Metadata: Monthly diary of patients
Collection
- Country:
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Holding institution:
- Tyne and Wear Archives
- Holding institution (official language):
- Tyne and Wear Archives
- Postal address:
- Tyne and Wear Archives, Discovery Museum, Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4JA
- Phone number:
- 44(0)191 2772248
- Web address:
- https://twarchives.org.uk/
- Reference number:
- HO.SN/54/1
- Title:
- Monthly diary of patients
- Title (official language):
- Monthly diary of patients
- Creator/accumulator:
- St Nicholas Hospital, Gosforth
- Date(s):
- 1952/1958
- Language:
- English
- Extent:
- 1 items
- Type of material:
- Textual material
- Physical condition:
- Good
- Scope and content:
- This collection consists of a monthly diary of patients. At the back of the volume is a list of Jewish patients (named) and when they were admitted and discharged/died, plus total numbers of patients of each religion (CE, RC, NC, Jewish, Other).
- Archival history:
- Transferred to Tyne and Wear Archives as part of a regular document transfer process stipulated by national archival regulations
- Administrative/biographical history:
- The first public mental hospital in Newcastle, Wardens Close Lunatic Hospital, opened in 1767. Initially run more like a private asylum, a 1824 council investigation led to reforms under Dr Noel Smith and architect John Dobson, improving conditions with better facilities and gardens. Despite a shift to non-restraint and patient activities, overcrowding forced its closure in 1856. Pauper patients were then housed elsewhere until 1865, when Newcastle Corporation rented Bensham Asylum, soon also overcrowded. To resolve this, a new site at Coxlodge was developed, with the Newcastle upon Tyne Borough Lunatic Asylum opening in 1869. Patient numbers continued to grow, prompting expansions in the 1880s and 1890s, including new wards, a recreation hall, and staff housing. Further additions followed in 1913. During World War I, the site served as Northumberland No1 War Hospital. Post-war, the facility expanded recreationally but conditions remained harsh. In 1948, the hospital joined the NHS as St Nicholas Hospital. Continued overcrowding led to the 1956 opening of the Collingwood Clinic, aimed at providing smaller, more therapeutic wards. Its mission was to ensure early recovery and minimise patient time in the older facilities, while still recognising the need for long-term care for a minority of patients.
- Access points: locations:
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- Access, restrictions:
- Closed until 01/02/2058. Access restrictions may apply. Please ask a member of staff.
- Yerusha Network member:
- Tyne and Wear Archives
- Author of the description:
- Daniel Stoker; North East Museums; 2025
