Friern Barnet Lunatic Asylum, 1892

[hurworth]

Thanks to the improved GRO records I now have a record of death for Catherine Sarah Fox who died at the Friern Barnet Lunatic Asylum on 10th January 1892.   Her age is stated to be 65 years.

It says "no profession" and "University College Hospital, Gower St" under Rank or Profession.  I'm thinking this is likely to be where she was admitted from originally.  She had mostly lived in the St Pancras/Camden area.

She died of paralysis and pneumonia.

Anyway, this may help me find her on the 1891 census.

Are hospital records from this hospital available at all? 

[hurworth]

Oh my goodness.  And there she is, in 1891, as C S F, married, aged 65.  A lunatic.

I'm feeling a bit down now.

[Bookbox]

Are hospital records from this hospital available at all?

This hospital was a Middlesex County Asylum and was also known as Colney Hatch. The records are at London Metropolitan Archives, under H12/CH. They are not online.

Here's a summary of the holdings ...
http://www.aim25.ac.uk/cgi-bin/vcdf/detail?coll_id=11805&inst_id=118

... and here's a link to the LMA catalogue entry with full details ...
http://search.lma.gov.uk/LMA_DOC/H12_CH.PDF

For female patients, I believe there are admission registers, but no case-books between about 1880 and 1915.

This hospital was recently redeveloped into a complex of luxury apartments in extensive grounds ...
http://ezitis.myzen.co.uk/friern.html

[hurworth]

Thank you bookbox.

By "feet" of records, what are measuring? 

[Bookbox]

The linear space taken up by the records along the shelves is said to be 80.53 metres. (Is that what you're asking?)

[hurworth]

That is a lot of records.

Page 37 of the PDF may answer some questions one day, such as her religion.   

[jonw65]

According to the Lunacy Patients Admission Registers, 1846-1912 (on ancestry)
Cath S Fox was admitted to Colney Hatch on 19 March 1883. Died 10 Jan 92 (as you know)

Creed register for Pancras Workhouse
admitted 8 March 1883
Fox S. Catherine
year born - 1826
married or single - M
from whence admitted - U. C. Hospital
religious creed - RC
informant - Woodwell
occupation - Nil
no. of ward - Insane (is dittoed from entry above)
discharged - To Colney Hatch 19/3/83

Looking at the LMA pdf - link from Bookbox -
possible sources of info include
H12/CH/B/11/025
Case book for female patients admitted Jun 1882-Jul 1883
Nos. 8,514-8,807, indexed.
New Series No.13.
See H12/CH/B/11/82 for continuations of entries

H12/CH/B/46/041
Reception orders, medical certificates etc., for female patients Nos.8,701-8,800 admitted Mar-Jun 1883.
No papers for cases 8,731, 8,784, 8,797-8,798 or for patients still in hospital in 1902

John

[jonw65]

Order of Removal from St Pancras, 1883
Catherine Sarah Fox
- the said pauper is the lawful wife of John Fox now absent from her

In the London Poor Law Records on ancestry,
Camden/St Pancras/Settlement Papers/Settlement and Relief 1883
(images 262-5)

and again, images 357-359
To the Guardians of the Poor of St Giles in the Fields + St George Bloomsbury
Catherine Sarah Fox, 57, a Pauper Lunatic..

[jonw65]

Brief settlement report in St Pancras

Catherine Sarah Fox, age 57
Date of Case 8 March 1883
Cause of Chargeability - Destitute

Admitted to Workhouse 8 March 1883
From U C Hospital 1 week

Residences out of the Parish -
from 53 Foley St 12 weeks
36 Gt Coram St 7 years
rented House

Occupation of Head of Family - Carpenter
Husband John 53 Foley St