Workhouse and Lunatic Assylum

[MattD30]

Does anyone know where I might find records for Brighton Workhouse and Wivelsfield Lunatic Assylum for the 1850s-1900? In particular admission and discharge registers and info on patients/inmates?

My 3 x great aunt was in the workhouse on the 1881 census, described as a "lunatic" and is still there in 1891 but by that census she was described as an "imbicile" and I'd love to find out more about her. Her father (my 4 x great grandfather) died in the Lunatic Assylum and again I'd love to know more.

[Frances]

Hi,

In case you have not looked before you may like to browse this site.

http://www.workhouses.org.uk/

Frances

[janan]

Hi
This site is always worth a visit re asylums, but it is down for maintenance at the moment

http://www.mdx.ac.uk/WWW/STUDY/4_13_TA.htm

And here for information and pictures

http://www.countyasylums.com/mentalasylums/sussex.htm

I would think your best bet would be to  email the East Sussex Records Office and ask them what records they hold for the Sussex County Asylum

http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/localandfamilyhistory/esro/

Jan

[MattD30]

Hi,

In case you have not looked before you may like to browse this site.

http://www.workhouses.org.uk/

Frances

Hiya

Yep checked that already but it only seems to have the 1881 census entry for Brighton workhouse (which is actually how I found my relative in there!) and info on the history of the workhouse but not much about the location of records.

[MattD30]

Hi
This site is always worth a visit re asylums, but it is down for maintenance at the moment

http://www.mdx.ac.uk/WWW/STUDY/4_13_TA.htm

And here for information and pictures

http://www.countyasylums.com/mentalasylums/sussex.htm

I would think your best bet would be to  email the East Sussex Records Office and ask them what records they hold for the Sussex County Asylum

http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/localandfamilyhistory/esro/

Jan

Thanks for the links. Yes I was going to contact ESRO regarding Brighton Workhouse. I don't know if the records for Wivelsfield lunatic Assyum would be there or at the West Sussex Record Office though. Any ideas?

[janan]

Hi
The second link I gave says the records are held at East Sussex RO - although it was known as the Sussex County by 1897 a separate Asylum had been opened to cover West Sussex.
Jan

[Little Nell]

Search the A2A site for Sussex County Lunatic Asylum to see what ESRO has - minute books, annual reports, admission registers etc.  Patient records closed for 100 years after the date of the last document.

Nell

[MattD30]

Hi
The second link I gave says the records are held at East Sussex RO - although it was known as the Sussex County by 1897 a separate Asylum had been opened to cover West Sussex.
Jan

Thank you

[Roy G]

Hi
I wrote the early history about how the Brighton Workhouses were established and you can read it on the "My Brighton and Hove" Website

http://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html

Briefly I would like to point out that in the period that interests you (between 1850 - 1900 ) there were two workhouse locations.  The earlier one in Dyke Road Brighton opened circa 1822 and closed down in 1868.  Practically all the records for that establishment have been mislaid, some say deliberately because of a hint of mismanagement. 

You should have better luck with the records for the other workhouse in Elm Grove (1868 - mid 20th century) and as already you have already been advised, all the records that have been deposited should be found in the PRO at Kew and East Sussex Record Office.

Roy G