Netherne Mental Asylum

joey: 24th Jun 2006 - 22:33 GMT

looks more like a 'long' forgotten bramble choked field, until you took these photos. now it is never to be forgotten. nice work. do the trees not bloom in this locale? after all it is summertime.

jack: 25th Jun 2006 - 04:22 GMT

i once was lost in a mental asylum and drifted from room to room. i spoke with abe lincoln and rudy valentino, it was by far the most craziest place i've ever been to and the women walk around with hospital gown on and no undies and they dont cover up.

Simon Cornwell: 28th Jun 2006 - 12:51 GMT

These pictures were taken in January hence the sheer bleakness of everything. Even in the midst of winter, the field was choked with brambles and nettles, so who knows if there's more under the undergrowth.

paige: 13th Jan 2007 - 16:31 GMT

i live in netherne and have beenin the grave yard a few times i have thought my house was haunted and still do allthough itis spooky it isnt scary bacause they have caused no harm. the graves in there are weird altoug u can only see 5 graves onthe slabe there is many more

Ian Spencer: 1st Feb 2007 - 13:20 GMT

I trained as a psychiatric nurse at Netherne (Sept. 1979-March 1984 - which included a stint at the nearby Redhill General to to my SRN training).
The Graveyard was in a similar state even then. There were also remnants of the old farms - poultry sheds, orchard. Generally, its a really lovely part of the world. I used to spend many a happy hour wandering quiet country lanes. Then not even all the staff knew where the graveyard was. I was told about it and then found it almost by accident. It was quite a nice place to work - although fairly awful for hundreds of institutionalised patients.

Imelda Pentony: 21st Mar 2007 - 23:51 GMT

Having trained at Netherne as a psychiatric nurse in the late 60s, I too stumbled across the cemetry by accident. i was actually picking blackberries along the hedgerows in Woodplace Lane . There was very little traffic along that lane then and it was a joy to take long rambles around the area of Netherne hospital.I once heard the old cemetry was a favourite place for courting couples after closing time at the Social Club which is nearby.Perhaps it wasnt so overgrown with brambles and nettles then!

Caroline: 27th Mar 2007 - 12:56 GMT

I lived at Woodplace Farm until ten years ago and we always did what we could to protect and respect the burial ground.I believe there are literally hundreds of poor souls interred there, many unrecorded deaths, forgotten people , so much pain. We alwys hoped they found peace in this beautiful corner and were comforted to see on your website that they are still undisturbed. It is a very spiritual place.
We once had to rescue a roe deer that had got hung up on that lovely old gate. Her companion, another hind, waited only yards away. They rested the night in the cemetary, among the brambles and next day they both melted into the woods.

kelly : 20th May 2007 - 17:21 GMT

i live on netherne but have no idea where this area is? wouldnt it be a nice idea to tidy it up?

Sharon: 22nd May 2007 - 15:35 GMT

I too live in Netherne and do not know where this cemetary is. Could someone please enlighten me. Many thanks.

Sam: 15th Jun 2007 - 23:42 GMT

Sharon,

The cemetary is well hidden away between the old tree nursery and the football pitch on Woodplace Lane. Take a look at the attached map, which should get you there in one piece.

Sam

Steve: 22nd Jul 2007 - 06:49 GMT

Sam,

Having just spent a day trying to find this cemetry without success I could really use some help. How can I view the "attached map" you refer to. I found Woodplace lane and the football pitch but no sign of atree nursery.

Steve.

Dev Ramdas: 25th Nov 2007 - 19:57 GMT

I trained at Netherne as a psychiatric nurse from 1979 to 1981 and did not know anything about the cemetery. It was a nice place to work and I have some fantastic memories of my time there.

susan anne hitch: 30th Dec 2007 - 16:38 GMT

ive just discovered my aunt spent some time here after she was sectioned,was hopeing some one whode worked there could tell me what it would have been like for the patience,
many thx in advance

Alan Ingram: 31st Dec 2007 - 18:42 GMT

My wife is trying to find any info about her uncle, Derek Arthur Bateman, who died in Netherne in May 1978. Any leads as to why he was there or any memories would help us to find a sadly forgotten member of our family.

Lucy Hart: 29th Jan 2008 - 19:12 GMT

I grew up in Netherne Lane as my father worked at Netherne,we used to go down to the graveyard by crossing over the farmers field stating from Park Lane.Netherne was a great place to grow up,the orchid,the woods and fields were all around us,and not once were we afraid to go out.I remember days of going out on my push bike and not coming home till late,and everyone knew everyone else.
The social club would take the estate kids up to Wembley every year to see the ice show,we would have sport days down 'the club',a bonfire every year...it was a great place to be brought up.

Deborah Kemp 30th Jan 2008: 31st Jan 2008 - 20:53 GMT

Like Lucy Hart I grew up in Netherne Lane also as my father worked at Netherne, we spent many a day on the estate playing in and around the hospital, in Boxers wood (end of Park Lane, to your left). Our parents never worried about us as we never wandered far. I remember the hospital xmas parties put on for staff and families followed by the pantomines, holiday on ice organised by the social club was a great one to. I moved back here two years ago and still live in the house I was brought up in. Alot has changed but when I walk around the village I smile to myself and think about the good old days. It's ashame the grave yard was never looked after there are only a few of us that remember it clearly.

Dinny Laufenboeck: 10th Feb 2008 - 08:17 GMT

I recently learnt that a Great-Uncle died at Netherne Asylum in 1916 after having been there for 3 years (admitted after a "normal" and productive life). In searching for more information about the institution, I came across this website. Thankyou Simon Cornwell and all who have commented on his article so sympathetically.

donna saunders: 24th Apr 2008 - 12:24 GMT

after recently doing some family history research, i discovered that my great uncle, Ernest Osman born 1908 died at netherne aged only 12 years old. I am trying to find out who to contact so i can see how the asylum would have looked when it first opened in 1907.

Sue Hadingham:24th April 2008 -19:50 GMT: 24th Apr 2008 - 19:03 GMT

My Grandfather was the senior administrator at Netherne for many years and similarly my Grandmother worked on the wards as a nurse. My fondest memories were also visiting the pantomime and staying at my Grandparents in Woodplace Lane. I loved my Grandads garden with huge vegetables and rhubarb that backed on to the downs and loved many walks around the hospital, grounds and surrounding area. I too am interested in finding archive images, and historic information as many people in my adult life weirdly seem to have been associated with Netherne at some time in their lives. We have found a common interest through working with mental health patients and people with learning disabilities now living in the community. I have two teenage children with learning disabilities, and recently been involved in a campaign with Michael Gove M.P. to keep my local residential care home open, where people with disabilities and mental health problems have lived for many years.

I always remember Netherne being a happy place,the patients seemed happy and i know my Grandparents loved working there.For memories sake i would like to find that information for something to keep and show my family friends and my children

Sue Hadingham:24th April 2008 -19:50 GMT: 24th Apr 2008 - 19:28 GMT

P.S., thought the photos are great. As an artist i might take a few of my own and post. Haven't been back to Netherne since my Grandad retired in about 1980.

Lucy Hart: 13th May 2008 - 14:23 GMT

Hi,there is a book that was written and photos taken by a guy called Goerge Foggerty(i think thats his name).Just after the hospital closed he sold these to the remaining workers at Netherne..i will see if i can get his phone number and he might be able to help you with any info you might like.

alan : 19th Jun 2008 - 13:57 GMT

Hi ALL,I LIVE IN NETHERNE NOW,THR OLD MALE CONVERSLESENCE WARD,I ALSO HAVE THE BOOK PEOPLE MENTIONED I WILL DIG IT OUT,VERY INTERESTING READING.

Annie Hills: 30th Jul 2008 - 12:37 GMT

Hi I live at Netherne, in the former Admin Building. I have copies for sale of the book "A Pictorial History of Netherne" written by George Frogley ( former manager of the hospital print works). It is a wonderful history of the site, loads of photos ad 100 of the sale proceeds go to mental health charities. If anyone would like a copy, you can email me at annieandoscarhills@hotmail.co.uk. They cost £10 inclusive of p&p.

netherne child: 22nd Aug 2008 - 09:56 GMT

ive lived up in netherne for 7 years now with my parents and 2 siblings, i can say that there are hardly any more memorials of the asylum except for ofcourse the grave yard, water tower, and netherne ward me and my friends believe it to be

Lino: 22nd Aug 2008 - 14:26 GMT

Hello everyone. I came from Italy in holiday and end up working in Netherne as a porter first and then in the kitchen. The patient was treated very well and I have great memories. Beautiful place, I would like to trace some of my work friends Hassan my manager in the kitchen, or any other that remember me and my ex girlfriend Anna she use to work in the massive lawndry.
I have some photograph of the long corridor, and the wards somewhere. I use to live in the nursing home, and also use to go regularly at the club, or at the red lion pub in coulsdon. all around there was beatiful and safe, the countryside in spring time simply the best. Great years of my life

Maz, Netherne: 23rd Aug 2008 - 18:02 GMT

Hi everyone, I came across this site by mistake yesterday and was fascinated by everyone's stories and reading about the grave yard. I had heard other people here at Netherne mention it in the past so decided to go out this morning and see if we could find it.
We did find it and took some pictures and made some notes of the names on the graves so we could try and find out more about who the people were.
My 9 year old daughter and I were particularly touched by the grave of Betty Trotman who died on 31st May 1929 only 7 years old. Her stone is the easiest to read. We pulled out a few stinging nettles that were growing in the cracks and took some photos to add to this site. My pictures are a little greener than those above as it is August. The brambles have been completely taken over by 4 foot high stinging nettles except for the large concrete slam containing the grave stones, 6 in total plus a large cross top centre.
It is not at all creepy or eerie there but we did leave feeling sorry for the forgotten souls.
Maz

d saunders: 1st Sep 2008 - 07:54 GMT

these photos of the website are wonderful as i mentioned earlier, my great uncle ernest died aged 12 at netherne asylum in 1920 and i am trying to find out if he was buried there or whether his body was returned to my great grandparents. i contacted the Surrey history centre and they were very encouraging and helpful. i am hoping to come to visit netherne soon and i hope i manage to find the graveyard. It is amazing just how many people keep saying that Netherne was such a great place to work.

Martin Lee 11th Sep 2008: 11th Sep 2008 - 14:54 GMT

After searching for 7 yrs I have finally found what must be the final resting place of my fathers mother whose death cert I have at last obtained. It was and still is a very sad story. She was run over by a Dray in Islington circa 1926 after being raped by her brother and because of her injuries was sectioned and placed in several institutions, hence my father and brother lost all trace of her. One of my fathers last wishes was for me to find what happened to her but I was unable to grant his last wish in NOV 2007. Now I have traced her I just pray that he is looking down and now resting in peace. Her name was Ellen Phyllis Lee (nee Oakley). Does anyone have a record of who was buried in the Asylum graveyard.(mart9827@hotmail.com)

anon (host86-132-112-71.range86-132.btcentralplus.com): 16th Oct 2008 - 12:48 GMT

my name is catherine and i live in netherne on blue leaves avenue in the little cul de sac does anyone have any information on what part of the old asylum would have been where my home is now?

Annie Hills: 9th Nov 2008 - 20:05 GMT

catherine, I have copies of the book about the history of netherne, and also a plan of the original site, u can email me at netherne_bowls_club@hotmail.co.uk.
The book is £10 including P&P, it really is a fab memento for anyone connected with Netherne, all proceeds go directly to a mental health charity

paul..: 10th Nov 2008 - 19:15 GMT

hi..i am paul.. i used to live up in netherne..i used to live at park lane.(no i wont say what number.lol)..i used to live at my parents house.their house is well haunted!! thats why i dont see my mum much.i do love my mum to bits though..even woodplace lane is haunted too!!.not just saying that-BUT IT IS!!..i remembered times i used to walk up that hill-the demons i used to see on that road!! it bused to scare me!!..then u got my mum's house--lovley house--i mean that too..then evey one goes to bed--in the kitchen there is a demon stands there!! it dont do any thing--just stands there--freaky!!..i remember times i used to be in my bed as u do,i close my eyes,second later-5 of these demons stand round my bed praying and speaking to their god and one of them strangled me!!.this happened few times..also at times i am in bed watching tv as u do-couple of mins later it feels my feet is on fire!! then i lifed up the bed sheet-nothing there!!..i had enough of this!! so 2005 i moved out-thornton heath here i come!!..left my parents behind..i moved to galpins road..in my mind i was thinking-yes no more demons!!! well,thats what i thort!!..yes they followed me!! all the way!!! ..only once i saw one of those demons in that road.nothing happened.. each time i go to my mum's house i see them there..then i moved to redhill.brighton road infact.touch wood! i havent seen any thing here,just heard things.. any ways.. moving on..

lucy hart: 19th Dec 2008 - 10:20 GMT

Hi Catherine,the part of netherne that is now blue leaves avenue did not house any patients,when i moved here in the 70's as a child the area to the left of the green bungalow was garages and behind that was long sheds that housed the gardening equipement for the estate.Where there are houses now there used to be a huge field with an orchard leading to park lane.Also in blue leaves avenue there used to be a pig farm which was shut long before the 70's.

paul: 19th Dec 2008 - 20:56 GMT

sorry to bother u lucy hart.. i dont know if we know each other.i used to live at netherne.i used to live at 4 park lane.i am paul southon.nice to meet u..dont worry i not chatting u up.lol.. who do u know up there? do u know my sister vanessa southon? do u know carling carr? danny and david gotieriz? i moved at netherne at 1982 and moved 2005.. my email address is psjs123@hotmail.co.uk

paul: 19th Dec 2008 - 20:56 GMT

sorry to bother u lucy hart.. i dont know if we know each other.i used to live at netherne.i used to live at 4 park lane.i am paul southon.nice to meet u..dont worry i not chatting u up.lol.. who do u know up there? do u know my sister vanessa southon? do u know carling carr? danny and david gotieriz? i moved at netherne at 1982 and moved 2005.. my email address is psjs123@hotmail.co.uk

paul: 19th Dec 2008 - 20:56 GMT

sorry to bother u lucy hart.. i dont know if we know each other.i used to live at netherne.i used to live at 4 park lane.i am paul southon.nice to meet u..dont worry i not chatting u up.lol.. who do u know up there? do u know my sister vanessa southon? do u know carling carr? danny and david gotieriz? i moved at netherne at 1982 and moved 2005.. my email address is psjs123@hotmail.co.uk

paul: 19th Dec 2008 - 20:56 GMT

sorry to bother u lucy hart.. i dont know if we know each other.i used to live at netherne.i used to live at 4 park lane.i am paul southon.nice to meet u..dont worry i not chatting u up.lol.. who do u know up there? do u know my sister vanessa southon? do u know carling carr? danny and david gotieriz? i moved at netherne at 1982 and moved 2005.. my email address is psjs123@hotmail.co.uk

lucy hart: 31st Dec 2008 - 19:00 GMT

This messgae is for Paul, your house number 4 Park Lane is where my dad and his brother grew up with my nana and grandad, during the war when my dad was a lad, to my knowledge you are the first to say its haunted as I've lived up here all my life and my dad had never mentioned his old house was haunted either.

Karen Nielsen-Hayes: 4th Jan 2009 - 05:24 GMT

Hi, I was a student nurse at Netherne from 1977-1981. I remember being told that children born to the "insane" were kept at the hospital in a children's ward and observed for signs of mental illness. If they were diagnosed "insane" they eventually moved to the adult part of the hospital. I actually cared for a few patients who had been born at Netherne. Some of these poor children had fallen prey to the rage for "lobotomy" during the 50's and were brain damaged. Others were completely institutionalized and could not live outside the protected environment, others were just full of awful medications........ those were interesting times. Probably haunted.

Andrew C: 8th Jan 2009 - 21:35 GMT

This really is fascinating stuff. I knew Netherne very well in the 1980's both as a patient in an acute ward and as an 'auxiliary' in a psycho-geriatric ward. I can't speak highly enough of the place, and although I understand the arguments in favour of closing large asylums, I think Netherne provided a vital place of respite and care for people in certain states of mental distress. It certainly saved me!

sally: 13th Jan 2009 - 11:55 GMT

Why would people automatically associate asylums with hauntings?I lived up Netherne for 20 years in Netherne Lane,never heard such rubbish in all my life!!

Louise: 18th Jan 2009 - 20:32 GMT

I move to Neherne Drive a year ago, to this day I never knew it may be haunted. My time here has been blissfull. I love the old buildings and wonderful gardens - tree's etc. I think it's a great place for my children to grow up.

Margaret Kennedy: 8th Feb 2009 - 14:54 GMT

I was a patient in Netherne in 1974 (or 5) I suffered depression. I was on Red Coat ward (something like that)
I have a few photos of the staff and wonder is there an archives held on Netherne anywhere. Happily life turned around and I've just finished my PhD. My cousins live in Coulsdon. I'd love to know more about the place. I can't say I got 'better' there but on reflection it is interesting to have been part of its history. Even as a patient! Dr Forrest Was my consultant.

Anyone know of him?

Mags

anon: 9th Feb 2009 - 12:46 GMT

I have lived up here for 7yrs, blueleaves ave.... I read it used to be an old pig farm, and lots of sheds about! I know that people have written that its nonsense about hauntings etc....
But I believe there to be a few! Would someone be able to tell me where abouts the childrens ward was, as I have since a young boy on a few occasions round by the old tower builing.
Thankyou

Jackie: 11th Mar 2009 - 18:36 GMT

Hello, I live in Old Coulsdon and regularly walk our dog on the Farthing Downs and have been branching out a bit walking around Woodplace Lane etc and nearer to Netherne and have found it fascinating. A lovely place to walk around and lots of nature to photograph! I look forward to seeing more of it as Spring arrives too so can imagine more in the way of bluebells etc. I have walked around Cane Hill a lot and feel sad to see it being demolished but "that's progress", something has to be done with it.

I can imagine these places have a sort of ~echo~ of the past as there must have been so much unhappiness there but can't imagine them being haunted.

Jackie: 12th Mar 2009 - 16:23 GMT

Well I went for a walk around today and found it.

If you are in Woodplace Lane just before the sign for the playground on your left and look to your left there is a football pitch, then bare trees where the Cemetary is. A very sad small place. I took some photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/24052676@N03/3348700333/

Annie Hills: 23rd Apr 2009 - 12:58 GMT

Netherne Hopsital is 100 years old! To commemorate this history of Netherne, the village social committee are holding a Family Fun day and Walk on Suandat May 3rd from 2pm onwards, based at the Bowling Club. Anyone with a connection with Netherne, especially former patients, staff and their families, are invited to attend.

AJ: 25th Apr 2009 - 01:42 GMT

My Auntie was a patient at Netherne Hospital in the 80's back when I was young girl, I used to visit her with my family, I used to play the piano in a hall/games room and go outside and collect conkers in a pillow case in the autumn, it was such a beautiful area to explore.

I moved 200 miles away years ago and forgot about dear old Netherne until yesterday when I was driving to Redhill from Croydon and passed it, so I thought i'd have a nosey to see what it looked like now, I was amazed to see all those new houses there (beautiful houses though!) I didn't even give it a second thought that it might be closed!

Anyway, I was trying to locate the area my Auntie would have been and the place where I used to collect conkers, but to no avail unfortunately!!

If anyone has any idea where it would be 'approx' i'd love to know!! I know there used to be a little hut type thing with a roof shaped like a bandstand nearby (I used to play in there too!). I wish my memory was more clear so I could have located which area it was!! I'd love to see some old photos and try and work it out.

Lucy Hart: 11th May 2009 - 09:55 GMT

Hi,i know the area your talking about it is opposite the tennis courts and play area up netherne.There were huge conker trees and i think two small bandstands,i used to collect conkers too.The grass area is still there and some of the trees,further up the road is the cricket pitch.

OSB: 11th May 2009 - 21:27 GMT

As a resident of Netherne, I'm intrigued by the varied and colourful past of what was once Netherne Hospital and is now home to a thousand or so people.

George Frogley's excellent book, A Pictorial History of Netherne (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pictorial-History-Netherne-Hospital-Frogley/dp/0951648721/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242076884&sr=8-1), which has been out of print for some time, is an invaluable source of information concerning the history of Netherne.

If there are any former residents, patients or staff who have stories to tell, please get in touch (tempneth@inbox.com). I'm about to update the history on the Netherne community website, and the centenary is a perfect excuse to collate information. I'm interested in hearing anything about the history - be it German bombers crashlanding, mysterious sightings of children in Victorian attire or the more run of the mill stories of life in the hospital.

Take a look at what's on the site now - there's plenty of scope for updates on the past (if that makes sense!): -

http://netherne.co.uk/about

Sam

Maz: 15th Jun 2009 - 20:15 GMT

This aerial photograph of Netherne Hospital was taken by Surrey Flying Services in the 1920s.

Maz: 15th Jun 2009 - 20:29 GMT

AJ -
My picture above shows all the little huts you mentioned, they do look like bandstands. It also shows all the young conker trees which are still here today.

The thing I found interesting is the little Cedar tree next to the church, 89 years later and it would block the view of the church from this angle. I have also worked out where my house is situated.

Malcolm Wood: 18th Jun 2009 - 12:17 GMT

During my student vacations in 1969 and 1970, I worked at Netherne as a Ward Orderly in Pendellswood Villa. (That's it in the top LHS of the picture above.) This was a Residential Block for patients suffering from chronic schizophrenia. I recall there were around 60 male and female patients living there. All of them had 'day jobs' (the laundry, the kitchen or the farm). Mr (Bill) Murray was the Charge Nurse and Sister Barrett (an Irish lady from Hooley) was his Number 2. The Gallery (long entrance foyer which I had to polish every day) was packed at Lunch Time, so organising the serving of meals and washing up was a real adventure! Whilst much of the therapy may be questionable by todays standards, many of the residents, patients and staff appeared to live and work in a happy and contented state. The Parklands, Trees, Woods and Fields all contributed to making Netherne a very beautiful and serene place.

Simon Edwards: 27th Jun 2009 - 10:29 GMT

Well it's not a serene place anymore!!!And it's lost it beauty with over 1000 'new resident's...

charlie-boy..: 26th Sep 2009 - 19:19 GMT

u know that one.. serene-not any more yeh i still love that place.park lane used to be my home.(yeh its still my home-i just dont live there any more)lol.. since they built all those new homes its not good any more,gone down hill ever snce.lol..

Susan Ramtohul: 3rd Oct 2009 - 19:41 GMT

I lived firstly at 59 Woodplace Lane and then moved to 1 Park Lane with my husband and three children. We moved from Netherne in 1987. We have been back a few times and were saddened to see what had happened to the netherne that we knew.

pauline: 4th Oct 2009 - 16:33 GMT

I still live there,and it is sad to see what it is.Kids screaming at all hours and the amount of theft and damage to cars,property etc makes for bad reading.Idiots in cars going too fast.What makes me laugh is that people up here paid well over £300,000 for their houses with a garden the size of a postage stamp and they think they live in the country!!lol

albert cooper: 21st Oct 2009 - 11:35 GMT

lots of messages regarding the hospital.I worked there from 1955 to 1964 in the laboratory which was situated at was the called Downs House.Part of this building served as the ward sisters accommodation and also the flat of the Matron - Miss Smith.The Chief Male nurse was Tom Jupp and he lived in the small house that was at the start of the road leading up to the hospital.At one time there used to be a lovely wood at the end of Park lane composed of beech and other deciduous trees.For some unknown reason they were felled and replaced with awful conifers and the place became unwelcome for the prior wildlife.We lived at number 8 Park Lane (wife and 4 children).The social club was designed and overseen by a patient although the building was carried out by staff members.Every year the staff used to organise a pantomime for the benefit of the patients and used to visit other hospitals with the production.Tom Garvey was the wizard organising this effort.Perhaps other "old timers" from my years there can contribute more information.

albert cooper: 21st Oct 2009 - 21:20 GMT

further to my comments of this morning:- within the grounds there was another "hospital" and was called Fairdene and this unit had one male and one female ward plus a neurosurgical unit and the x-ray department.The entrance was rather grand and it seemed a shame that the building was demolished instead of being converted . I wonder what became of the main building and of all the "villas" within the grounds - the whole area of the hospital and its grounds amounted to some 520acres.there used to be a running track beside the social club and this was a training place for Pirie (I think his forname was John (?).it was a normal practice that at the end of July there was a "flower Show"in which patients and staff could enter exhibits.George Shipton who was the Chief Fire Officer used to show dahlia plants - his garden in Park Lane seemed to be composed of paper bags over the plants to protect them from the rain no doubt.The field behind Park Lane used to beknown for turning up items of ancient pottery bits and pieces - perhaps someone should do a survey with a metal detector- who knows there could be valuable items buried!.

albert cooper: 22nd Oct 2009 - 15:45 GMT

some more information.netherne was to all intent and purpose "self contained" in that it had a woodwork department,a plumbing one,a glass and paint one,an upholstery one,a shoemaker one, a tailoring one,a laundry,pharmacy and a kitchen that reminded one of Euston station with so much steam about !Electricity was produced although it was direct current only as the production of alternating current would have been prohibitively costly.By the way it was Gordon Pirie who used what was the running track (440 yards).

albert cooper: 26th Oct 2009 - 20:28 GMT

some more info. comes to mind. Netherne was the first psychiatric hospital to have an art therapy department - it organised by edward adamson after prior discussion with the then hospital superintendentby the name of Cunningham Dax ( he left to go to Australia). Another first was the inauguration of a hospital library and was the "brain child" of Elizabeth Stuckey. Along with the library in Downs House was the electroencephalic department that also served as a reference centre to other hospitals, plus a male and female hairdressing units.Netherne was always at the forefront of innovation.

John Alger: 8th Nov 2009 - 14:44 GMT

Does anyone know how to find out any information on a patients stay at the Netherne Hall hospital, which would have been some time in the early sixties? I am trying to find out any information about my grandmother Olive may short, and where she ended up.
If there are still people out there with info it would be greatly appreciated.