County Asylum Newminster Morpeth

[molar]

Hi
Does anyone know if this was a "lunatic" asylum in 1916.

regards

Linda

[mrs louis]

 hi linda

to answer your question yes it was a "lunatic "asylum in 1916

and is now called ST George's Hospital

here is a few links if they are of any help

http://www.mdx.ac.uk/WWW/STUDY/4_13_Ta.htm#Northumberland%20and%20Durham

http://communities.northumberland.gov.uk/Morpeth_C13.htm


i hope this is of help

mrs louis

[molar]

Thanks
Now to find out why he died here when oral history had it that he died in a mining accident
regards
Linda

[Michael Dixon]

Linda, what was the man's name ?

Michael Dixon

[molar]

Hi Michael
His name was George Mason and he died 29 Nov 1916. The cause of death was given as "general paralysis of at least 6 months duration" There was not a Post mortem.  My husband's father said he was killed in a mining accident. When I looked at the death cert I thought of paralysis as we think of it today but looking at sites for medical terms it was used in insanity. 
regards
Linda

[Michael Dixon]

Linda,

I asked you for his name, to see if he was listed in coalmining fatalities ( www.dmm.org.uk)

The web site lists fatalities but not those injured.

In August 1916 there was a tragic accident when 13 men were killed in underground explosion in Woodhorn Colliery. No Masons listed.

( On Oral History....... my own contains many inaccuracies... be it fib or error, and some true facts.... about 50/50.... but I find that even the inaccuracies have some basis of fact....
I made a pilgrimage to Ireland ( County Mayo) to look out my mother's folk... true enough they were from Ireland, but from County Sligo.... even now some of my relatives refuse to accept the fact preferring the duff oral history ! )

Michael Dixon

[Irene B]

My great-aunt married in Feb 1916 at Ashington, Northumberland.  Her husband's occupation was 'Asylum Attendant', I assumed this to be St George's at Morpeth, but am not sure.

His name was George Albert Derby and he was from Boston in Lincolnshire.  After living in Northumberland for a few years they went back to Lincolnshire.  We have always wondered why he moved to the north east, whether he found the job once he got here or if he came because of the job.

Irene

[molar]

I did a little more research into "general paralysis" and now know it was the tertiary stage of syphilis.  I suppose saying he was killed in a mining accident was preferable.
We told my father-in-law of my findings this morning,and were unsure of what his reaction would be. In the past we have told him that in 1901 relatives lived at a certain address in 1901 only for him to say no they didn't they lived at such and such  He was born in 1929   Surprisingly he didn't dispute the findings but just said he'd never heard that tale. We wonder if perhaps there had always been a little mystery about the circumstances of his death.
regards
Linda