Dunston Lodge Lunatic Asylum

[Cavanaghs]

My G x 4 grandfather Ralph Weightman appears to have died in Dunston Lodge Lunatic Asylum in 1838 (Durham Records Online) with his death being registered in the Gateshead district as expected.

According to the BTs he was buried, aged 49, in St Alban's in Earsdon (Abode Dunston Lodge). The family were well established in Earsdon parish, especially Hartley so it seems pretty clear that I have the right man here.

What I'd like to know is why Ralph, a pitman in Hartley, would have been admitted to Dunston Lodge in the Gateshead area. Was no other asylum closer to Hartley? I know St George's in Morpeth was only established at a later date and that Dunston Lodge was a very small asylum.

Did Dunston Lodge specialise in any particular type of patient? Any ideas about why he might have been sent there? Do parish chest records exist for Earsdon parish that might refer to the cost etc of his treatment?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

[DORAN54]

Dunston Lodge

Dunston Road was formerly known as Asylum Lane. The Asylum stood on the site of the White House and the garage (formerly the Fire Station) and was a large mansion called Dunston Lodge owned by the well-known Tyneside family called Marley. General Marley leased it to Mr.J.E.Wilkman who opened it as an asylum. The venture prospered and in 1841 there were 84 persons housed there, increasing to 157 ten years later. It was one of the most advanced asylums in England and visitors came there from all parts of the world. Its cure rate was well above the results of any other asylum in the country. It gradually declined and the Lodge was eventually demolished in the late 1920s.

maybe he was sent there as it says the cure rate was well above average

[DORAN54]

www.studymore.org.uk/4_13_ta.htm
 you might find some thing at this site

[Cavanaghs]

Thanks Doran; the link is interesting. Something seems wrong here though.. why would a pitman be sent a good distance from his home to an excellent asylum in another county? The asylum figures show they only had a few hundred patients over many many years. Given how few asylum facilities there were at this time why might Ralph Weightman have been picked out for special treatment?!