Local Knowledge Needed - Shenley Hospital

[CU]

Please could someone tell me, if someone died in

Shenley Hospital Elstree in the 1950's. Where would they be buried?

I know this hospital was treating the mentally ill.

Thank you.

[Rick]

Ideally, you could do with someone who worked there.   However, Shenley is equi-distant to St Albans and Barnet so I suppose that it is feasible that this person could have been buried in either place.

Some of Hertfordshire's mental hospitals were built to house Middlesex patients and records are kept at The London Metropolitan Archives.  Records for those that were administered by Herts, should be at HALS.

http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/leisure_heritage/libraries_archives_museums_galleries/lma/

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,24217.0.html

Here is a little background info for Shenley hospital from Chris Reynolds', excellent Genealogy in Hertfordshire site.

http://www.hertfordshire-genealogy.co.uk/data/topics/t070-long-stay-hospitals.htm

Here are the details for the department governing St Albans cemeteries.  They can be very helpful when trying to locate internments.

http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/leisure/parks/cemeteries.htm

This is all that I could find for Barnet.  It might be worth emailing them.

http://www.barnet.gov.uk/atoz.htm?type=82&filter=cvs

Other than this, I suspect that you will need a former staff member to answer your question.

Rick

[CU]

Thanks Rick for all the infomation. I have seen Chris Reynolds site and it is very good.

People don't like to talk about mental illness.

I will keep at it and hopefully find them.
Thank you

[Rick]

Cu

In order to reach folk who may have worked at Shenley who may be able to help with this.  It might be worth writing to the letters page of a local newspaper.

There's no need to be specific about the individual.  You could just ask to make contact with anyone who worked at the hospital in order to determine where someone who died there in 1955 might have been buried.

http://www.stalbansobserver.co.uk/aboutus/history/

Just a thought.

Rick

[CU]

Thanks for all your help in this. I will write and hope that someone can help me.

I just feel I must know what became of her.

[whittenbury]

Hi CU
First I would Try
Allum Lane, Elstree, BOREHAMWOOD, WD6 3PJ  020 8207 7497 I think this is the nearest.
2nd you could try
Carpenders Park Cemetery
Oxhey Lane, WATFORD, WD19 5RL This would be the case if they were registered for Middx
Or I would try
Watford
http://www.watford.gov.uk/ccm/content/leisure-and-community/cemeteries.en;jsessionid=6F6C34E5FDA6D40E466734AB52242A82
This is very close to where shenley was.
Try Allum lane I think they would at least point you in the right direction
I hope you do find what your looking for & let us know how you get on As I have never thought about this and my wife had Grt & Grt Grt Grandmothers die there in 52 & 70
Den

[CU]

Thanks Den, I have tried at Allum Lane Elstree but the first burial was in July 1962,

which is too late for my lady. I then tried Elstree church and they told me to try

Shenley Church. I have emailed them and they said they would take a look at the
 
register for me. I'm waiting, will let you know.

Cheers

[whittenbury]

Hope you do find something
should there be a grave, i am in Watford so dont mind having a look for a stone,if you wish.
Its a pity it has closed down because years ago my wife wrote to them asking about her 2 and got a lovely letter back about their illness (dimentia) in both cases, but they never mentioned the funerals
Den

[CU]

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/searches/subjectView.asp?ID=O77494

This link says there are records but I don't know how much they charge for looking at them.

She wasn't a local girl and there is not trace of her at home with any member in their graves.

If you know what I mean, so she should be there somewhere.

Thanks for the offer, I will keep you in mind if I can find her.