 1948 st luke s woodside.

in 2011 nhs trust responsible st luke s woodside, camden , islington foundation trust, successively closed wards, leaving open occupational therapy unit , effecting closure stealth without consultation process required of formal closure proposals. site put sale.

the archive of st luke s spans 1750-2001 , hospital papers have been digitised wellcome library.