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
St George's Hospital
Set up when the entire medical staff of the Westminster Hospital resigned in a dispute concerning the new location for that hospital. St George's was established in Knightsbridge for the country ai...
3 memorials
Percy Lane Oliver
Founder of the first voluntary blood donor service. Born in Fish Street, St Ives, Cornwall. In 1921, he helped found the Camberwell division of the British Red Cross Society, and conceived the idea...
1 memorial
Sir Frederick Treves
Born Dorchester. Died Lausanne, Switzerland. Surgeon, famous as physician to the Elephant Man. The Who named it site provides a lot of information, but no picture. However, our Picture Source, The...
1 memorial
5 Wishes
This is a bit of a puzzle. We've found several websites with the name, either a healthcare programme or a 'living will' for people with terminal illnesses. There must have been some other group res...
1 memorial
1 memorial
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