A priory for the Order of the Star of Bethlehem, built in 1247 on Bishopsgate at Liverpool Street, started admitting mental patients in 1357. This was probably the world's first institution to specialise in mental illness. It developed into a horrible place, known as Bedlam, dedicated to the commitment of the insane. In 1676 it moved to the London Wall site and it was this building that was adorned with the Cibber statues of Raving and Melancholy Madness. In 1815 Bedlam moved to the St George's Fields site (at that time owned by the City of London) in Southwark and, when in 1930 it moved out to a site near Beckenham, the Southwark buildings became the Imperial War Museum.
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Bethleham Hospital 1&2
Commemorated ati
Bethlehem Hospital - first
Site of the first Bethlehem Hospital 1247 - 1676. The Corporation of the City...
Bethlehem Hospital - second
Site of the second Bethlehem Hospital, 1676 -1815. The Corporation of the Cit...
Gift from Lord Rothermere
This plaque was unveiled a second time, during the 75th anniversary celebrati...
Harmsworth - IWM
In 1926 Harold Harmsworth, the first Viscount Rothermere, bought the grounds ...
Other Subjects
Chelsea Physic Garden
Originally established in 1673 as The Apothecaries Garden. The word ‘physic’ in this context means ‘healing’. In 1983 the garden became a registered charity and opened to the public for the first t...
1 memorial
Edith Louisa Cavell
Edith Cavell was born on 4 December 1865 in Swardeston in Norfolk. At the age of 20 she entered the nursing profession, training at the London Hospital 1896 - 1901. Assistant Matron at the Shoredit...
War dead, WW1
4 memorials
Cedric Keith Simpson
Forensic pathologist. Born Brighton. When Simpson became interested in forensics Bernard Spilsbury was practically the only other person in the field. Spilsbury was not interested in training other...
1 memorial
City Pest House
From Islington:The Pest House was built in 1594, in the fields where Bath Street is now situated. It served to isolate those suffering from such incurable or infectious diseases as leprosy and the ...
1 memorial
1 memorial
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