Lunatic Asylum

[miggs 191]

Would any one know if it is possible to access Records from 1891 From Moulsford Lunatic Asylum Cholsey      Berks ?As it's over 120 years ago I wondered if access would be allowed but have no idea where to start looking.Thanks.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

[nanny jan]

Probably best place to start would be the county archives:

http://www.berkshirerecordoffice.org.uk/


Nanny Jan

[suek2075]

The archives are held by Berkshire Record Office under the reference DH10.

A little bit of information about the asylum at http://www.berksfhs.org.uk/cms/Berkshire-Places/moulsford.html.

You may be able to request copies - I got copies from the very helpful Lothian Health Service for a patient at an asylum in Midlothian who died in 1912.

[newburychap]

The Archivist, Mark Stevens, has published a book on the Fairmile Asylum at Cholsey.  The records are held at the BRO.

[miggs 191]

Thank you.
She was a well to do individual who lived with her daughter and I guess had a form of senile dementia. She was an inmate when she died so would there have been a local cemetery that they would have used ?

[phsvm]

I heard Mark Stevens give a talk on the Fairmile Hospital only a few weeks ago.  Very interesting, especially as my grandmother was a nurse there in 1901 and the friend I went with now lives in one of the appartments that have been created in the old building.

I would e-mail Mark and ask for his help.  He'll be able to point you in the right direction.

[miggs 191]

Thank you every one. You have been a great help.   

[ribbo39]

Hi miggs 191,

"She was an inmate when she died so would there have been a local cemetery that they would have used ?"

The Oxfordshire FHS have transcribed the parish records for Cholsey and they contain Cholsey Asylum Burials
(Fair Mile Hospital Burial Registers) for the years 1894 to 1917.

What I'm not sure is where they were buried - the place is only listed as "Berks Asylum"

Alan

[miggs 191]

Update,
To all who who made suggestions. I have been in contact with the Records Office and they are pointing me in the right direction.

For any one else researching, as the records are over 100 years old, they can be viewed if they have the relevant books.If it is a private patient(mine might be) they will look it up for you.
Thank you again for all help and advice. M.