sanitorium records lancaster.

[rob g]

hi, all, just wondering if there would be any records, census or otherwise, on the asylum  in lancaster. i am looking for any info on my g. mother,susan (susie) mitchell, nee wilson born circa 1902. who was was there from about 1935 to about 1948/49. she died there. from what i have been told by a g.aunt(dead now) she had a type of baby blues, but in those days when you were sent to an asylum it was hard to beat the system, and as with many others, she could not get out! some one in the family said, she escaped from it in the war when it was bombed. but i cannot find any ref to this. so just trying to find if there was any way to get some info on her. any help or site info would be a great help.. rob

[Barbara.H]

Hi Rob,

It sounds like she would have been in the Moor Hospital which was the 'mental' hospital as i suppose they would call it back then.
There are some records in the Lancashire record Office in Preston but you might struggle to get a look at them as they often try to keep medical stuff closed for a number of years to keep them confidential.

http://archivecat.lancashire.gov.uk/calmview/Overview.aspx

Have a look at these in the LRO index,  then I would advise you phone or email the LRO to see if they are open for viewing.

Also, just found this long but very interesting thread on another forum from people who have had relatives in the Moor Hospital and have tried to get the records.
http://www.GenesReunited.co.uk/boards.page/board/tips_board/thread/1245505?page=0

I'm not sure about the hospital being bombed, I live in Lancaster now & haven't heard any stories about that, but i could be wrong.

Good luck with your search
  Barbara

[JPMorran]

Does anyone know if there was a sanatorium for TB in Lancaster in the 1920's?
Janet M

[Barbara.H]

Hi Janet, I think there might have been one in north Lancaster near the junction of Barley Cop Lane and Powder House Lane - opposite the site which is now Lancaster & Morecambe Crematorium.

There was also an isolation hospital in the Marsh area of Lancaster - mentioned in this article from the Lancaster Guardian - that was replaced in 1934.
http://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/nostalgia/an-isolation-station-1-1172739

[Barbara.H]

Hi Janet, further to that, the isolation hospital on the Marsh was Luneside Sanatorium, which made the news in 1927 when a flood resulted in the deaths of three patients and the hospital matron. There is an advert in the old newspaper archive in 1918:
"Wanted.. probationers for two years fever and tuberculosis training... apply Matron, Luneside Sanatorium, Lancaster" [Yorkshire Evening Post, 27 November 1918]

So this may be the place that treated TB.

  Barbara

[JPMorran]

Thanks for that Barbara.  I have the military record for Charles Miles - he was hospitalised in 1922 diagnosed with TB and "proceeded to Sanatorium for treatment"".  Although his family lived in Preston, I found a death registration for a Charles Miles in Lancaster (1922) with correct age.  I am trying to confirm if this death is 'my' Charles Miles.
Janet

[MadaboutRoses1883]

Hi Janet, further to that, the isolation hospital on the Marsh was Luneside Sanatorium, which made the news in 1927 when a flood resulted in the deaths of three patients and the hospital matron. There is an advert in the old newspaper archive in 1918:
"Wanted.. probationers for two years fever and tuberculosis training... apply Matron, Luneside Sanatorium, Lancaster" [Yorkshire Evening Post, 27 November 1918]

So this may be the place that treated TB.

  Barbara

Hi Barbara,
Do you now if there is a newspaper report on the flood at the old Sanatorium that was on the Quay in Lancaster? I have recently become aware that my gr grandfather was one of the rescuers as he lived in Duke street, St Georges Quay. The family story goes that he had a dog which helped with the rescue of patients.
I'd love to know more about that, but could not find any further info.

[Barbara.H]

Hi, do you mean the flood in March 1907? There are a few general reports in the papers, but not in too much detail as there were storms all round the coast that week and the papers were writing summaries from the various places. They say the hospital was flooded by six or seven feet of water and nurses had to shift patients to the second floor and wait to be rescued, as the building was surrounded by water on all sides.

I'll take a look at the Lancaster Gazettes on microfilm next time I go to the library. The local paper will most likely have more detail and might have more local names.

  Barbara

PS just found this on the Morecambe Visitor's 'nostalgia' page
http://www.thevisitor.co.uk/news/nostalgia/looking-back-lune-s-huge-flood-1-7078011

[MadaboutRoses1883]

Thankyou Barbara. I thought it was the 1927 flood, but it could have been the earlier one in 1907? I think Duke street was very near to the Sanatorium and he shifted patients to safety. Of course all older relatives have now passed on so I cannot go back and ask now! I just remembered a few weeks ago what my mum told me about her granddad who lived on the Quay and the flood. Though she wouldn't have been born in 1907?
I do appreciate you looking and finding out more. Thankyou.