If you would like any more information about anything on this blog, please post a comment or email us at bethlemheritage@gmail.com.
This blog is written by staff at the Bethlem Royal Hospital Archives and Museum: in particular, Archivist Colin Gale and Friends Secretary Sarah Chaney, with contributions by other staff members and guest writers. Sarah is responsible for moderation and comments. Posts and comments reflect the personal opinions of staff, and should not be regarded as representative of the official opinion of either the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust or the Bethlem Art and History Collections Trust.
The Archives and Museum is located at the Bethlem Royal Hospital – the original ‘Bedlam’, one of the world’s oldest hospitals for the treatment of mental illness. Founded in 1247 as the priory of St Mary of Bethlehem, the Hospital has been housed on four different sites throughout its history – most famously at St George’s Fields (1815 – 1930), now the Imperial War Museum – and is currently located at Monks Orchard, Beckenham, in the south-east suburbs of London (Visit Us).
The Archives and Museum records the lives and experience and celebrates the achievements of people with mental health problems. It now houses art and historical collections spanning many centuries which are of unique interest and importance in the field of mental health. These include the archives of Bethlem Hospital and the Maudsley and Warlingham Park Hospitals; an outstanding collection of paintings and drawings, including works by Richard Dadd, Louis Wain, Jonathan Martin, and William Kurelek; the statues of ‘Raving and Melancholy Madness’ from the gates of 17th century Bethlem; and many other documents and artefacts of historic and artistic significance. The art collection and archive catalogue can be found online at www.bethlemheritage.org.uk.
In 2014, the Archives and Museum will relocate to the main Administration Building on the Bethlem Hospital site. This will allow improved services for visitors, including a larger display area for the museum collection, education facilities and reading rooms for researchers. The new Archives and Museum service will open in 2015, and the project is currently in the fundraising stage, with designs and plans being developed for a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Hi
Do You know any poems or novels, where authors mention Bethlem hospital? I know there Is a bit in “King Lear” by Shakespeare. But that’s all. Where to find something more?
Anita
Hi Anita,
Webster’s play Northward Ho (c. 1605) has a scene set in Bethlem, and references to “Bedlam” appear in quite a lot of Elizabethan and Jacobean drama (try looking at Ken Jackson’s Separate Theaters). Are you looking for any specific time period? We recently wrote a blog about Antonia White’s autobiographical novel Beyond the Glass, which relates to her time in Bethlem (http://bethlemheritage.wordpress.com/2011/04/22/). I’m sure there are many other references to the Hospital. Perhaps some other blog readers can help?
Sarah
Hi,
I’m a photographic arts student working on my dissertation and I’m interested on XIX century photographic representation of the mentally ill. I was just wondering if you could advise me on where’s the best place to view photographs of the ‘insane’ (Duchenne de Boulogne, Hugh Diamond, etc…). Weras prints or books. I’m mainly interested on photographic portraiture. I’m visiting today the Freud Museum and I’m hoping to see as many galleries with related displays as possible around London. Any suggestions?
Many thanks in advance.
Sincerely yours,
Olmo R.
Hello, I am delighted to have found your page. I am a London Blue Badge Guide and I shall be leading a group on a walk around the Elephant later today and stopping outside the museum.
Hi Isobel, Nice to hear from you! I assume it’s the Imperial War Museum rather than Bethlem Museum that you took your group to. Do you take them past the old Bethlem signs nearby? Hope it wasn’t too wet!!
Hi Sarah
Luckily it was dry for once. Yes it was the IWM we stood outside. I din,t show them the old Bethlem signs, but that is a good suggestion for next time. I hope things are good with you. Do you have a twitter account too? If so, I’ll follow you.
The twitter account is @bethlemheritage (nice and simple!). Keep in touch!
Sarah
Thanks. I’ll follow you.
Ummm, how do I contact the Blogger here direct? Many thanks!
In addition to the above, having just noticed that you are Sarah, hi again! I know you.