Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum

[garethnash]

I think one of my ancestors was an inmate here in the 19th century for a murder committed in Aston Birmingham. He appears on the 1881 and 1891 census there and I was wondering if anyone knew of any available records from here?

Also if so what records are available?

Thanks!

[janan]

This is an excellent site for info on asylums, seems to be a fair amount about Broadmoor

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

Cheers Jan

[janan]

http://www.berksfhs.org.uk/journal/Jun2002/jun2002BroadmoorHospitalArchives.htm

Looks interesting
Jan

[garethnash]

Thanks but I think it will be a dead end for me as it states there:

"The problem of access to patient information is much more complex and unresolved. Medical records seem likely to remain closed for ever except to bona fide medical researchers. Exceptionally, and subject to medical counselling, such information may be interpreted to genuine next-of-kin. As a policy, the hospital will not engage in any discussion of named patients with anybody on a routine basis. The hospital has an indefinitely long duty of care to its patients and their families, which it takes very seriously. There is a body of opinion which considers that criminal lunatic non-medical records are so sensitive that whereas lunatic or criminal records are opened after three generations this is not sufficiently long to protect the descendants of Broadmoor patients. Four generations (125 years) has been proposed informally as a minimum closure period but no formal consideration has yet taken place."

[janan]

Well at least you know where you stand on this one
Cheers Jan

[garethnash]

Yeah thanks for the help though. There was some really interesting stuff on the Berkshire family history site on Broadmoor.

I may chase the information relating to his conviction. I have some references for his case etc so may be another line of investigation.

Thanks again for the help Jan!

Gareth

[janan]

Good luck with your search
Jan