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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Durham => Topic started by: flour on Sunday 28 August 05 10:53 BST (UK)

Title: Bensham Asylum, Gateshead
Post by: flour on Sunday 28 August 05 10:53 BST (UK)
Hello
Does anyone know anything about the Bensham Asylum around 1848.  My g g g grandfather died there at the age of 42 of dementia, he was a surgeon.
I Imagine that there is little known of this period as it closed in 1868 and patients were transfered to Dunston Asylum - possibly with any paperwork relating to Bensham. I am interested to know about the conditions and how the asylums were run at this time.
regards
Lorraine (flour)
Title: Re: Bensham Asylum, Gateshead
Post by: Valda on Sunday 28 August 05 11:16 BST (UK)
The proprietor of the asylum George Robinson wrote a book

George Robinson MD 1821-1875 Proprietor of Bensham Asylum

Robinson, G. 1859 On the prevention and treatment of mental disorders Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, & Roberts. 228 pages. Published 1859

 "in studying the nature, and endeavouring to check the progress of, mental disease, the physician must look beyond the precincts of the asylum... No one would expect to discover the causes of typhus in a fever hospital... the most useful field of study is that constituted by the circumstances... surrounding the masses from which their victims are taken. And in like manner must the science of mental pathology be pursued in its application to preventive medicine."

This website has some information on Bensham

http://www.mdx.ac.uk/www/study/4_13_TA.htm#Bensham

As does Tyne and Wear Archives

http://www.thenortheast.com/archives/index.html

They might know whether any patients records survive and if so with which record office - Northumberland? Durham?

Regards
Valda
Title: Re: Bensham Asylum, Gateshead
Post by: flour on Sunday 28 August 05 11:53 BST (UK)
Dear Valda
Thank you so much for your very quick reply and directing me to a great and informative web site
regards
Lorraine