Lunatic Asylum. Information required please.

[Steve C]

I have just found a newspaper article from the Leicester Journal in July 1870. It relates to a Mr Richard Banbury being summoned to court to show why he should not contribute to the maintenance of his child in the Lunatic Asylum. The case was adjourned till Friday.

Unfortunately I can find no further mention regarding the outcome or who the child might have been.

Apologies in advance if these questions have been raised before, but where was the Lunatic Asylum and does anyone know if there are any records available for research?

Many thanks Steve

[AlanBoyd]

The original buildings of Leicester University are built on the site of the Leicestershire County Asylum. That probably encompasses David Attenborough’s former home (when he was a child).

[AlanBoyd]

side-by-side map view linked below. Looking at the maps I see that in fact the Fielding-Johnson Building (was the admin centre when I was there) IS the lunatic asylum. It all makes sense now.

https://tinyurl.com/wtk24pzu

added: College House (see modern map) was the Attenborough residence.

[ciderdrinker]

Hello
I had a quick look at the UK Lunatic admissions 1846-1921 on Ancestry
There is an Elizabeth Banbury admitted 29th June 1870 from Leicester Died 5 Jan 1887

And a Charlotte 17 June 1865 but she recovered 13 Jan 1866
I think your child is Elizabeth ,the 1871 census gives a birth of 1847 She is single ,no occupation born Leicester idiot.
This is only slightly out with the 1861 census
Leicester Peacock Lane
Richard Banbury 42 harness maker Beeby
Clara 49 Saddington
Charles 20 sign makers apprentice Leicester
Elizabeth 16 shoe binder
William 12
Harriet 6

The Towers Hospital was the Lunatic Asylum and was built Sep 1869
www.countyasylums.co.uk/the-towers-humberstone/

The patient records from 1869 onwards are at Leicester Archives  ,Wigston Magna
Leicester
England
LE18 2AH
recordoffices@leics.gov.uk

They are closed for 100 years but you have plenty of leeway

Good Luck

Ciderdrinker

[Steve C]

The original buildings of Leicester University are built on the site of the Leicestershire County Asylum. That probably encompasses David Attenborough’s former home (when he was a child).

side-by-side map view linked below. Looking at the maps I see that in fact the Fielding-Johnson Building (was the admin centre when I was there) IS the lunatic asylum. It all makes sense now.

https://tinyurl.com/wtk24pzu

added: College House (see modern map) was the Attenborough residence.

Many thanks Alan for your two replies and for the details and the link you have provided.

Steve 

[Steve C]

Hello
I had a quick look at the UK Lunatic admissions 1846-1921 on Ancestry
There is an Elizabeth Banbury admitted 29th June 1870 from Leicester Died 5 Jan 1887

And a Charlotte 17 June 1865 but she recovered 13 Jan 1866
I think your child is Elizabeth ,the 1871 census gives a birth of 1847 She is single ,no occupation born Leicester idiot.
This is only slightly out with the 1861 census
Leicester Peacock Lane
Richard Banbury 42 harness maker Beeby
Clara 49 Saddington
Charles 20 sign makers apprentice Leicester
Elizabeth 16 shoe binder
William 12
Harriet 6

The Towers Hospital was the Lunatic Asylum and was built Sep 1869
www.countyasylums.co.uk/the-towers-humberstone/

The patient records from 1869 onwards are at Leicester Archives  ,Wigston Magna
Leicester
England
LE18 2AH
recordoffices@leics.gov.uk

They are closed for 100 years but you have plenty of leeway

Good Luck

Ciderdrinker

Thank you very much Ciderdrinker for your comprehensive reply and the links you provide.

Richard Banbury had three daughters as far as I am aware Mary Ann born circa 1840, Elizabeth born 1845 and Harriet born circa 1855. I am not sure who the Charlotte you mention is, not a name I am familar with. The 1861 census names and information are correct.

I appreciate you taking the time to research and post your findings. Thank you.

Steve 

[Annie65115]

If you can get to the Leicester records office, you should be able to review the asylum records for this time.

My ancestor was one of the first to be moved into the asylum when the old county asylum closed and patients from there were transferred. She lived there for the rest of her life - around 20 years. The admission register is available to view. I've also been able to read her medical records - the doctor wrote something in them every 6-12 months. I was also able to read the records of other people that were written on the same page. I even had the option of reading the findings of the post-mortem held when she died (in 1884), but for me that was an unnecessary step too far.

[Steve C]

Thank you for your reply Annie65115 

I live around 90 miles away from LRO. I try to visit my Grandfathers grave at St Marys church in Lutterworth once a year and I have been trying to tie in a trip to LRO during the same trip but it has never been possible. Think it may require an overnight stay in Leicester to accomplish what I want to do, hopefully I will manage to do that later this year 

Thanks again Steve

[Pheno]

Leicester Uni has an Attenborough Tower which, until recently, housed a Paternoster Lift - one of those with no doors that goes right over the top.

Pheno