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Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Wales => Glamorganshire => Topic started by: rebekahm28 on Monday 23 March 09 20:35 GMT (UK)
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Just been told my great grandparents ran a 'mental home' on Nolton St, Bridgend. My great grandad Percy Price died in 1941 so it would be in the 1930s. Does anyone know anything about this? I visited the house last summer, but hadn't known it was used as a home for the mentally ill, I just noticed it was a large detached house. Percy was a miner with a poor education, so it surprises me he ran this business. After housing his wife and 3 kids, there would only have been a couple of rooms left to use as bedrooms for patients so we're not talking about a huge home. And my great gran did fortune telling from the cellar!!
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Hi Rebekah
I hope you get an answer here but you could try asking the Bridgend and District Local History Society (scroll down the link until you get to the relevant bit)
http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/green/indexb.html#bridgendhistory
Kind regards, Arranroots ;)
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Assuming you don't know the area, Nolton Street is one of the main streets in Bridgend. - all shops and restaurants today, and nothing I would remotely consider to be an asylum of any sort? I'm sure the majority of the shops there are as they were way back on the thirties.
Would the ''mental home'' be a sort of respite/care home? I don't think there are any residential buildings in that street, but there are one or two side streets off it with some largish houses that could fit the description - see Chapel Street, Free School Court, and Edward Street.
There is a Lloyds Phamarcy on the top corner by some traffic lights that would fit the sort of premises I would associate with that type of ''business''.
Don't supopse you have a house number?
There was the old Bridgend General Hospital that was not a million miles away (although not in Nolton Street), and there is still a hospital called Glanryhd just outside Bridgend that is a secure unit.
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We visited last summer, I do know the number but wont post it. I have photos of the house, just at the time we ddint know it was used as a mental home, we just thought it was a large house. It was not an asylum; it was a family home where my great grandparents took in people either as respite carers, or elderly people with mental health issues.
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No problem - wasn't sure if you had visited the area and could have possibly got a photo of the relevant place as I'll be in Bridgend Saturday evening.
You may want to write to/phone Glanrhyd Hospital. Archives Network Wales suggests they may hold records from the relevant time period as well to give you a little background (assuming the respite home you are on about had any sort of connection to Glanrhyd back then):
http://www.archivesnetworkwales.info/cgi-bin/anw/fulldesc_nofr?inst_id=33&coll_id=76330&expand=
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Hi,
I have just received the death certificate of my Gt-Gt-Gt-Gt Uncle, Pellegrino Mazzei.
He died in the "Lunatic Asylum, Bridgend, Newcastle Higher" on 25th March 1869, aged 59.
He was admitted to the asylum on 12th October 1866. He was living with his brother in Cardiff when he was admitted, so I assume that there was no asylum in Cardiff, and Bridgend was the closest one at the time.
Glamorgan Record Office have his patient notes, and I am about to order them.
Thanks,
Darin, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
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Oh, it may have been the same then! I visited the house that my great grandparents lived in, Im 99% sure that it was the asylum/mental home, and that they didnt own another premises...the only strange thing is that they had 3 children living there, which would be unusual! So Im considering that it may have been some sort of respite home for elderly mental health patients, or a low-level asylum for people whose needs weren't high (anxiety, nerves etc). In 1941 my great grandad shot himself in the shed at the bottom of the garden, so perhaps it all got a bit too much!
I cant find record of another asylum in Bridgend, BUT perhaps there was one.
Rebekah.
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There were two "Mental" Hospitals in the Bridgend area, one was Parc Gwyllt Hospital (which I think would have come under the parish of Coity Higher), it has since been demolished and Parc Prison is now on its site. The other was Angelton, later renamed Glan Rhyd Hospital (possible under the parish of Newcastle Higher), it is still in use. Both were/are within 3 miles of Bridgend town.
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There were 3 mental hospitals in Bridgend.
1) Parc - now Parc Prison.
2) Glanrhyd - still there
3) Pen Y Fai - now demolished and is a housing estate.
Glanrhyd and Pen Y Fai hospitals were on oposite sides of the main road from Bridgend to Aberkenfig / Brynmenyn area. It is possible that they would come under Newcastle Higher.
Came across this from another posting...
Glamorgan County Asylum
Opened at Angleton, Bridgend, 4.11.1864 (Renamed Glanrhyd by or in 1948) map
1881 Census: Glamorgan County Lunatic Asylum, Near Bridgend, Newcastle Higher, Glamorgan, Wales. Henry Turnbull Pringle (married, aged 40) was the Physician Superintendent. His wife doe not appear to have been at home on census night and a nurse was caring for his one year old son.
1887 An additional hospital, Parc Gwyllt opened nearby. (renamed Parc by or in 1948) map (Angleton can be seen on the west border of the map)
Known as Angelton and Parc Gwyllt from 1887 to 1922
Known as Glamorgan County Mental Hospital from 1922 to 1948
1901 There is an entry for Glamorgan County Lunatic Asylum, Higher Coyty in the 1901 Census
1905 civil parish of Bridgend formed out of portions of the parishes of Newcastle and Coity.
1911 Encyclopedia Britannica: Bridgend (Welsh name Penybont-ar-Ogwr) is a market town straddling the river Ogwr. 1901 population of urban district: 6,062. "Just outside the town at Angelton and Parc Gwyllt are the Glamorgan county lunatic asylums."
1934 Penyfai, a new hospital for admissions, opened on the Glanrhyd site
1948: Glanrhyd and Parc and Penyfai became Morgannwg Hospital
In 1979, Morgannwg Hospital consisted of Glanrhyd Hospital (416 beds) and Penyfai (161 beds), both at Bridgend, CF31 4LN, Mid Glamorgan, and Parc Hospital (845 beds), Bridgend, CF35 6AP
Parc and Penyfai are closed. Glanrhyd Hospital is active
Source... http://www.mdx.ac.uk/WWW/STUDY/4_13_TA.htm#Bridgend
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Yes I can confirm what Achilles has written. I had an aunt who worked in Glanrhyd.
Pen Y Fai was for milder patients who had mental health problems and treatment was for short stay patients, say having had a nervous breakdown or a loss in the family. Glanrhyd was for more long-term patients.
I believe patients who needed secure residency were sent to the Parc.
I am talking 1970's here.
Steven
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I was looking at the District County Lunatic Asylum on 1901 census on Ancestry, Glamorgan, Higher Coity and noted that it was situated at Parc Gwyllt, Coity, Bridgend; noted also that it was in the ecclesiastical parish of "Coity,with Nolton, St Mary (part of)"... perhaps it was not Nolton St, but Nolton, St Mary... I haven't found it on the 1911 census yet.
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Thanks all, this is appreciated and Ive copied everything down for future reference. Im seriously considering Percy may have been a client/inmate (unsure of correct term) and the children were told he was away working. On his all childrens birth certs and his marriage cert he was always a coal miner/hauler. Then he died in 1941. If 81 Nolton St wasn't used as a care home, and Im thinking now it doesnt look like it, then he may well have been a patient somewhere for a while. Typical of our family not to talk of depression.
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My Grandmother Louisa Edwards was a nurse at the Bridgend mental Hospital see the 1901 Census page ref RG 13/5049 Higher Newcastle Bridgend area refers. A lot of the patients are listed by initials only plus their place of birth and approx age. May be of help
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I have found a 'P P' from Newcastle Higher (Aberkenfig) in the asylum. The age is wrong as my great grandad would have only been 11 yrs of age, but he may have been there in 1911. And its a brilliant idea for other people to try. I never thought of searching under initials!! I'll try that for my other brick walls too, thanks!
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Rebeka, Also found a book written about Morgannwg Hospital, it might be Doctor Marshall Annears wife that wrote it, I will look out for it myself.
Doreen Annear - The story of Morgannwg hospital Doreen Annear
The story of Morgannwg hospital (1-872808-37-9 / 1872808379)
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Hi Rebeka, Regarding mental home in Bridgend. In the early 70s I was a patient at Morgannwg Hospital (Glanrhyd and Pen Y Fai ) I was in Glanrhyd.
The head Psychiatrist ( Medical Superintendant) then who was my Psych. was
DOCTOR MARSHALL WILFRED ANNEAR. Consultant. Psychiatrist,. Psychiatric
You can Google him too, but he passed on in 1986....Great Guy.
Cushti Baxt shey:)
If you go to Archive Wales and look up...this will give you some info.. .
Glamorgan Record Office
Glamorgan County Lunatic Asylum/Glamorgan County Mental Hospital/Glanrhyd Hospital records
Reference code(s): GB 0214 DHGL
The three buildings were called Morgannwg Hospital, with Angelton being renamed as Glanrhyd Hospital (the name it still retains), and Parc Gwyllt abbreviated to Parc Hospital. The Morgannwg Hospital Management committee was appointed by the Welsh Hospital Board to oversee the running of the hospital. Recent events have led to the closure and demolition of Parc Hospital and later Penyfai Hospital. The only remaining building is Glanrhyd Hospital, which was the original asylum built in 1864. It is currently administered by the Bridgend and District NHS Trust.
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Many thanks for replying to my message. Im thinking he was probably a patient, as I cant see when he would have done all the necessary training or what time-line he could have worked there. He appears to have been a miner most of his life, but I think there would have been a stigma within the family if he was a patient. His death entry is non-existant in the BMD indexes, he died 1941. Ive been told he shot himself BUT this is unconfirmed. Thankyou.
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The death of a Percy PRICE in Bridgend is recorded in the March quarter of 1943 - Volume 11a Page 71. He was aged 54.
If there was an inquest, it might have delayed the registration of his death?
Kind regards, Arranroots ;)
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Oh.my.Lord. Do you know, I checked 1941 and a year either side and I re-checked recently, never thought of checking 1943. It may be him, I'll order the cert. My grandmother was adamant he died in 1941 so I just presumed the death entry would be 1941! We scoured the graveyard for a stone too but couldnt find one so it may have been removed, we were only over in Bridgend for the day so couldnt hang around. I'll order this cert, you are a star!!!
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I was worried that the 1943 chap might be too young to be yours - hope it turns out to be him!
A ;)
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My great grandad was born 1889 so it looks like it could be him :) the 1943 year is two years out but perhaps my grandmother was mistaken, or maybe the inquest was complicated. x
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Yes I can confirm what Achilles has written. I had an aunt who worked in Glanrhyd.
Pen Y Fai was for milder patients who had mental health problems and treatment was for short stay patients, say having had a nervous breakdown or a loss in the family. Glanrhyd was for more long-term patients.
I believe patients who needed secure residency were sent to the Parc.
I am talking 1970's here.
Steven
sorry to disappoint the writer, but i worked at glanrhyd hospital from 1969
until 2006..penyfai was not as you say for the milder illnesses, in fact penyfai WAS the admission ward for all 3 of the hospitals mentioned, during the 1960/70s
...muldoon
Moderator comment: two subsequent posts removed from this thread - they were discussing matters that were too personal and too recent to be detailed on Rootschat. Please remember to keep your posts general unless they deal with matters that can accurately be termed "history". Thanks.
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Hi Healey, i read that you worked at the hosp. in those years do you know how i can access info about my stay there and my mothers in those years?
thanks
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I found this on the web, when I actually caled the hospital i was told that they did not keep records from 1969/70s.
Does any one know how to access records from this hospital?
thanks
Glamorgan Archives: Glamorgan County Lunatic Asylum/Glamorgan County Mental Hospital/Glanrhyd Hospital records
Glamorgan County Lunatic Asylum, Glamorgan County Mental Hospital and Glanrhyd Hospital records including administrative records, 1864-1990; patient records, 1864-1956; other medical records, 1864-1960...
2 Glamorgan Archives: Lunatic Asylums
Records of Lunatic Asylums, 1718-1922: County Lunatic Asylum, title deeds, minutes and reports, finance, correspondence, and buildings; Glamorgan County Lunatic Asylum, (Angelton) Bridgend; Parc Gwyllt, Bridgend; plans; returns; United House Asylum, minutes, agreements, letter books, plans, and mis...
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Interesting.
I came across this site by chance as I was investigating the so-called lunatic asylums in the Bridgend area.
I was an inpatient at Pen-y-fai in March 1973 at the age of 12 as I was a gifted child who had just been diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy. I was in Coity Ward which was known as ‘Male A’ and downstairs; whereas Ogmore Ward was ‘Male B’ and upstairs. Glanrhyd had wards identified by numbers.
Glanrhyd and Parc are mentioned, but does anyone remember Cefn Hirgoed which was somewhere by McArthur Glen not far from Parc by what was the road towards Sarn via Pen-y-cae before the motorway was built?
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cefn hirgoid was a fever hospital
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I found this on the web, when I actually caled the hospital i was told that they did not keep records from 1969/70s.
Does any one know how to access records from this hospital?
thanks
Glamorgan Archives: Glamorgan County Lunatic Asylum/Glamorgan County Mental Hospital/Glanrhyd Hospital records
Glamorgan County Lunatic Asylum, Glamorgan County Mental Hospital and Glanrhyd Hospital records including administrative records, 1864-1990; patient records, 1864-1956; other medical records, 1864-1960...
2 Glamorgan Archives: Lunatic Asylums
Records of Lunatic Asylums, 1718-1922: County Lunatic Asylum, title deeds, minutes and reports, finance, correspondence, and buildings; Glamorgan County Lunatic Asylum, (Angelton) Bridgend; Parc Gwyllt, Bridgend; plans; returns; United House Asylum, minutes, agreements, letter books, plans, and mis...
A handlist is available at the Glamorgan Record Office. Which is now Glamorgan Archives, see link
http://www.glamro.gov.uk/
Cas
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I found this info. on the web:
The hospital was founded in 1864 as the Glamorgan County Lunatic Asylum, Bridgend. This establishment was known as Angelton after the setting up of a branch asylum at Parc Gwyllt in 1887. In 1922 the name of the hospital was changed to Glamorgan County Mental Hospital. After it became part of the National Health Service in July 1948, it was renamed Morgannwg Hospital, Angelton becoming Glanrhyd Hospital, and Parc Gwyllt becoming the Parc Hospital.
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Hi Marona,
Not read throu the whole thread, but if you are looking for records to 'Mental Health Hospitals' in this time frame, best contact the link. Am sure they would be there, but if not they will let you know where these records are kept to access, usually a fee. Just an enquiry email is needed and if you wish any info it will be passed after payment.
Cas
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thank you cas, i will get in touch:)
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Hi
I've also discovered that a relative was a patient at Angleton Bridgend during 1911 .
Morgan Merriman date of death given as June 1912 aged 40 condition described as Imbecile :(
Paperfrock
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What an awful description!
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Finding more info
Name of creator(s): Glamorgan County Lunatic Asylum; Glamorgan County Mental Hospital; Glanrhyd Hospital
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history: Before the 19th century, care of the mentally ill was mainly provided in the home, but from the 1840s, the Glamorgan Quarter Sessions paid for certain patients to be accommodated at Vernon House Asylum, Briton Ferry. The Glamorgan County Lunatic Asylum at Angelton, Bridgend, did not open until November 1864. The asylum was managed by a committee of visitors appointed by the Quarter Sessions. Accommodation for 350 patients was initially provided at Angelton, but it soon became apparent that this was inadequate to meet the demands made upon it. In 1887 a new building was erected at Parc Gwyllt, Bridgend. Responsibility for the administration of these two institutions was inherited by the new Glamorgan County Council in 1889 and the name later changed to the Glamorgan County Mental Hospital. A further hospital was opened in 1934, named Penyfai, which dealt with admissions. In July 1948, the hospital became part of the National Health Service. The three buildings were called Morgannwg Hospital, with Angelton being renamed as Glanrhyd Hospital (the name it still retains), and Parc Gwyllt abbreviated to Parc Hospital. The Morgannwg Hospital Management committee was appointed by the Welsh Hospital Board to oversee the running of the hospital. Recent events have led to the closure and demolition of Parc Hospital and later Penyfai Hospital. The only remaining building is Glanrhyd Hospital, which was the original asylum built in 1864. It is currently administered by the Bridgend and District NHS Trust.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract: Glamorgan County Lunatic Asylum, Glamorgan County Mental Hospital and Glanrhyd Hospital records including administrative records, 1864-1990; patient records, 1864-1956; other medical records, 1864-1960
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I have a relative who was admitted to Pen Y Fai in the 1940s/early 1950s and died there in the 70's. Could you advise please how I might be able to access records? Are there any photographs of the hospital or the patients?
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Paper frock could you tell me where you found the 1911 entry please
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Hi Cas, I am wondering did you manage to get any info from the site you found. I am looking for info on my family...trying to do a family tree, alsp my mum was a patient in Morganng Hospital in bridgend:)
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When I started this post it was for my great grandfather who had allegedly spent time in some sort of 'mental home' or worked in one, although that is dubious. Recently found out that his grandmother died in Bridgend asylum in 1911. So I wonder if something was running in the family. Does anyone know if the Bridgend asylum records are easily acccessible?
Valleygirl, Find my Past have the 1911 census online.
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Thank you Rebekah
I am aware that Find my past has the 1911 Census but having spent more than two hours trying to find the Glamorgan County Asylum on the site I gave up, Tried again later and each search came back with no results until I went back to the 1901 census selected the name of a worker then did the same name search for 1911 when lo and behold it appeared, confusingly with the same details I had initially entered but then I discovered that all the inmates were listed by initials only so it appears that the only way to confirm the actual inmate is to get the original medical documents.
Regards
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Post removed, wrong info given from family.